Custom 25 Creedmoor Build + WOOX High Grade American Walnut Stock

WOOX recently released their High Grade line of stocks. This time, we’re building a custom 25 Creedmoor and installing it in hand-finished American Walnut Superleggera. In this video, we’ll go over the stock features, walk through the chambering, assembly, and take it to the range. Check it out!

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Bill of Materials

As a big fan of 25-caliber cartridges, I set out to build an amazing 25 Creedmoor hunting rifle.

I centered this build around the new WOOX High Grade Superleggera and a BAT Igniter action. I have always appreciated WOOX stocks and functionality, but the High Grade editions take them to a new level.

About the WOOX High Grade Series

WOOX created the High Grade Series with the goal of being passed on and treasured for generations. The collection includes three of WOOX’s most popular stocks, retaining their same weight, ergonomics, performance, and features, but with an elevated aesthetic.

These stocks are crafted from a Grade 3 oiled walnut, which has a richer grain, darker accents, and more character than the originals.

The cost premium is about $200 higher than the original models and they are only sold as a complete package for lever actions and shotguns. The Superleggera bolt-action stock is a single piece.

The BAT Igniter is BAT’s more affordable short action, featuring an integral recoil lug and pin-on/screw-on Picatinny rail.

A highlight of BAT’s ecosystem is that any actions I chamber for the Igniter will also work for other BAT actions like the Vesper and Hammerhead.

New to me is a 22” 1:7.5 carbon-wrapped barrel from BSF. The muzzle came pre-threaded, saving me some machining time.

I am using a JGS finishing reamer as well as Forster gauges. I also turned to some of my favorite build components: the Hawkins Precision M5 DBM and a TriggerTech Remington 700 Diamond trigger.

Machining and Assembly

I chambered the barrel on my PM-1440GT-VS lathe, guided by Rifle Builder PRO.

The 22” finished length of the BSF barrel made it a bit short to fit through the headstock with an outboard spider and chuck jaws.

The BSF barrel came with a pre-threaded muzzle, making it extremely easy for me to screw on a barrel extension to get the length that I needed.

I love the variable speed of the PM-1440GT-VS and the lift kit I added to prevent me from having to hunch over the lathe.

I used the same 25-caliber JGS reamer I’ve used to chamber my other 25-caliber builds. It cut smoothly and efficiently. Watch the full video to see all of the lathe work!

About the PM-1440GT-VS

I have loved the Precision Matthews 1440GT for years, and adding variable speed only made it better! Key features of the PM-1440GT-VS include:

- Variable speed
- 3-Speed Range Gear Box
- All Taiwanese built with Japanese spindle bearings
- 2.055″ thru-spindle capacity
- 14” swing, 40” between centers, 1” follow rest capacity
- D1-5 Chuck Mount
- MT3 Tailstock Taper

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

Putting It Together

After torquing the BAT Igniter onto the barrel and verifying headspace one more time, I secured the barreled action in my Arrow Products Rock Vise and installed the TriggerTech Diamond.

I set this trigger to six ounces. This is light for many people, especially for a hunting trigger, but I prefer light triggers for bench shooting and accuracy testing. If I were taking this rifle out into the field hunting, I would increase the pull weight.

I laser engraved the action and barrel specifications into the side of the barrel right ahead of the action for easy reference. The Hawkins M5 DBM fit precisely into the bottom metal cut on the Superleggera, as did the Igniter into the action inlet.

One note about WOOX stocks — I always like to snug up the screws in the stock in case they loosened during shipping and transport before installing the barreled action.

The Hawkins DBM shipped with two action screws. These were the perfect length for the Superleggera.

I added a SilencerCo Omega 300 Suppressor, five-round PMAG, Element Optics Helix HDLR 2-16×50, and bipod before heading out to the range.

Shooting

I started by bore-sighting the rifle at 100 yards and was on paper with the first shot.

My goal here was to get a zero and collect chronograph data. I purposely didn’t fire a large number of shots as I didn’t want the carbon barrel to reach a point where I’d have to wait a significant amount of time for it to cool before firing more rounds.

I did all of my shooting with Hornady 25 Creedmoor factory ammunition. I wanted to compare the results with my 22” 25 Creedmoor to the results F-Class John gathered with a 28” 25 Creedmoor and the same ammunition.

What surprised me the most is that I had higher velocities with my 22” barrel and Hornady ELD-X and ELD-M ammunition than Hornady’s published velocities with a 24” barrel.

It was not warm out, so temperature was not a factor. The shorter 22” barrel on this rifle did not prove to be a disadvantage in the slightest, making adding a suppressor even more attractive.

With 95-Gr. ELD-VT V-Match Ammo, I achieved a 0.516” (0.492 MOA) three-shot group. I switched over to Hornady’s 128-Gr. ELD-X Precision Hunter Ammo for long-range steel shooting on the Ridgeline.

The 706-yard target was in need of repairs— I accidentally shot it off the hanger with a 300 PRC—so I had to shoot the hard-to-see 660-yard IPSC instead.

My first shot was a bit off the left side. After making a wind correction, I had four successive impacts.

Conclusion

I’ve built a number of hunting rifles over the years, but this is honestly one of my favorites. I love the 25 Creedmoor cartridge and the WOOX High Grade American Walnut is beyond beautiful.