Waypoint v. Element

[OXN939]

Looking to put together a 6 CM with the goal of using 93 grain McGuire copper roses to 500 yds. My two top contenders right now are the Springfield Waypoint or Seekins Element. Stats are similar on both- anyone got a compelling reason to go one over the other? Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[Blake C]

Seekins has that quick change barrel feature. And id also argue better barrel than the waypoints.

 

[OXN939]

id also argue better barrel than the waypoints.

Hadn't heard that before. One appealing aspect of the Waypoint is 1:7.5 vs 1:8 for the Seekins, in addition to being almost a grand cheaper

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Neither

 

[Gadjet]

I have a waypoint in 6 Creedmoor and love it. Shoots really well.

 

[voltage]

Neither

Give us the rec!

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Give us the rec!

My recommendation would be boring and predictable. My Seekins experience was less than stellar, I think that when their rifles work they can be great but there is an insane amount of complaints on them if you really look into it.

For example, get on the facebook groups and you’ll see all sorts of people with random complaints and the common response is basically “don’t worry, send it in, they fill fix it no problem”. That shouldn’t be a thing with 3000 dollar rifles. Seekins will respond and say they have less than a 3% return rate which maybe true but it seems like there are lots of lemons that have to go back.

I had an element, the bolt stop failed nearly instantly, the stock didn’t fit me well (that’s not on them though) and there is zero aftermarket options. Additionally on my gun the stock was warped so the barrel was not centered in the barrel channel. When I spoke to them they were annoyed and were like “if it shoots don’t worry about it”…..well I paid 2700 dollars for the rifle so when there’s 1/4” gap on one side and no gap on the other side it’s a problem.

Every single person I handed that gun to saw that instantly, I couldn’t live with it so I sold it at a major loss.

Honestly at this point, I’d buy a stainless tikka and have some money to get a great scope and a silencer as well as some
Ammo. IF I was buying something else, I’d look at those proof research elevation rifles.

Maybe I’m just getting old and grumpy but there is nothing out there in the rifle world that gets me excited these days. Give me a boring, reliable, accurate tikka with a solid scope and a nice high end silencer and I’m happy.

I have no experience with the Springfield but I would t buy anything from them other than a 1911.

 

[OXN939]

Honestly at this point, I’d buy a stainless tikka

Funny story, I tried the slide kool aid and picked up a Tikka two years ago. Thing's chamber is so tight it leaves ejector marks on unfired factory ammo when you chamber and then eject it. Sent it back to them and they said "We tried it with one kind of ammo and it was fine. Your problem"

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Funny story, I tried the slide kool aid and picked up a Tikka two years ago. Thing's chamber is so tight it leaves ejector marks on unfired factory ammo when you chamber and then eject it. Sent it back to them and they said "We tried it with one kind of ammo and it was fine. Your problem"

That’s lame. My buddy had a custom chambered sako 75 in 375HH that did that.

 

[OXN939]

That’s lame. My buddy had a custom chambered sako 75 in 375HH that did that.

Tis indeed. Did one of those semi custom setups, and everything about it came out really great... except the chamber's headspace being off

 

[Aussie Dan]

Have a look at the horizon rifles perhaps?
I have no experience with them, but they're in a similar price range.

As another guy said, a stainless tikka factory 6 creed would be the easiest of easy buttons.
You'd still be $$ ahead even if you had another barrel/chamber/headspace issue and needed a new aftermarket barrel on top of the initial purchase price.
I dare say your experience is very much the exception rather than the rule, although i definitely understand the whole once bitten twice shy thought process.

 

[Gadjet]

My recommendation would be boring and predictable. My Seekins experience was less than stellar, I think that when their rifles work they can be great but there is an insane amount of complaints on them if you really look into it.

For example, get on the facebook groups and you’ll see all sorts of people with random complaints and the common response is basically “don’t worry, send it in, they fill fix it no problem”. That shouldn’t be a thing with 3000 dollar rifles. Seekins will respond and say they have less than a 3% return rate which maybe true but it seems like there are lots of lemons that have to go back.

I had an element, the bolt stop failed nearly instantly, the stock didn’t fit me well (that’s not on them though) and there is zero aftermarket options. Additionally on my gun the stock was warped so the barrel was not centered in the barrel channel. When I spoke to them they were annoyed and were like “if it shoots don’t worry about it”…..well I paid 2700 dollars for the rifle so when there’s 1/4” gap on one side and no gap on the other side it’s a problem.

Every single person I handed that gun to saw that instantly, I couldn’t live with it so I sold it at a major loss.

Honestly at this point, I’d buy a stainless tikka and have some money to get a great scope and a silencer as well as some
Ammo. IF I was buying something else, I’d look at those proof research elevation rifles.

Maybe I’m just getting old and grumpy but there is nothing out there in the rifle world that gets me excited these days. Give me a boring, reliable, accurate tikka with a solid scope and a nice high end silencer and I’m happy.

I have no experience with the Springfield but I would t buy anything from them other than a 1911.

I'm a huge fan of Tikka rifles. But you might be surprised by a Springfield Waypoint 2020, I know I was. And I agree with everything you said about Seekins. Yes, they can shoot really well....or not. I don't understand why people stand behind these companies that semi consistantly turn out expensive crap that you need to send back.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I'm a huge fan of Tikka rifles. But you might be surprised by a Springfield Waypoint 2020, I know I was. And I agree with everything you said about Seekins. Yes, they can shoot really well....or not. I don't understand why people stand behind these companies that semi consistantly turn out expensive crap that you need to send back.

For sure. I wouldn’t mind trying out a waypoint. I just haven't seen them in person before, they just aren’t a common rifle in my area.

 

[Cynoscion]

All of the guys I hunt and/or shoot with own at least 1 Waypoint each and I’ve never seen one that didn’t shoot well. This is probably a sample size of 6-8 including mine in .308 and all of them are the carbon fiber barrel models. In my experience, I don’t think you can find a better shooting, off the shelf rifle for the price.