Has anyone had a chance to see these in person? I’m tempted to buy one, but they seem pretty heavy, and still very underwhelmed by the stock. I’ve also been looking at the new Weatherby 307 alpine CT/ST or live wild carbon, and lastly another Fierce, since I really want a 280ai. The price point on these seekins is just very attractive. Although I do wish they had 280ai, and not sure what I would substitute that with, maybe another 6.5prc but in a 24” barrel, since I already have one in an 18” barrel from fierce. Open to other suggestions as well. My goal for this rifle is to have something that is equally enjoyable from a bench as it is to hunt with. That’s why I was leaning more towards the Seekins or Weatherby style stocks vs another fierce rogue. Trying to keep it around the $2k mark, but that’s not necessarily a hard number. Thanks!
Man, I wish they would do a 280 ackley. I would be all over that. I asked them about that a couple of, or maybe now three years ago, and they said no way. Even their custom shop said they wouldn’t do it.
They did send me a list of cartridges that the custom shop would do and they included a number of the Sherman wildcats. Not sure if one of those would be close to 280AI performance.
Or, you could get a 7PRC or 7RM and handload it lightly. My older Element 7PRC loves the 168LRX loaded to just above typical 280AI performance, lower than typical 7PRC performance levels
All good points. I wonder why they are so anti 280. I’ve reached out to cs, they’re honestly. Or very responsive. For snyone who complains about fierce, they reply waaay faster than Seekins and with more thorough answers, in my experience.
I didn’t really want to spend the price on the element, especially since I don’t really feel like that stock is worth it, but the ph2 and ph3 seem pretty heavy for what they are. Not sure I’d want to lug them around for miles, estimating they would come in around the 10lb mark w scope and rings. So realistically the element is probably the way to go. The new element does have a carbon fiber barrel now and a different stock. Just wish I could see one in person, but nowhere in Tn sells them.
Yeah I don’t understand their position either. They also don’t offer any WSM chamberings.
I think they’re hard to find in stores East of the Mississippi river. I just took a chance on mine in the past and managed to get lucky. No one around here ever carries anything that nice.
I do have one of the new M3 elements, and two of the older ones. I do feel like this stock of the new M3 is an improvement over the previous one. That m-lock rail on the bottom is very handy. The stock certainly has a better, more substantial feel to it. That being said, the older elements with the non-carbon fiber barrels shoot better. To be fair though, I’ve got a couple of hundred rounds through both of the older ones and less than 100 rounds through the new one. Maybe it’s still breaking in or just an issue of familiarity.
That all helps a lot, thanks so much for all the info. It honestly kind of leans me towards just getting another fierce, because I’ve had such a great experience with the few that I own. Or potentially trying that Weatherby 307 Alpine CT. That’s a lot of gun for the price and you can get them in 280 AI.
So when Seekins told me no 280 those years ago I ended up settling on a fierce edge. And settling is almost certainly the wrong phrase because it’s a wonderful gun. It shoots very accurately with a hand load. I just wish it didn’t have a carbon fiber Barrel.
I haven’t really paid attention lately not sure what the current Fierce offerings are in 280. I will say that a benefit of fierce over Weatherby is that at least when I was last looking, most of the fierce rifles came with faster twist rates. That could come in handy if you’re going to do hand loading with more of the sleek high BC bullets. But if you’re sticking with more traditional Factory loads that probably wouldn’t come into play.
I’m very good friends with one of the local gun store owners here. He purchased the MDT version of that Weatherby rifle in 7 PRC for his son-in-law out in wyoming. He said it’s absolutely wonderful rifle and recommends that I purchase one. So that’s of course third hand information but he was very pleased with it.
One of the newer twisted models from Fierce may be a good option then. Twisted rogue comes w the steel spiral fluted barrel and is $1700. They offer it in 280ai. May go that route. Great price for a fierce.
A timely podcast
Sweet, thanks for sharing
I have a weatherby 307 alpine CT, in 6.5 prc, and putting great 5 shot groups. Whoteewho has the weatherby 307 Hush model he just did a YouTube on, in the 280AI. Interesting watch. My thought for fun would be buying the 307 builders action
Or the Bergara BPSA Premier Series Action
https://www.scopelist.com/Bergara-Premier-Series-Short-Action-w-Standard-Bolt-Face-BPSA.aspx
then have fun building your own custom gun, the weatherby alpine ct has a bsf carbon fiber barrel, which I really like, Springfield waypoints are using those too, and 2 friends that own waypoints are getting 1/2” 5 shot groups.
but there are some great deals right now for some 280AI’s
https://www.wikiarms.com/guns?q=280%20ackley%20
My next build is going to be the 25 creedmoor
Doing load development for one in 6.5 prc right now I’ll post results this weekend. I will say just shooting it to get it on paper the other day it feels like a really great rifle I would even be willing to say the best in its price point. Only thing “bad” I can say about it is that it is a heavier rifle.
Thank you, keep us all posted. The weight was my big hang up. That’s probably about a 10lb gun scoped up. Im sure it will shoot amazing though, because of that, which is also very attractive. Just wouldn’t be the one id likely go hiking with.
It rifle weighs 10.25 pounds scoped. Note the scope is rather heavy(Burris veracity ph). It is the 20” barrel version and from what I have seen so far I think I will put the short barrel haters to shame aka Garrett lol.
Which rifle are you referring to?
Seeking ph3 6.5 prc
I am interested in 280AI, but it’s hard to find a factory rifle. I looked at the Fierce Twisted Rage LR, but don’t have any experience with Fierce.
I’ve almost pivoted to a 7mm Rem Mag, but haven’t pulled the trigger yet.
Oh wow, I wouldnt have thought that would come out to 10.25lbs.
I have 4 fierce and they’re amazing. Despite what you may read online, their Customer service is 2nd to none in my experience. That’s why im tempted to just go that route again. Seken has a great reputation, but I’ve personally had a hard time getting them to respond, I sent them an email last week and just got a response yesterday, I replied to that one right away and haven’t heard back yet. Meanwhile, I have emailed fierce on a Sunday before and had John Mogel himself reply the same day. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy one. It’s a lot of fun for the price.
Wow, that’s really heavy for a 20” barrel. You may have just answered my question, because I was looking at the 24 inch barrel. I already have a fierce 6.5 PRC in an 18 inch barrel. So I’d be looking to go 24 to max out its potential.
I have had slow response from Seekins too.
Which Fierce models do you have?
I see that Christensen Arms chambers the Ridgeline FFT in 280 AI. I have a Ridgeline in 308 and love it but I’m hesitant to buy the same rifle.