This leaves us with the rearward force being applied by the cartridge against the bolt face, bolt lugs and the locking lugs of the action. Even then, the barrel encases the cartridge and takes the majority of the blast. This is allowable because the forces acting on the action and bolt body are minimal, with the exception of where the explosion takes place. The biggest construction change was the swap from steel to aluminum for the action and bolt body. The main construction of the Havak Element consists of aerospace grade 7075 aluminum, which makes this rifle different (and lighter) than most. More About the Aluminum Action & Bolt Body This makes that group a 6 round sub 1 MOA group, pretty good! Again, targets were shot at 100-yard distance, velocity is listed next to the group and correlated to the shot number. I added 2 extra rounds to the group on the right because of shot number 4 being a flyer. These two groups were shot at 100 yards with a suppressor on the Havak Element. Statistically, they’d likely be much smaller if they were only 3 round groups. The fact that these groups are under MOA with 5 shot groups and factory ammunition is extremely impressive. Also, the high cheekpiece provided a positive point of contact and made for a comfortable shooting experience when coupled with the soft recoil pad.ĮDITOR’S NOTE: Generally only 3 shot groups would be fired to test accuracy on a lightweight hunting rifle due to light barrels heating up and throwing rounds. The Timney Elite Hunter trigger set at crisp 2.5 lbs was a huge help to shooting. This is typical of a lightweight firearm. With the suppressor attached and with the bare muzzle condition, recoil was sharp and the gun tended to hop on the bipod at each shot. Each group was shot on the 100-yard range. I tested 2 different muzzle attachments as well as bare muzzle condition with two different types of Hornady factory ammo: giving me 6 different groups to examine. Being a hunting rifle, I would typically complete the accuracy-test with 3 round groups, but because of its precision, long-range focus (as hinted at by the integral bubble level on the rear of the scope rail), I chose to use 5 round groups. To begin the accuracy test, I stole an optic off of another rifle of mine a Sightron S-Tac 4-20×50 and also mounted a Harris bipod. Each square on this paper is 1″, so this 3 round group shot by my Element is under 1/4 MOA. Take this information for what you will below is an accompanying picture of a 3 round group shot by the guys at Seekins with this rifle. The only other difference was the 5 round groups that I stuck to vs. I was using a rear bag and front bipod they used a front and rear bag. I’ll start off this section with a disclaimer: I consider myself an exceptional shooter, but I was not able to replicate the results that guys at Seekins were able to produce. Seekins Precision took every bit of extra material out of the Element, as is evident from this scalloped Picatinny rail. Weight reducing cuts where possible, including locations on the integrated scope rail.A shorter than conventional 21″ spiral fluted, light profile barrel.Aluminum Bolt Body with steel bolt head.Aluminum action with steel thread insert.The grip and forend’s gridded texturing felt great to the touch as well, helping to improve your grip on the firearm despite the weather conditions or grime that you will undoubtedly get into while hunting. This is important because light rifles tend to have a sharp recoil impulse. As I started touching the rifle, I discovered that the recoil pad is extremely soft and forgiving. The barrel is also unique in its own way because of how the Mountain Hunter taper starts from further back, narrowing down the diameter of the barrel quicker than most further reducing the weight of this system. The paint is a sponge applied Cerakote camo job which is done by hand and consequently, unique for each rifle. Upon unboxing the Element in 6.5 PRC, I saw an attractive, custom-looking rifle laying on the counter in front of me. Staring down the mean end of the Havak Element, peek the spiral fluting and generous space around the free-floated barrel. But first, let’s talk about the rifle itself. I managed to get my hands on Seekins’ new Havak Element soon after it was announced, and immediately put it through the hardest tests that I could think of: I brought it with me on several hunts including Idaho mule deer and whitetail deer.
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