22 Creedmoor: Stiller Predator Build (End-to-End) & Mystery Solved

Piet Malan from Impact Shooting joined me from South Africa to build my first .22 Creedmoor on a Stiller Predator action. Sharing this experience with him and walking him through his own 6.5 Sherman Short build was incredibly fun and rewarding, but we also had some mysteries to solve.

Disclaimer

Ultimate Reloader LLC / Making with Metal Disclaimer: (by reading this article and/or watching video content you accept these terms). The content on this website (including videos, articles, ammunition reloading data, technical articles, gunsmithing and other information) is for demonstration purposes only. Do not attempt any of the processes or procedures shown or described on this website. All gunsmithing procedures should be carried out by a qualified and licensed gunsmith at their own risk. Do not attempt to repair or modify any firearms based on information on this website. Ultimate Reloader, LLC and Making With Metal can not be held liable for property or personal damage due to viewers/readers of this website performing activities, procedures, techniques, or practices described in whole or part on this website. By accepting these terms, you agree that you alone are solely responsible for your own safety and property as it pertains to activities, procedures, techniques, or practices described in whole or part on this website.

About the Stiller Predator Action

Stiller offers a variety of actions. I selected the Stiller Predator Short action over the skeletonized Wombat Piet used as I wanted something with a bit more heft.

This REM700 clone has the features you’d want in a bolt action including an external bolt release, pinned lug, one-piece fluted bolt with 90° throw, and REM700 footprint and hanger, but at a very competitive price.

From Stiller Actions:

Designed to be used for both hunting and competition, the Predator action is a 416R stainless steel action with a Remington 700-style footprint. It is available in both single shot and repeater versions with both right and left bolt. Short actions have 223, PPC, 308, and magnum bolt faces. The 223 bolt face uses the Sako style extractor, while the others use a modified M16 type. The Predator has a number of features that factory actions lack. It has an extended magazine well that accommodates Wyatt Outdoors extended magazine boxes for the handloader who likes to seat his bullets longer than factory ammo. It uses the most dependable extractor available today and has an enlarged primary extraction camming surface. It uses #8 screws for scope base mounting. The bolt is forged from a single piece of steel, is hand lapped to the action, and fluted for better in-field function. The firing pin is fluted for faster lock time and is fully supported within the bolt body. The bolt handle is threaded for the bolt knob of choice.

Stiller offers this action in both right-and left-handed configurations with short magnum, short standard .308, short mid (ARC/PPC/Grendel), and short light .223 bolt faces. You can also choose between a single shot and a repeater.

Bill of Materials

In addition to the Stiller Predator Short Action with .308 bolt face, I used a 1:8 Benchmark barrel blank, Manson reamer and gauges, and Bix’n Andy competition trigger. I set it all in a Foundation Centurion stock with Hawkins Precision M5 DBM.

I also added a Stiller 20 MOA rail to the top of the action.

About the PM-1440HVT-2

The Precision Matthews PM-1440HVT-2 is a great gunsmithing lathe, with the following stand-out features:

All Taiwanese built with Japanese spindle bearings
Heavy duty precision 14-40
14” swing, 40” between centers
2.055″ thru-spindle capacity
Steel or cast iron ultra-rigid base
Variable Speed drive, 2 speed ranges
D1-5 Chuck Mount
MT3 Tailstock taper

If you’d like to know more about the PM-1440HVT-2, check out our full overview HERE.

Machining

Before chambering, a lot of prep work needs to happen. I secured the tenon print from Stiller (same as Wombat), made some measurements, and entered the specifications into my proprietary software.

I dialed in the 1:8” Benchmark barrel on the Precision Matthews PM-1440HVT-2 and began pre-drilling from the breech end.

I indicated the barrel to 0.0001” and single-point bored the chamber area true. Next I reamed off the lands in the neck area, turned the tenon (1 1/16”-16), thread relief, and threaded the tenon.

After verifying fit, the next step was to cut the bulk of the chamber and to check for chatter, cut depth, chip weld, and headspace.

Using a Manson reamer in a rigid reamer holder, the chamber cut like glass.

I learned this technique from Bruce Thom and have stuck with it ever since. Chamfering the chamber entrance and dressing the chamber walls finished out the breech-end machining work. I cut the barrel to length on a PM-712G band saw then indicated the barrel to 0.0002” on the lathe.

I turned the tenon with reliefs and threaded the muzzle ⅝”-24. I also cut a recessed crown flat and beveled the lands.

Assembly

I secured the action to the barrel using a modular action wrench and bravo barrel vise from Short Action Customs.

Though Stiller wasn’t explicitly specified, I found that the #3 head worked well.

I torqued it to 75 inch-lbs. and did a final headspace check. It was perfect.

Next came adding pins and the 20 MOA rail above the action. I torqued the screws to 20 inch-lbs. and secured them with loctite. The Bix’n Andy competition trigger dropped right in with two pins.

This ultra-lightweight pull trigger is the same one I used in my Eddie Van Halen tribute rifle build some time ago.

It is adjustable from 0.066 lb. (1.1 oz.) to 1.783 lbs with no safety and optional bolt release, making it ideal for F-Class and benchrest.

With the barreled action fully assembled, I added the Hawkins M5 DBM to the stock and paired it with the completed action.

Finishing off the build was a Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 and Area 419 Maverick suppressor.

Sight-In Troubles

I started off zeroing the rifle for an afternoon of rock-chucking with Piet.

We had splendid results and a fun afternoon with a number of shots at various distances.

When I returned, I set up on the 100-yard bench with Hornady 88 grain ELD-M ammunition.

1.5 MOA results had me troubled. I went back to Hornady’s ammo specifications and noted the recommended minimum 1:7” twist barrel.

I had SAAMI’s recommended 1:8”. To amend this, I turned to the Sierra 77 grain HPBT MatchKing, a bullet that would stabilize in 1:8”.

I loaded these over 39.0 grains of Hodgdon H4350 in virgin small rifle primer Alpha Munitions cases with Federal 205 primers. This change yielded much better results!

Using the brake, my five-shot group measured approximately an inch at 100 yards.

Using the Maverick suppressor, my five-shot group shrunk to 0.456”.

Load development should shrink these numbers even further. Velocity averaged 3,242.9 fps with a 43.7 extreme spread and 13.8 standard deviation.

Conclusion

This build was on the heavier side with the goal of load development and precision shooting. It was rewarding to work with a new action and it performed flawlessly. If you are interested in building your own rifles and making money gunsmithing, be sure to check out the Colorado School of Trades curriculum.

I didn’t expect the twist rate discrepancy between Hornady and SAAMI, but was glad I was able to quickly resolve the issue by switching to 77 grain SMK bullets. Alpha Munitions brass can take a lot of pressure, but I will have to be cautious about retaining barrel life with this swift round. Stay tuned for a 1:7” lightweight .22 Creedmoor build more suited to hiking and hunting.