By: Johnny Mack
Instagram: @soulseekersnation & X: @soulseekershunt
One of the best things about AR’s is that they are completely customizable and adjustable to any purpose. They are the grown man’s Barbie dolls. But even more than that, they are the one tool in your arsenal that can shape shift and morph into whatever type of application you need to use it for. Do you need a short barreled rifle? Check! Do you need a long range tack driver with precision? Check! Do you need a smooth shooting quick follow up gun? Check! Do you need more stopping power? Check!
This past year while on a hunt I found myself undergunned for what I like to call a Texas safari. In Texas, at any point throughout the year, you can find yourself hunting hogs, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, racoons and more all at the same time. It is a sportsman’s dream! The issue I ran into was that I opted for my AR15 chambered in 5.56 to mitigate pelt damage rather than my AR10 chambered in .308. The AR10 possessed the stopping power I prefer for hogs as learned from experience. Hogs soak up bullets like a sponge if not perfectly placed right behind the ear. On the other hand, the larger short action calibers used within an AR10 are not the friendliest for fur and smaller critters. Thus my dilemma.
My weapon of choice for the safari was a Seekins Precision NX15 with a standard 16″ barrel chambered in 5.56/223 Wylde. An absolute tack driver of a weapon system. Light weight, accurate, smooth shooting and gassed just right with their adjustable gas block for shooting suppressed that comes standard with their AR’s. And if you want to know more about my thoughts on that rifle, you can read my review that I wrote about NX15.
As I reflected upon my weapon and caliber choice for the hunt, I found myself struggling to find a balance of knockdown power while still being fur friendly. My weapon choice was perfect, as the NX15 is lightweight, easily maneuverable and a sharp shooter. The caliber however was lacking. So I did some research and decided to step into a brand new cartridge family that I previously had zero experience or real knowledge about.
The ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge) family of cartridges were specifically developed to push heavier for caliber bullets with a higher ballistic coefficient within the AR15 platform. In 2010 the first wildcat’s were originally called the .22 Coyote. It was a cartridge capable of high speeds, long distance shots with minimal winddrift. In 2020, the 6 ARC (using a 6mm bullet) officially became SAAMI approved and was supported by Hornady Ammunition as they developed offerings specifically for the AR15 platform. It wasn’t until 2024 that the 22 ARC became SAAMI approved and has been a huge blessing to the hunting community that was facing the same dilemma that I was.
The .22 ARC was designed for precision shooting, long-range hunting, and practical applications in the AR-15 platform. It provides a high-velocity, high-performance small-bore cartridge that maximizes ballistic efficiency, while offering an accurate, lightweight-recoil option for AR-15 shooters and hunters without the need for an AR-10 platform.
The benefit of the ARC cartridges is that they allow the benefit of using heavy caliber bullets or standard caliber weights at screaming speeds. One thing to keep in mind is that factory ARC ammunition is specifically made for the AR15 platform. If you want faster speeds by handloading, you can achieve that in a bolt gun platform but your handloads will not be safe in the AR15 platform because of pressure limits.
Bottom: 80 gr Hornady ELD-X in 22 ARC
About the NX15
The Seekins Precision NX15 complete upper chambered in 22 ARC is the perfect accessory and or alternative to the exact issue I faced in my hunting dilemma mentioned above. Replacing the upper on the NX15 that I already owned while being familiar and efficient with, provided me the ability to maintain comfort and control without the Frankenstein look of mixing and matching AR parts. In addition going with the Seekins NX15 22 ARC upper, I maintain the Seekins Precision lifetime warranty and accuracy guarantee.
The billet machined upper receiver shines with its hard edge lines complemented by the lightweight, thin and skeletonized NOXS handguard. An adjustable gas block is always standard on Seekin’s products as well as their NEST flash hider which gives your gun enough flair to set you apart from other AR15’s afield.
There are a few things to keep in mind when switching into an ARC cartridge from your standard 5.56 AR. The ARC family is based off of the 6.5 Grendel bolt face. Even though the bullet diameter is the same, you need a different bolt face than what is in your current 5.56. Along with that, you also need specific 6.5 Grendel AR magazines. Since the ARC case design is larger, the number of rounds you can fit in a magazine is all based on the Grendel mags carrying capacity. A benefit to buying the Seekins complete upper is that it all stores as one piece for less confusion or mix up.
For my Texas safari, I have been using a Hornady 80 gr ELD-X Precision Hunter, but when I took the same gun to South Dakota for prairie dogs I dropped down to the Hornady 62 gr ELD-VT’s. One of the best parts of switching out your upper is the versatility it provides without sacrifice or compromise.
Pros
- Accurate
- Comes with adjustable gas block
- Ambidextrous bolt lock
- Great looking rifle
- skeletonized handguard to cut weight
cons
- Charging handle is not ambidextrous
details
- MSRP – $1395
- Barrel Length – 18″
- Barrel – 1:8 Twist | 5R 416 stainless steel
- Receiver: NX15 7075-T6 billet- skeletonized
- Handguard – 15″ NOXS MLOK
- Gas Block: Seekins Low Profile Adjustable Gas Block
- Muzzle Device – Seekins Precision NEST Flash Hider 1/2×28
your next Rifle
When shopping for your next AR-15 or Modern Sporting Rifle, keep the Seekins Precision NX15 at the top of the list and especially chambered in 22 ARC. The combination of precision machining, style and top notch features combined with the unlimited lifetime warranty and accuracy guarantee are hard to pass up.
Thanks for reading this gear review. If you want to know more about the NX15 and my experience with it, feel free to ask by clicking here. In the meantime make sure to check out our PODCAST and show SOUL SEEKERS on CarbonTV as well as follow us on Instagram @soulseekersnation and on X @soulseekershunt. Knowledge is power and MENTORSHIP IS CONSERVATION. Stay soulful!