Ridgeline LPR vs Seekins SP223

[zekers7]

I’ve been waiting patiently for a Ridgeline LPR, but they’re taking forever to drop. Ideally, I’d pick up a receiver set, but those are just as hard to find. That got me looking around at alternatives, and I noticed the Seekins SP223 (DMR) can be picked up for around $1,400 — closer to $1,500 with the Arca rail — which seems like a great setup. The SP10s are well-proven, and their barrel interface does a great job minimizing flex for what it’s built to do.

Is there any real reason to hold out and spend the extra $1,200 on the LPR? There doesn’t seem to be much data on the SP223 — am I missing something?

 

[db2000]

Yeah, you’re missing all the data that’s out there. There’s a shit ton of it. I have no direct experience with Ridgeline but their reputation precedes them. You’re not gonna miss anything with Seekins, that’s their fault anyway. That’s a fact.

 

[db2000]

I’d buy this unless you’re dead set on 223.

Firearms - GAP-15 6 ARC

This thing is a beauty. I’ve never shot an AR this accurate. I don’t know what fairy dust GAP puts on this, but it works. I’ve only shot factory Hornady 108s out of this and it shoots sub 0.5 MOA (close to 1/3 MOA) all day long. I’ve attached a group to show that. This will come with 3 Duramags...

www.snipershide.com

 

[DOB161]

I would go with the Seekins. It’s available now, their customer service is known to be top tier and it seems most who have the 223 are happy with its accuracy.

If you go LPR, I would recommend waiting to see if they release the stripped upper/handguard by itself. That’s where the value is. Otherwise, my experience steers me away from them, especially for $1200 than a Seekins.

 

[ethanjaldridge]

I would go with the Seekins. It’s available now, their customer service is known to be top tier and it seems most who have the 223 are happy with its accuracy.

If you go LPR, I would recommend waiting to see if they release the stripped upper/handguard by itself. That’s where the value is. Otherwise, my experience steers me away from them, especially for $1200 than a Seekins.

Could you elaborate on your experience with the Ridgeline?

 

[DOB161]

Could you elaborate on your experience with the Ridgeline?

The rifle:
- Purchased off the initial batch/waitlist
- They had to do some markings to the lower after coating and they made the business decision to just put alumablack over it rather than doing it right and recoating (unacceptable business decision on a $3400 rifle), the rifle came with damage to the handguard from the bipod they used for test fire. (I spoke with Devon about this when I got it and he was great to deal with)
- the rifle was .8xx on test target, it was generally a 1 MOA gun. The constant IG marketing of .4-.6 consistently was just that, marketing.
- The gas block setup did show little to no signs of leakage which was nice.
- BCG gas key was very leaky at the base in addition to their known gas ring issue.
- The brass deflector is useless in the original iteration. The brass goes right over it and bounces off the forward assist. They made an inline change which they kept quiet it seems. No offer to those who purchased the original design to upgrade due to their design flaw.

Blem upper:
- Purchased last Black Friday timeframe.
- Arrived with excessive fouling in the chamber and muzzle area. I reached out and they confirmed they don’t test fire the uppers. When I pressed the issue I was told my upper was pulled from a full rifle. Essentially sold a used upper as a “Blem”.
- Gas block was considerably canted with the gas tube roll pin not driven in all the way. The pin had gouged the inside of the receiver and was evident it was hitting the inside of the rail when they were firing it.

I haven’t appreciated their business practices such as the boasting about an elite “owners club” which appears to be non existent. The dropping of the price considerably after people bought high at the waitlist price was lame.

All in all I think the upper/handguard combo is great but as a package the value isn’t there for me. I’ve since sold off the rifle and traded away the upper.

 

[ethanjaldridge]

The rifle:
- Purchased off the initial batch/waitlist
- They had to do some markings to the lower after coating and they made the business decision to just put alumablack over it rather than doing it right and recoating (unacceptable business decision on a $3400 rifle), the rifle came with damage to the handguard from the bipod they used for test fire. (I spoke with Devon about this when I got it and he was great to deal with)
- the rifle was .8xx on test target, it was generally a 1 MOA gun. The constant IG marketing of .4-.6 consistently was just that, marketing.
- The gas block setup did show little to no signs of leakage which was nice.
- BCG gas key was very leaky at the base in addition to their known gas ring issue.
- The brass deflector is useless in the original iteration. The brass goes right over it and bounces off the forward assist. They made an inline change which they kept quiet it seems. No offer to those who purchased the original design to upgrade due to their design flaw.

Blem upper:
- Purchased last Black Friday timeframe.
- Arrived with excessive fouling in the chamber and muzzle area. I reached out and they confirmed they don’t test fire the uppers. When I pressed the issue I was told my upper was pulled from a full rifle. Essentially sold a used upper as a “Blem”.
- Gas block was considerably canted with the gas tube roll pin not driven in all the way. The pin had gouged the inside of the receiver and was evident it was hitting the inside of the rail when they were firing it.

I haven’t appreciated their business practices such as the boasting about an elite “owners club” which appears to be non existent. The dropping of the price considerably after people bought high at the waitlist price was lame.

All in all I think the upper/handguard combo is great but as a package the value isn’t there for me. I’ve since sold off the rifle and traded away the upper.

Thank you for sharing. This is obviously different from what most are saying, but an n of 1 is still 1.

 

[DOB161]

Thank you for sharing. This is obviously different from what most are saying, but an n of 1 is still 1.

Yep, take it for what it’s worth. I’ve chatted with a couple other guys who’ve RMA’d uppers due to overly canted gas blocks as well.

I’d like to think they’ve remedied the issues and I chalk some of my experience up to buying into a training company taking a stab at manufacturing. Similar to how you shouldn’t buy the first model year car.

 

[mattman215]

I have a Seekins 223 dmr and I am very pleased with it. It shoots incredible.

 

[flogxal]

I'd bet these glitches with Ridgeline, where they happen, are due to the numbers of rifles ordered, compared to Ridgeline's probably conservative estimation. I think they were a bit overwhelmed. From my experience at their Scoped Carbine course -- they are serious about what they do, not half-assed in any way.