There has been a lot of buzz lately surrounding the 7mm Backcountry cartridge. The premise of this round is incredibly appealing for hunters: achieving blistering muzzle velocities out of shorter, more maneuverable barrels. This makes for a much more manageable rifle system, especially when navigating rugged terrain out West.
However, that performance comes with a trade-off: extreme pressure. We’ve seen numerous reports—and experienced it ourselves on other rifle platforms—that the high chamber pressure of the 7mm Backcountry can lead to severe "bolt stick." This makes extraction difficult and can cost a hunter a vital follow-up shot.
We recently partnered with Seekins Precision to add their rifles to our long-range shooting classes. When we got our hands on their brand new Havak PH3 chambered in 7mm Backcountry, our first priority wasn't just accuracy—it was reliability. Could the Seekins action handle the pressure?
We took it to the range equipped with a Dead Air Nomad Ti XC suppressor and a Garmin Xero C1 Pro to find out.
The Seekins Havak PH3 is built for the high-altitude hunter. Out of the box, the ergonomics are outstanding. The stock features a push-button adjustable cheek rest and a vertical grip with a dedicated thumb shelf that puts your hand in a perfect, repeatable shooting position.
The heart of the rifle is the Seekins Havak action, featuring a 60-degree bolt throw for incredibly fast cycling. It’s paired with:
Our primary goal was to run multiple strings of fire to heat up the barrel and see if the bolt started to bind. To get the most accurate data possible, we utilized the Garmin Xero C1 Pro Chronograph.
The short answer is absolutely not. Across multiple groups during zeroing and long-range testing, the Seekins Havak PH3 experienced zero bolt stick issues. The 60-degree throw remained "money"—smooth, fast, and effortless—even with the high-pressure 7mm Backcountry loads.
We tracked muzzle velocity and extreme spread (ES) using two factory loads from Federal Premium.
Ammo Type Avg. Velocity Extreme Spread (ES)
Federal Fusion Tipped (175gr) 3,054 FPS 26 FPS
Federal Terminal Ascent (170gr) 3,078 FPS 32 FPS
Note: The Fusion Tipped produced the tightest groups at 100 yards, with the first two shots nearly touching.
Hunting with a long barrel plus a suppressor can feel like you're carrying artillery in the mountains. By using the 22" barrel of the PH3 paired with the Dead Air Nomad Ti XC, we maintained a compact, lightweight profile without sacrificing the 3,000+ FPS performance. The Nomad Ti XC kept the recoil manageable and the report comfortable, allowing for better follow-through on high-distance shots.
Once we confirmed the action was reliable, we moved to the long-range course:
While bolt stick is a genuine concern with the 7mm Backcountry in some actions, Seekins Precision has engineered the PH3 to handle it flawlessly. This setup—paired with the Garmin Xero for data and the Dead Air Nomad for signature reduction—is a total confidence booster. It’s exactly what I’ll be carrying on my upcoming Colorado mule deer hunt.
