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Seekins HAVAK Precision Rifle

After seeing this in the KRG bravo stock. Sure its a good amount of bang for your buck. I maybe adding one of these to the stable next spring.

Scott
 
i direct thread

That’s a significant shift for that use then. Are you positive that the threads are concentric to the bore and not to the OD of the barrel? I run #4 and 5 barrels and have never seen even remotely that much shift from them on a direct thread can. I do have one ASR can that had significant shift on a SAC spun Varmint contour about 5-6 years ago, but that was the mounting system and nothing to do with barrel or threads.
 
He's running a 17oz can on a barrel with a muzzle diameter of 0.700, what do you expect?
 
He's running a 17oz can on a barrel with a muzzle diameter of 0.700, what do you expect?

Lol not 6” of shift. I run an 11oz can and a 17oz can on my Havak with less than a 1/2” shift from either. That’s more than barrel harmonics.
 
As long as its repeatable, just dial it out in the scope. I’ve had the same can on 4 rifles and it affects each differently from little variation to significant and it’s not directly related to barrel thickness. But they have all been repeatable to within a .25 Moa or less so it’s easy to adjust zero for suppressed/unsuppressed. If your not getting baffle strikes then it’s just weight affecting the poi change as nothing touches the bullet past the muzzle. The weight affects barrel harmonics, it also adds stress to the receiver and it’s mounting to the stock. So don’t overly stress about the POI variation, just ensure you don’t have baffle strikes, it’s repeatable, and it’s not significantly changing accuracy of the rifle.
 
Anyone successfully developed loads for a 300WM version of the havak yet? I tried RL23 and 200g accubonds. Struggling to get below 1.5 MOA. Shooting 20thou off lands and best node at 70.5g. Since RL26 is a unicorn powder now I may try H4831 again, although I saw similar results the first go around. I’m also getting horrible copper fouling. 18 rounds and the lands were near coated 5” from muzzle to crown.

Tried a box of hornady custom 180g interlocks and it grouped about 3.5”.
 
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Just got a call from Seekins about my 300 WM. They duplicated my accuracy issues, maybe to a slightly lesser extent based on what they said on the phone.

Anyway, they will be rebarreling and rebedding my rifle or sending me a new one with a proof target grouping. Early on I was a bit pessimistic about customer service, largely because their responses started going to my junk email folder and I thought they weren't responding. They have handled the situation as well as can be asked for. I still have my concerns about the deep spiral flutes on a 300 WM but hopefully those concerns are removed with the next barrel or rifle.

I will update again once I get the rifle back out on the range.

Ah crap just saw this.. I’m having issues with my 300wm as well.

Just read enough in this thread to contact them ASAP. I’ll admit I was extremely disappointed for the $$. I even bought a hyskore dual damper rest to make sure I wasn’t just loosing my touch. I shot a .3 7 shot group breaking in a new proof carbon barrel on my 308 at the same time I was load testing the 300wm so good to know I’m not crazy.
 
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Ah crap just saw this.. I’m having issues with my 300wm as well.

Just read enough in this thread to contact them ASAP. I’ll admit I was extremely disappointed for the $$. I even bought a hyskore dual damper rest to make sure I wasn’t just loosing my touch. I shot a .3 7 shot group breaking in a new proof carbon barrel on my 308 at the same time I was load testing the 300wm so good to know I’m not crazy.

I haven't heard back from them yet on mine and kind of expected to. You're the 4th or 5th person out of the same # of people I've seen with less than great results with the 300 WM.. I hope they figure it out.
 
I just got a shipping notice for my 300WM.
Mine has a delivery of next Monday.
Guess I will see what it will do and report shortly thereafter. Have Minox ZP5-25 scope and seekins rings already in hand.
 
I haven't heard back from them yet on mine and kind of expected to. You're the 4th or 5th person out of the same # of people I've seen with less than great results with the 300 WM.. I hope they figure it out.

Hopefully soon!

I emailed them yesterday morning and it usually takes a few days to hear back. This is my brothers first ‘nice’ rifle and I talked him into a Seekins instead of a Christensen. :(

I tried 200g Edge TLR’s with H4831 and it shot decent at 50yd but then went to hell at 100. The 200g accubonds it’s just a crapshoot. You may be onto something with the barrel rigidity. Did yours have bad copper fouling? This one I can shoot 15-20 rounds and the lands are coated in copper and it takes hours to get out with CR-10.
 
I remember it fouling pretty good the first time i cleaned it. I don't recall it being too bad the second time.
 
I remember it fouling pretty good the first time i cleaned it. I don't recall it being too bad the second time.

That’s what I’m use to. Just did the 3rd cleaning and it was no different than the first.
 
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Seekins just shipped my rings and muzzle brake. Now just waiting on the 6.5 PRC HAVAK.
 
Anyone know of a bolt handle that will fit the Havak? The bolt knob is a little small for my liking.
 
About to test some 190g FGMM per Seekins and I am examining everything before range time. All of my rifles are in chassis so not that familiar with bedding...Is that spot ahead of the recoil lug normal? Most bedding jobs I’ve seen end at the recoil lug/end of receiver. It is supporting the first .75”-1” or so of the barrel after the action. If you slide paper down the barrel it stops .75”-1” before the receiver face.
 

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About to test some 190g FGMM per Seekins and I am examining everything before range time. All of my rifles are in chassis so not that familiar with bedding...Is that spot ahead of the recoil lug normal? Most bedding jobs I’ve seen end at the recoil lug/end of receiver. It is supporting the first .75”-1” or so of the barrel after the action. If you slide paper down the barrel it stops .75”-1” before the receiver face.

It's a common bedding technique. I've done it and seen gunsmiths do it that way and swear by it. I've also often seen and done the full free float technique. I've seen both ways work extremely well to maximize a rifle's potential.
 
Anyone have feedback with these in 6.5 PRC? Bravo or PH1? Trying to decide on building an Origin based 24" 6.5 PRC in a manner EH stock or just go with the Havak PH1 since I have a 30% off code.
 
It's a common bedding technique. I've done it and seen gunsmiths do it that way and swear by it. I've also often seen and done the full free float technique. I've seen both ways work extremely well to maximize a rifle's potential.

Good to know!

Thank you!
 
I received my 300 WM ph1 back today. Looks like they did a lot of work.

I assume the single target is the one they shot with the Berger factory 215 ammo I sent with the rifle. I’m guessing the others are with federal gmm 190 smk but asked for clarification. 12 of the Berger rounds were shot so it makes me wonder what the other ones looked like. If the brake was loose, I wonder why they didn’t shoot another group with it tight.

I’ll throw some rounds together and try to do some shooting on Sunday.
 

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I received my 300 WM ph1 back today. Looks like they did a lot of work.

I assume the single target is the one they shot with the Berger factory 215 ammo I sent with the rifle. I’m guessing the others are with federal gmm 190 smk but asked for clarification. 12 of the Berger rounds were shot so it makes me wonder what the other ones looked like. If the brake was loose, I wonder why they didn’t shoot another group with it tight.

I’ll throw some rounds together and try to do some shooting on Sunday.

Holy smokes! That work order is crazy. Sounds like they shipped out a boat anchor the first time. Hopefully the completely NEW rifle replacement is better for you.
 
yeah really, that's a long list, seems they def didn't want it coming back again!
 
Jeez Louise! I’m pleased they fixed you up which shows great (followup) service, but worried about that list being an indicator of the initial QC, as apparently a boatload of stuff needed to be redone. Again, for this price, all weapons should be test fired and none should leave the shop if the can’t hold 5/8 inch or smaller groups off sandbags.
 
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I received my 300 WM ph1 back today. Looks like they did a lot of work.

I assume the single target is the one they shot with the Berger factory 215 ammo I sent with the rifle. I’m guessing the others are with federal gmm 190 smk but asked for clarification. 12 of the Berger rounds were shot so it makes me wonder what the other ones looked like. If the brake was loose, I wonder why they didn’t shoot another group with it tight.

I’ll throw some rounds together and try to do some shooting on Sunday.

The barrel wasn’t concentric...and the headspace was wrong!? Woof

They responded to me today and said the bedding should not have gone past the action and the barrel should be full free float. So I will be taking care of it and trying 190g fgmm and 200g precision hunter.

Their recommended action screw torque is 55 in lb for anyone that needs it.
 
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Honestly it's kind of surprising they shared that whole list of items worked on.. I'm not sure how the head space was shallow, the shoulders on brass moved forward 0.016" on the first firing. Maybe shallow at the belt but not the shoulder? I'm not that familiar with the process but I would have guessed that a single reamer cuts the shoulder and belt portion of a chamber at the same time so the distance between the two is fixed?
 
Honestly it's kind of surprising they shared that whole list of items worked on.. I'm not sure how the head space was shallow, the shoulders on brass moved forward 0.016" on the first firing. Maybe shallow at the belt but not the shoulder? I'm not that familiar with the process but I would have guessed that a single reamer cuts the shoulder and belt portion of a chamber at the same time so the distance between the two is fixed?

Just measured my brass. From FL size I only have .008 movement.
 
Honestly it's kind of surprising they shared that whole list of items worked on.. I'm not sure how the head space was shallow, the shoulders on brass moved forward 0.016" on the first firing. Maybe shallow at the belt but not the shoulder? I'm not that familiar with the process but I would have guessed that a single reamer cuts the shoulder and belt portion of a chamber at the same time so the distance between the two is fixed?

It had to be shallow at the belt. That's the only place headspace is gauged on belted mags.
 
Honestly it's kind of surprising they shared that whole list of items worked on.. I'm not sure how the head space was shallow, the shoulders on brass moved forward 0.016" on the first firing. Maybe shallow at the belt but not the shoulder? I'm not that familiar with the process but I would have guessed that a single reamer cuts the shoulder and belt portion of a chamber at the same time so the distance between the two is fixed?

Filling out RMA form now, just got back from the range. No real difference after removing excess bedding.
 

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Might try a load in either extreme like the Barnes 175 LRX and maybe a Hornady 212 ELD-X load before it goes back.

Sometimes they just don’t like a load. I couldn’t get the Hornady loads to group anywhere near what I wanted in my sendero, but 175 LRX did dandy.
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Might try a load in either extreme like the Barnes 175 LRX and maybe a Hornady 212 ELD-X load before it goes back.

Sometimes they just don’t like a load. I couldn’t get the Hornady loads to group anywhere near what I wanted in my sendero, but 175 LRX did dandy. View attachment 7003524

I’ve tried 200g accubonds with RL23 and h4831 (ladder test). 200g Federal edge tlr with H4831, and hornady precision hunter 200g eld-x. None would group well. They said they test with 190g fgmm so that was my last test before giving up. The groups above are 190g Fgmm and 180g interlock Hornady custom factory ammo. A $2000 rifle shouldn’t be this difficult. 3 of the 4 groups above are using a machine rest with hydro dampers and a remote trigger actuator. For the reloads I’m turning necks(gives me 2 thou tension), using comp dies, and measuring the powder to the kernel with a fx-300i scale. Your group is what is expected to find through all of this testing.

Pretty frustrated at this point as I’ve spent almost $200 on factory ammo, and had to make 4 range trips to range that charges $20 a trip since we don’t shoot on our land during deer season.

I let my wife bang out 9 rounds with one of my other rifles, only the second time she’s shot it. Just adds insult to injury!
 

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Enough said. Send it back!

I had to have a brand new sako finnlight sent back for similar performance. They just gave me a new one.

I get my Havak tomorrow. Praying now...
 
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Enough said. Send it back!

I had to have a brand new sako finnlight sent back for similar performance. They just gave me a new one.

I get my Havak tomorrow. Praying now...

Ours appear to be anomalies thankfully!

Harley has been great through e-mail taking care of me. I did all of the troubleshooting on my own accord to avoid shipping it back.
 
Honestly it's kind of surprising they shared that whole list of items worked on.. I'm not sure how the head space was shallow, the shoulders on brass moved forward 0.016"

Just measured my brass. From FL size I only have .008 movement.

.308 here, mine is even less than that. about .003

Never had that before but it shoots really well so...
 
So you guys are saying that your brass only grows .003 or .004 on firing b/c you have a very tight chamber?

Is that not good.

When it comes to reloading I always full length resize and trim anyway so I have never worried about such nuances. So I am completely ignorant of the point you make.

Please illuminate my unlearned BB Brain.
 
Got my 300
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rigged out.

Here’s a tidbit I was not aware of.
The long action only takes the Carbon fiber magazine unless you completely swap the bottom metal and fit a different one for it.

I was rather hoping to use the Pmag 5L Magnums as well in the current configuration.

Oh well, it still looks damn good. I’ll get a range report by Saturday with 2 loads I have already.
 
I put mine in a Havak and found a few issues.

First the mags would not lock in place. I had to remove over 0.060" off the magazine release lever to get them to latch, seemed excessive. From Seekins "The magazine latch will need to be trimmed down slightly to allow the mag to seat and engage the latch correctly. On the New havak bravo this part is modified here to make the two work together."

Then the bolt won't cycle fully as the cheek riser gets in the way. KRG only advised I contact Seekins. Seekins just said to cut it. "The only way to get a round this would be to Dremel out the lower portion of that recess so that it goes clear through the cheek piece so it can clear." Asking if they modified that on their Havak equiped models "We are not modifying that part from the factory since you still have some adjustability from the factory setup." On my Tikka this is a known issue and KRG now cuts a half moon into the riser to get around this problem and sent a replacement riser out to me for it.
20181227_214255_resized_1.jpg
 
So you guys are saying that your brass only grows .003 or .004 on firing b/c you have a very tight chamber?

Is that not good.

When it comes to reloading I always full length resize and trim anyway so I have never worried about such nuances. So I am completely ignorant of the point you make.

Please illuminate my unlearned BB Brain.

It is common for belted magnums to grow considerably more than cases designed to headspace off the shoulders. I don't know why they cant dimension the chambers as if they are headspacing off the shoulders as well.. 0.003 - .004 doesn't seem unusually tight to me for cases that headspace off the shoulder.

If cases grow a lot that means you're getting a lot of brass flow and case stretch and will have shorter brass life. Your case is also looser in your chamber which can contribute be being less accurate.

I always full length resize but I only resize to the minimum extent required to feed reliably without resistance. If you are full length resizing as much as your die will let you you are over working your brass.
 
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A couple groups I shot today doing seating depth testing. Off the back of my truck cover with abipod and rear bag.

28 Nosler

79.2 H1000, 215M, Nosler Brass, 180 Hybrid, MV 3085, these groups were .050-.065 OTL and had the best ES and SD.

Nothing spectacular, but not too shabby for a factory setup.



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I have my 6.5 cm with them now. Hope it turns out good. Will let you guys know if it was me or the gun hahaah.
 
Weather was 30 degrees with 20 mph winds.
200 grain accubonds. Should be at 2900 FPS with a 26 inch barrel. That's a lot of oomph.

I will get out on a better day with more time. Pretty optimistic.
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I put ten rounds each of Hornady 147 ELD-M and 143 ELD-X through the new PH1 6.5 PRC today. This was not before a thorough cleaning, inspection, and degreasing. Straight out of the box, the Havak’s Timney 510 recorded trigger pulls averaged 4 lbs. The 510 wouldn’t adjust much below 2.5 lbs. with any consistency. I swapped in a TT Diamond (set at 16 oz.), installed a Live Oak Precision self timing muzzle brake, and mounted an LRTSi 4.5-18x44mm in APA 0.750 rings.

The rifle was set up on a Ransom Rifle Rest and Protektor rear bag (front sling stud removed).

Temp: 30°F
Elevation: 60’
Pressure: 30.21”
Calm conditions


Hornady’s factory loads:

147 ELD-M (published velocity 2910, *IIRC- 26” bbl)
0.91 MOA (4 rounds)
2889ft/s (n=8)
2871 Low
2919 High
48 Extreme Spread
21ft/s Avg. below published


143 ELD-X (published velocity 2960, *IIRC- 26” bbl)
1.12 MOA (4 rounds)
2859ft/s (n=9)
2832ft/s Low
2879 ft/s High
48ft/s Extreme Spread
101ft/s Avg. below published.


These are sexy rifles. I love the ergos. My action is slick and smooth, yet tight and crisp. Hornady’s factory loads didn’t impress, but I’m hoping the rifle will shoot with hand loads.
 
The 510 trigger was crisp but I sure wish it came at 2lbs as standard. 3 lbs just seems really heavy when you're trying to shoot tight groups. Gonna pull mine and adjust it.

Might get a 2 stage later.
 
The 510 trigger was crisp but I sure wish it came at 2lbs as standard. 3 lbs just seems really heavy when you're trying to shoot tight groups. Gonna pull mine and adjust it.

Might get a 2 stage later.

I am off the Timney and also have the TT diamond swapped in and going to try different ammo to see what it will do the 165 gr Hornady SF I hunt with was about the same as Conrad101st group.
 
Weather was 30 degrees with 20 mph winds.
200 grain accubonds. Should be at 2900 FPS with a 26 inch barrel. That's a lot of oomph.

I will get out on a better day with more time. Pretty optimistic.
View attachment 7007597

Definitely a good start if it’ll do it consistently! I’d be interested if you had unusually high amounts of copper fouling once you clean. Patches with cr-10 would come out dark blue after 15-20rds.
 
Got my suppressor back from having the latch replaced so I took the Havak out this morning. Just under MOA out to 985y. Interestingly my velocity has sped up 100fps. The only difference being the barrel has about 250 rounds on it and I’m using my once fired Starline instead of new Starline. Either way I’ll take it.

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I need to wash my truck.
 
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