could probably make it happen with 153's at around 2400fps. This necessitated the use of a different handguard a longer one to cover the gas block. Shooters are also guilty of neophobia, which is an extreme or irrational fear or dislike of anything new, novel or unfamiliar. Send us a message, and our experts will assist you in completing your build. It might be able to fire 55s at over 3250fps! The new SpecializationFor just about any general-purpose endeavor, especially those of a tactical nature, the .223 Rem. Anyone who has bought a 6.5mm Creedmoor in the last ten years is a prime customer for a 224 Valkyrie rifle. so we tie a chain and strap and drug this sucker about two miles. 2023 Omaha Outdoors, LLC. It also made shooting far more enjoyable. For every new cartridge that sticks around (6.5 Creedmoor, say), there are probably a dozen that fade into obscurity until they are occasionally rediscovered like a rare vinyl record at a thrift shop. Thought a Beretta shotgun was out of your budget? Cartridges are often unfairly compared because shooters tend to look at things from a generalized perspective. The cartridge was specifically designed for the AR platform, therefore it makes no sense to put it in a bolt action. you protest. i also use the 88eldm, still working a load that performs significantly better than box hornady, but box ammo isnt bad. I've owned and shot most everything and like playing with different rounds. And, I think, many people shooting 600 yard competitions with 223 Rem/5.56 NATO rifles would be just fine sticking with that they have and what they know. The Savage Recon LRP averaged 1.75 inches for five, five-shot groups with all four factory loads. But between the .270 Winchester and the .280 Remington, which offers the best performance for the hunter? Currently I'm waiting for my barrel maker to finish my 6.5 Grendel barrel as I'm going to build one of those as well. I'm not an AR guy per se but its fun as hell. Of course, this is true with many cartridges, and is likely to be true with 224 Valkyrie. (Left to right) 6.5 PRC, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 Grendel, 224 Valkyrie. With both 90-grain loads, actual velocities were slightly higher than the published 2,550 fps for the Fusion load, and 2,700 fps for the Match load. The range at which I was shooting only has steel out to 500, but the ACOG BDC was dead on with 224 Valkyrie at every distance available. If you're short on time or have no stomach for massive walls of text, here's the summary: 224 Valkyrie is cheaper to shoot, the cartridge case makes more sense from a reloading perspective, and it offers better performance at long distance, especially when considering wind, thanks to its ability to shoot heavier bullets. So, they're the same, right? I have not had the chance to run it to 1K or beyond yet. What does that have to do with the 224 Valkyrie? The 75gr FMJ stuff smacked steel with authority, a notable difference from my experiences with shooting 5.56 or 223 at these medium ranges of 300 to 600 yards. While Im sure no one at Federal will admit it, what the company really did was apply the Creedmoor concept to the 22 PDK/22 Nosler. I don't think that the T-Zone shooting works on hogs, because of how damn thick the top of their head is. Yes, there are lots of .277-caliber bullets to choose from, but those that will work within the magazine and case restrictions of the 6.8 SPC in the AR-15 platform are few. These cartridges work with rifles built on the AR-15 platform you only need the correct barrel, bolt and magazine. Sure, 3500fps sounds cool on paper, and if you want to have to carry your steel targets even farther out to avoid cratering and damage, pushing every bullet out at that velocity can be fun. First time out I wasn't even properly zeroed and was making hits out to 900 yards. To each his own but a 224V out of a bolt gun is completely useless. I prefer to use the G7 drag profile when calculating trajectory and wind drift for HPBT bullets because that's exactly what G7 was meant to do, while G1 is more of a flat base shape. AR-15 224 Valkyrie 24" Custom Barrel - Used. WebAt the 1,000 yard marker, the 224 Valkyrie has a bullet drop of -345.8 compared to -475.7 for the 223 Remington. This is a 3.5x35 fixed power scope meant for use on the M240 machine gun and has a ballistic drop compensation reticle to match. Paste as plain text instead, The 224 Valkyrie certainly shines in terms of recoil. Glad you are able to get out and play brother . Bottom line: while you can get almost the same velocity from 5.56 or 223 Rem that you can get out of factory 22 Nosler loads, you can't get almost a 95 grain bullet into an AR-15 mag in a 223 Rem or 5.56 NATO load. These are accurate numbers for some 223 Rem loads. Never miss a post! Not quite. The 224 Valkyrie should appeal to that same crowd, specifically those who prefer an AR-15 to an AR-10. Distance: Compared to the .223 Rem, the .224 Valkyrie stays supersonic hundreds of yards further for accurate groupings at targets well over 1,000 yards. well im thinkin he dead so i ease on down the stand and walk toward him and he pulls his butt up and i get about 20 yards and he gets up blowin blood everywhere, he opens his mouth and shows them tusk and snorts and charges me. I see the Valkyrie as an affordable factory round for practice that is ballistically similar to the The only reliability issues experienced during the firing of hundreds of rounds of 224 Valkyrie ammunition were with the Savage Recon LRP. he fired one round and it didnt even phase him, he shot another and that one done the trick. Assuming a constant 10mph wind, the difference in wind drift between the 22 Nosler 85 and the 224 Valkyrie shooting a Berger 90 VLD at 1000 yards is about the same as the difference between Hornady's 5.56 Superformance 75 and the 22 Nosler 85 RDF. Back to the 224V it was designed to push a .224 bullet as fast as possible with sub MOA accuracy out of a AR platform rifle. There is that saying "You only get one chance to make a first impression" I think the biggest problem with the 224V is it didn't live up to the hype when it first came out and left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouth after a lot of time, money and effort put into it. This hog come out on my shooting lane all the way at the end about 150 yards, i thought it was a bear when i seen it. is it the most optimal 1000y caliber? enjoy shooting a different flavor. Caliber: 224 Valkyrie - WC-15 Platform. The 224 Valkyrie was engineered to do a specific thing better than any commercially available AR-15 cartridge, and that thing is not general in nature. This was even with the gas system of the 224 Valkyrie shut off so that I could ensure I didn't lose any brass. And most are fully capable of this. Same Day Shipping when order is placed before 1PM EST. If you're curious about stability and twist rate, check out the excellent stability calculator on Berger Bullets' website. While accuracy testing the 90-grain Match load, there were five failures to feed and one blown primer. JavaScript is disabled. WebThe 224 Valkyrie uses standard .224 inches diameter bullets with common loads that range between 60 and 90-grains, and 90 being the most common so far. You are using an out of date browser. More important was if the actual velocities equaled those advertised by Federalfor the 224 Valkyrie cartridge. So, even if we don't know why the 6.8 SPC couldn't have just been the 224 Valkyrie or 224 SPC in the first place, thus offering an increase in terminal effectiveness AND an increase in max effective range, we do know that 224 Valkyrie isn't really a brand new cartridge just brand new to the world of standardized cartridges. Second, rifles are built to work with what might be considered standard rim diameters. It seems that new rounds are springing up left and right, especially in the AR platform. I found little to complain about it if I was shooting correctly and doing my job it was slightly harder to spot misses than the 308 but the holes are tiny on paper . If available components are a major deciding factor nothing is as available as 223 ammo and brass. The 224 Valkyrie is a nice little round. I've already referred to his numbers above. Well, it might shock you to learn that a bullet with a G1 ballistic coefficient of .399 and a muzzle velocity of 2850fps has a really, really similar trajectory to a bullet with a G1 ballistic coefficient of .393 and a muzzle velocity of 2800fps. Genealogy of the 224 ValkyrieMost new centerfire cartridges are based on current cases. .224 Valkyrie rounds come in various grains and styles designed for competition shooting, hunting varmints and taking down medium-sized game. I was relieved to see that, contrary to my fears, 224 Valkyrie did not depend on long barrels for its performance. Theyre often afraid a new cartridge will do something better than their favorite, or the one theyre tooled up to support.The 224 Valkyrie is a perfect example. The .224 Valkyrie also stacks up favorably with other chamberings common to the AR platform. I enjoyed shooting the 224 but with little chance to stretch the distance out I like the per shot cost of my 223 a lot more , and as I do not yet reload I have no experience on how easy or fickle they could be . Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, Review: JP Enterprises SCR-11 Rifle in 224 Valkyrie, Top AR-15 Chamberings: 8 Great Do-It-All Loads, First Look: Federal Premium Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing 224 Valkyrie, Lessons Learned From a Ballistician | An Official Journal Of The NRA, CMP Milsurp Ammo In High Demand, .30 Carbine Online Sales Exhausted In One Week | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Review: Federal Top Gun With Paper Wad | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, An Ultimate "Do-All" Rifle: My Case For the Steyr Scout | NRA Family, First Look: Mission First Tactical Multi Mount, Is It Right For You? I guess you get what you pay for; it has a suggested retail of $3,789.95. Only 2600? And with its greater immunity to wind drift, the 224 Keep your gear handy when it's not on your belt. When designing 6.8 SPC, the folks behind the cartridge tested, as I understand it, everything from .224 to .30 cal. We are assessing which products can be legally shipped. That thing is a monster! One reamer grinder screwed things up. so i flip the safety of and shoulder the gun and rip off 3 rounds in him. The following sections go a bit deeper into the differences between the two cartridges from a ballistic perspective. Reloaders are going to like 224 Valkyrie. I can say confidently that there is not a competition I have entered while carrying my 6.5 Creedmoor bolt gun that I could not have done as well or better at with a 224 Valkyrie semi auto, thanks to its reduced weight and recoil, and my skills not being good enough to max out the capability of the Creedmoor. Copyright © 308AR.com 2023 What was the estimated energy and speed on impact at that range? WebCompared to Valkyrie, the 6.5 Grendel has more than doubled the heavy kinetic energy of a 30-30 cartridge, and almost 4x the point of 75-grain other hunting loads at 300 yards, it With the 60-grain load the difference was only 3 fps, with the 75-grain it was 8 fps. With the 75-grain American Eagle load, actual velocities ran about 30 fps slower. Both rifles had effectively identical optics, and while the 308 Win AR is set up as more of a fighting carbine with Magpul MOE handguards and a fixed front sight base A metal grip frame, slide ports and a red dot cut are just some of the new features. The barrier to entry for 224 Valkyrie has started out low and is only likely to get lower as more ammunition manufacturers jump into the fray. To help you get caught up, we've put together a quick guide with all the basics you need to know about .224 Valkyrie rifle cartridges. How does it do in the real world? I think the reason 308 makes sense in a bolt gun is because it has enough case capacity to push .30 cal bullets of a given weight as fast needed for specific applications when you don't need or want the velocity/recoil of a cartridge that could push said bullet faster. Why .277 or 6.8? I bought a cheap upper and with the American Eagle stuff it shoots about MOA. The recoil was a moot point in this test, and most hunters wont wear id be in a world of hurt. Out of an AR, maybe. Both Federal and Nosler appear to be using G1 drag profiles for their trajectory calculations, which give more optimistic numbers than one is likely to encounter in the field. I said Jimmy, shoot that big bastard in the head with that 45 auto. Even if we acknowledge that most of the Nosler product is match grade stuff with a heavier match bullet and move up to affordable brass cased 223 Rem with a 75gr BTHP, comparable Nosler ammo costs more than twice as much. But for others, the thought isn't so bad, especially when they just want to go to the range and put holes in paper in groups of acceptable size, while still having the option of grabbing a box of the good stuff for when the tiniest group is necessary. The JP rifle handled all four loads equally well with the same gas block setting. Ive ran the FGMM 90s out to 850yds with repeatable hits; havent had the chance to go further. (l.) The hallmark load for the 224 Valkyrie is the 90-grain Sierra MatchKing, which at 2,700 fps has set the new standard for long-range performance from an AR-15. this thing is roaring like a bear and blowing like a deer. Time for the 45-70, brother Kinda figured out what happened on that first shot. To an extent, this was one problem with the 6.8 SPC. The best you can do is a 77. The cartridge is based on the same case as the capable 6.8 SPC, and it was designed for heavy bullets like the ever-popular 90-grain SMK (Sierra MatchKing). The utility of the 224 Valkyrie is going to be lost on most AR-15 owners and buyers. Did I tell you that? Pasted as rich text. 224 Valkyrie Range TestingModern shooters are like most people: Theyre more interested in what something can do for them than its history. I personally think the 6.5 grendel is a better choice than 224v. Remember our supersonic range calculations for the 22 Nosler firing an 85gr RDF at a claimed 2750fps out of an 18" barrel? But, like with the .223 Rem. "But the ballistics of M80 ball out of the M240 with its 24.8" barrel must be so different than the ballistics of 224 Valkyrie out of an 18" barrel!" But one way to get better terminal ballistics is to shoot a heavier/longer bullet of the same caliber, and 6.8 SPC, from what I have seen, shortens the effective range of the M4 instead of lengthening it while 224 Valkyrie increases both terminal effectiveness and range. There are many different kinds of pistols out there, and whats right for one person might not be right for you. (r.) For varmints and such, Federal is offering a 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip load with a muzzle velocity of about 3,200 fps for the 224 Valkyrie. agree with southpaw. But I have found this particular 308 AR to deliver very good accuracy, more than enough to consistently hit steel targets within 500 yards remember, we're shooting big steel targets, not comparing tiny groups on paper. In a time when finding a receipt for $99 cases of ammo from 2001 can cause me to weep for the prices of old, shooting more for less is a good thing. With every passing industry trade show, we are introduced to the next big thing, or little thing, as the case may be. However, I would be remiss in discussing the 224 Valkyrie if I did not talk about the 22 Nosler. By shortening the case and changing the shoulder, like Hornady did when transforming the .308 Win./30 TC to the 6.5 Creedmoor, it created a cartridge compatible with very high BC bullets, that will outperform its parents. I've seen this basic comment in regards to several cartridges like the 6.8, 6.5 grendel, .224 valk. Out West, we're spoiled with many 500 yard, 1000 yard, and even longer ranges within reasonable drives. We've talked a lot about 224 Valkyrie and 22 Nosler, but what about the cartridge they're supposed to replace in the chamber of your AR-15? Nosler does a lot of comparing 223 Rem with 22 Nosler, and it's true that the 22 Nosler kicks the butt of a lot of standard 223 Rem loads, with their quoted velocities of 2650 for a 75gr bullet out of 223 Rem and 2950 for a 75 out of an 18" 22 Nosler. you say. But the biggest difference is one of cost, and that difference is enough to make the choice clear, at least to me. All four 224 Valkyrie factory loads were tested in each rifle, and surprisingly, there was not a lot of variation in velocities even though there was a 2-inch difference in barrel length. Web308 vs 30-06 and other 30cal ammo AR-15 Ammunition Win a FREE Membership! No they arent average guns. well crap, glad i aint got no bolt action. Yes, there's now an 85 grain 22 Nosler load, but that's just getting started for the 224 Valkyrie, with 90gr factory loads and the new 95gr Sierra MatchKing available soon. The strength of the 224 Valkyrie is clear: a heavier bullet with a higher BC, even at a slightly lower velocity, means longer supersonic range and less wind drift. Using a .245 G7 BC for the Nosler 85 RDF, and their velocity claim of 2750fps, we see the 22 Nosler 85gr staying supersonic at1055 yards. Pics do not do this thing justice, he was huge. Hornady Superformance ammunition uses special Hornady Superformance powder, and the numbers they give for a 5.56 NATO Superformance Match 75gr BTHP from a 20" barrel are 2910fps, only 40fps shy of the Nosler numbers from an 18" barrel. If hunting with a .224" diameter bullet is legal in your state, I think the Fusion offering is going to be very effective. I'm having problems tracking my 223 at 1000, I can't imagine 2x that. Unlike the new rifle, though, this one was actually chambered in 308 and based on the "Large Frame AR" platform. A quick glance might leave the uninitiated with the impression that they're "basically the same, so who cares," but there are some important differences which leave me with the impression that the Valkyrie is going to stay, while the 22 Nosler will languish a few boxes at a time on gun store shelves. WebThe new 224 Valkyrie is based on a 6.8 SPC case necked down to .22 caliber. And with the 60-grain Ballistic Tip load, real-world velocities fell about 100 fps short. After all, we know its not uncommon for published velocities to be, well, optimistic. I fully expect that, when other ammunition manufacturers choose to load 224 Valkyrie, we will see a 100-150fps bump but even if we don't, 224 Valkyrie is superior to both 223 Rem and 22 Nosler for long range shooting, if for no other reason than the case design allows for longer bullets that help buck wind better. If you were, before the 22 Nosler, wishing your 223 Rem rifle was just a little faster, then you are likely very happy with the 22 Nosler concept. One footnote to this section is that Federal, especially in their Gold Medal line, is not known for producing the highest possible velocities.
