224 valkyrie vs 308 224 valkyrie vs 308

This new cartridge, which is really just a modification of a cartridge thats more than a century old, was submitted to the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI). Power: .224 Valkyrie rounds are available with ballistic tips, transferring more energy on impact for increased lethality when you're hunting game. The 224 Valkyrie is a nice little round. It means an AR-15 in .223 Rem. This round is relatively new to the scene, so it's just beginning to catch the attention of some shooters who've remained devoted to the tried-and-true .223 Remington. There are several reasons for this. I told him you will have to pull that hide off in strips. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association. (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. For the guy shooting beyond 300, theres a distinct advantage in wind deflection. I've owned and shot most everything and like playing with different rounds. If that alone isn't a reason to go with the Valkyrie, I don't know what is. Now, while this might not sound like much, it was just enough to allow extremely high-BC bullets to be loaded, without seating them past the ogive. Weight Empty: 8 lbs 3.2 oz. Also, it's cheaper. How many factory bolt action rifles do you see in the U.S. in .222 vs .223. I tried helping a couple friends with them and from what I recall, RL-15 was the only way to get the 88-90gr bullets to work. How many threads on this forum do you see for building rifles in .222? That's because the 224 Valkyrie is supersonic at longer range, making your job easier if you want to shoot that far. There are differences between the two in terms of ballistics, and I'm going to discuss those in detail. WebDeveloped in-house by Federal Premium Ammunition, the .224 Valkyrie is a bottle-necked cartridge holding a rimless 90-grain Sierra MatchKing slug thats been shrunk from 6.8 to The 22 Nosler, introduced just last year at SHOT Show, did not seem to be taking the AR world by storm when, less than a year later, news of the 224 Valkyrie broke over the horizon. With every passing industry trade show, we are introduced to the next big thing, or little thing, as the case may be. Yes with cheaper options you run a larger risk of getting a lemon but more often than not this is not an unattainable goal. If hunting with a .224" diameter bullet is legal in your state, I think the Fusion offering is going to be very effective. Well, just after the turn of the 21st century, an enterprising wildcatter from Illinois by the name of Roy Winnett created the 22 PDK (Prairie Dog Killer.) While a 223 or 5.56 barrel of 18" length would use a rifle gas, intermediate gas, or midlength gas system depending on the desires of the end user, this Rock Creek barrel uses a gas system one inch longer than a standard rifle gas system. I see the Valkyrie as an affordable factory round for practice that is ballistically similar to the Impressive little round. After all, we know its not uncommon for published velocities to be, well, optimistic. (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. True story, my Dad decided to improve our herd through breeding, and bought two, very high dollar boar's. Take for example a 300BLK in a bolt, to me that would only make sense if you were going to shoot it subsonic / suppressed all the time. in a bolt-action rifle, it is indeed a lighting rod in an AR-15.. You might say the 224 Valkyrie began life as a .30 Rem., because the 112-year-old .30 Rem. You must log in or register to reply here. One of the great things about the 224 Valkyrie is that it can be used in both AR-15 and AR-308 platforms. All content Copyright 1998-2018 Rifleshooter.com, FTC disclosure: some links on this site are monetized, Removing stripped and sheared screws from a rifle, Project Guns- Gunsmithing articles and posts, 224 VALKYRIE- Effect of barrel length on velocity, Custom 1911 Project: Part 4- Machining a chain link front strap, USMC Combat Pistol Program history and development, Installing a muzzle brake between centers, 6.5 Creedmoor load development: Hornady 147 ELD with H4350 and H4831SC, Shooting the FBI Pistol Qualification Course, 308 Winchester Load Development: 175-grain Sierra Matchking and Varget, Quick rifle bedding tip: Easy removal of bedding material from pillars, Worst case scenario: pin and screw removal-EDM machining in gunsmithing, Building a 300 Winchester Magnum Precision Rifle. Did I tell you that? The .224 Valkyrie also stacks up favorably with other chamberings common to the AR platform. Have yet to see a 224v that shoots well thats not a custom build. However, since the Valkyrie can handle heavier bullets with a higher BC, at extended distancelike at 1,000 yardsthe Valkyrie is the better performer. 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? It approved the cartridge on Jan. 22, 2018, with a maximum average pressure (MAP) of 55,000 psi, which is the same as the .223 Rem. If you're curious about stability and twist rate, check out the excellent stability calculator on Berger Bullets' website. I guess you get what you pay for; it has a suggested retail of $3,789.95. this thing is roaring like a bear and blowing like a deer. A lot of shooters have figured this out, and this is I think the biggest reason why 224 Valkyrie is here to stay. SHOP NOW. The 224 Valkyries bullet is inherently long, thin, and ballistically efficient. agree with southpaw. It is ballistically superior to anything that is cheaper, and cheaper than anything that is ballistically superior (and even then, we're talking big differences in price for small differences in ballistics). As you can see from the numbers above, the .224 Valkyrie consistently held muzzle energies around 1,450 ft-lbs or more, while the .223 Remington was in the mid to Many Barrel Configurations [Click] The biggest up-front cost of getting into a new caliber is the rifle or perhaps the barrel/bolt/magazine combination if it's designed to fit in an existing platform, but the biggest long term cost if you actually shoot your new rifle is the ammo. is it the most optimal 1000y caliber? One recent cartridge has broken this trend for me, and that cartridge is the 224 Valkyrie. IMO I just don't see its usefulness in a bolt rifle. 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. Because 22 Nosler is a unique case with a rebated rim, your only source of brass to date is Nosler (at around 70 cents per case) or by buying and shooting 22 Nosler ammunition. To each his own but a 224V out of a bolt gun is completely useless. The cheapest 22 Nosler match grade ammunition at the time of this writing seems to be hovering over 1 dollar per round note that there is currently a 62gr Varmageddon available directly from Nosler at a special price of 70 cents per round, but it seems to be a sale or clearance price, not a normal price. the bullet went in his snout and came out the back of his neck. "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!" 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). Want some help putting your conversion kit together? But for something supposedly meant to run heavy bullets, it seems to be extremely picky. You might say the 224 Valkyrie began life as a .30 Rem., because the 112-year-old .30 Rem. The hog from hell, 224 Valkyrie vs 400 pound hog - Hunting - 308AR.com Community All Activity Home The Sportsmens Den Hunting The hog from hell, 224 Think again. More case capacity than 6.5 Grendel, 224 Valk, or anything EXCEPT 300 WSSM. The new As many of you know, traditionally the best bullets are not found in .277 caliber. But I know from my experience participating in informal precision rifle matches as well as organized competitions like the 24 Hour Sniper Adventure Challenge that velocity can't be the only thing you rely on when it comes to hitting a target at long range - especially when there's wind involved. This is a 26 inch 1-7 twist McGowen barrel. If you arent mag limited like with an AR, there are FAR better options in a bolt gun. By comparison, the Savage retails for $1,249. Accuracy was average to excellent. Everyone I've talked to has had a hard time getting it much better than 1.5 @ 100yd. (Left to right) 6.5 PRC, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 Grendel, 224 Valkyrie. Why .277 or 6.8? Out of an AR, maybe. 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. The following sections go a bit deeper into the differences between the two cartridges from a ballistic perspective. (l.) Though the Savage Recon LRP did not shoot as precisely as the tested JP rifle, the 90-grain MatchKing load was still a near-MOA performer in the more- affordable rifle. Based on years of testing various ARs, Ive found their average precision to be about 1.5 MOA, when multiple random loads are evaluated. he got stuck three times before we got it off the soft dirt wheeler trails. When gusts died down, I had no problem hitting at distance with either rifle, but when the wind was rapidly changing speed, it was easier to get on target with the Valkyrie than with a 308 Win rifle of similar length, even when shooting match ammunition in the 308. I did, however, ask Sierra about the stability of the new 95gr SMK out of an 18" 1/7 twist barrel, and their ballistic technician said I'd be fine with that combination. It fits into a short action rifle and has the same head diameter as a .308. 224 VALKYRIE- Effect of barrel length on velocity New cartridges come and go. I have tested the 62gr 5.56 Fusion load and its 62/64gr Speer Gold Dot cousins, and think the 90gr 224V load will be extremely effective for deer and other similarly sized animals. It's going to be cheaper for you to buy 80-95gr VLD target bullets than it would be to buy bullets for 6.5mm cartridges like the 6.5 Grendel (which is ballistically inferior to 224 Valkyrie anyway), and it uses less powder, too. Most gun owners, though, can't always afford premium at this level. This means it will work in an AR-15 and reliably feed from conventional 6.8 SPC magazines. Even with heavy bullets, one can expect 5.56 NATO loads with 75 or 77gr bullets to be traveling at around 2700 from a 16" and 2800 from a 20" barrel, cutting the "300fps" advantage of 22 Nosler in half. Varmint hunters? This approval is critical because it standardizes the manufacture of guns and ammo, opening up for the production of both by any manufacturer. If available components are a major deciding factor nothing is as available as 223 ammo and brass. I expect any modern rifle to shoot 5 shots inside 1 moa with ammo that it likes. A good comparison would be the Grendel will give you AR-308 ballistics and the Valkyrie will give you high performance bolt rifle 308 ballistics. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Glad you are able to get out and play brother . Same Day Shipping when order is placed before 1PM EST. But i have others that are. Unless youre a cartridge geek like me, you probably dont really care where the 224 Valkyrie came from; you just want to know what its capable of. oh come on, that made a great story, HOG's are tough,so don't forget your 20 round magazine for that .308. This gives everyone options, and the starting price for some 75gr FMJ 224 Valkyrie is about 50 cents a round. If you like shooting 308 Win and for some reason haven't jumped on the 6.5CM bandwagon, you'll love 224 Valkyrie, if only because the trajectories are so similar that you won't have to spend a ton of time memorizing a bunch of new holdovers and you'll have a better time dealing with wind, too. I think the 224 Valkyrie is going to do very well in the marketplace, and I can't wait to see what ammunition options are available for it when other manufacturers start jumping into the game. WebThe .224 Valkyrie is basically a necked down 6.8 SPC, so if you want to convert your AR-15 to .224 Valk, youll need a new barrel (preferably a 24-inch barrel with a 1:6.5 or 1:7 twist rate) and a 6.8 SPC bolt. WebRight now I wouldn't touch .224 Valkyrie with a 10 foot pole. Enter Federal and their 224 Valkyrie. Web308 vs 30-06 and other 30cal ammo AR-15 Ammunition Win a FREE Membership! Whatever your targets are, these advanced cartridges offer significant benefits, including: Since the .224 Valkyrie and the .223 Remington both work on the same weapon platform, it makes sense to see how they compare: If you want to gain the long-range advantages of a .308 but keep the lightweight mobility and low recoil of your AR-15, the .224 Valkyrie might be just what you're looking for. 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. Like []. The heavy and long 22 cal in the 90 grain class are close to the 105 gr 6mm pills. The utility of the 224 Valkyrie is going to be lost on most AR-15 owners and buyers. In that case then why not go with a smaller case that will get the job done. He also told me that no one has been having stability problems with the new bullet. Lets take a look at what makes them tick. 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. Fusion MSR Nosler rifles and ammunition are high quality, accurate, premium products and demand an accordingly premium price. There are simply too many versatile and purpose-built munitions to choose from. it loves the cheap federal 75 tmj that easily plink away at 500yd and hit a 12in plate every time. 1200 lbs of energy, or pretty close to that - pretty scary that it takes more than that to get through the hide and fat cap on that big bastard. What was the estimated energy and speed on impact at that range? Remember the discussion about where cases come from? However, the Recon just did not like the 60-grain Ballistic Tip load. I came to the table with no expectations and haven't been disappointed. But if you wanted more than just a simple addition of a small amount of speed, you are probably going to be very happy with 224 Valkyrie, because, while it does offer more speed than the 223 Rem, it also offers the ability to shoot heavier bullets. 224 Valkyrie Range TestingModern shooters are like most people: Theyre more interested in what something can do for them than its history. Little light hitting for such a big animal, so damn good shot. Now that you understand the genealogy of the 224 Valkyrie, what might surprise you is where its inspiration came from. 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. Federals .22 caliber round generates as little as half as much recoil as the 6.5 Creedmoor. I decided to build a Remington 700 223 bolt receiver. The 224 Valkyrie uses a .440 or SPC bolt face. While it is easy to find an SPC bolt for an MSR 15, they are less common in bolt action rifles. I had two options, I could either re-cut the bolt face or order a replacement bolt. Stay up to date on all of our reviews, articles, sales, and giveaway winners! If you want to shoot an AR-15 at stuff beyond 500 yards, and consistently get hits, the 224 Valkyrie is the best option available. Neither can compare to the performance of 22-250 from the same length barrel, either in standard or "Superformance" variant. 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. No they arent average guns. WebThe new 224 Valkyrie is based on a 6.8 SPC case necked down to .22 caliber. Anyone who has bought a 6.5mm Creedmoor in the last ten years is a prime customer for a 224 Valkyrie rifle. Daily people ask about BCA, PSA and what ever other budget AR mfg. 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. The main reason for the drastic differences in trajectory at 1,000 This is the fundamental difference between 22 Nosler and 224 Valkyrie: Nosler seemed to be chasing either 22-250 or the most impressive muzzle velocity numbers for a press release, while Federal, apparently having learned from experiences such as the 327 Federal debacle, went after downrange performance with heavier bullets. Sales for a cartridge created in a caliber for which there are not many suitable bullets would be anemic. On the other hand, a 1/7 224 Valkyrie should be just fine with, say, 53gr V-Max, and be very flat within the typical varmint hunting distances. But thanks to its high ballistic coefficient bullets, that velocity doesn't disappear quickly it maintains speed so well that at 500 yards, the 6.5 CM 140 is still going over 2000fps, while the blisteringly fast 22 Nosler 55gr BT, having left the muzzle at 3500, has slowed down to 1800fps. Jimmy said ill take him, i said ok lets get him to camp. Ive ran the FGMM 90s out to 850yds with repeatable hits; havent had the chance to go further. When it comes to hitting at distance, the 6.5 Creedmoor has become the cartridge of choice in bolt-action rifles. I have a 24 craddock precision upper. Incidentally, if you combine the overall performance of both rifles, you get an average precision of 1.40 MOA, thus confirming my 1.5-MOA average postulation. Plus, of course, there's a supply of 224 Valkyrie ammo from Federal, meaning you can take that brass and reuse it. Web102K views 5 years ago. WebThe difference between 224 Valkyrie and 22-250 Remington is their effective range and the bullet weights they fire. I am therefore a little jaded when news of a brand new cartridge comes over the wire, because it is often little more than an attempt to cook up interest when the sales numbers for the "old" cartridges aren't looking impressive any more. For ammo with more The 224 Valkyrie was designed to shoot heavier bullets up to The cost of factory ammo is more than the 223 and just slightly less than the 308 which I also enjoy . If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. The 224 Valkyrie certainly shines in terms of recoil. While a few good ones exist, most of the favorite bullets on the market are .260 caliber (6.5), .284 caliber (7mm) or .308 caliber. The MPA mags have 14 round capacity. Honest question: How do you track hits and misses at that kind of range with something as small as 224V? Powered by Invision Community. 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 While I like the sound of 308 on steel, it was just plain easier to make hits with the 224 Valkyrie. And most are fully capable of this. Well, at least it's a headshot. Looks like between 1100-1200 foot pounds and about 2400 fps depending on barrel length. about that time a guy in the camp that ask me what i shot rode his wheeler down to my stand to help. That 6.8" shorter barrel means lower muzzle velocity and thus slightly less ability to buck the wind, and while the wind drift difference at 500 yards between the two barrel lengths was only about 6" with a 10mph wind, the wind at the range that day was extremely gusty and at times over 15mph. Founded by Frank Galli in 2000, Snipers Hide has been offering informational videos, podcasts, and other support to its users in one location. 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. Yeah, here we go, 98 will be your back-up. 1-1.5 MOA most folks are fine with an AR. The .22 Nosler uses a 1:8 twist rate in its barrels, restricting bullet weight to 85 grains or less. Send us a message, and our experts will assist you in completing your build. AR-15 224 Valkyrie 24" Custom Barrel - Used. And with the 60-grain Ballistic Tip load, real-world velocities fell about 100 fps short. How does it do in the real world? One big difference between the Creedmoor and Valkyrie is the increased splash at distance, whether they're misses or hits you simply get more splash from the creed. 2023 Omaha Outdoors, LLC. Currently working on loads with 75gr and waiting on my 88gr to arrive. First time out I wasn't even properly zeroed and was making hits out to 900 yards. Well, if you insist on shooting the lightest bullets, such as those in the 35-50 grain range, you could go the 22 Nosler route and enjoy spending 100% more to shoot them 1% faster than a .223 Rem AR-15 with Hornady Superformance. is the case upon which the 6.8 SPC was based. As for cartridges like 308 Win shooting a 168gr VLD at 2600 from an 18" barrel or the ho-hum 6.5 Grendel shooting a 130gr VLD at 2350 from the same length, the 224 Valkyrie still requires less wind correction. While you might be able to get your old .223 mag to work, it 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. You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers. If you're serious about precision shooting, you probably reload, and the 224 Valkyrie makes even more sense there. You are making my point. The 224 Valkyrie is built to defeat wind drift and drop, and the 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint maximizes these built-in ballistics with a sleek, thin-jacket, polymer-tipped bullet. Take it out of the equation and the average becomes more respectable. More important was if the actual velocities equaled those advertised by Federalfor the 224 Valkyrie cartridge. | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Should You Carry Your Gun With an Empty Chamber? Politifact Paints False Picture While Claiming Trump Paints False Picture, Kyle Rittenhouse Acted in Lawful Self Defense in Kenosha. Good knowing now where that first one went, though, and what happened. By I'll try to find the data on that - I've got a bunch of Valk data in my thread on that thing, and it's comparison to the Grendel popular loads. The new cartridge was tested in a moderately priced Savage (front)and a premium offering from JP Rifles. 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. You are using an out of date browser. I'm having problems tracking my 223 at 1000, I can't imagine 2x that. Accuracy: At 1000 yards, the .224 Valkyrie has low wind-drift and rate of drop, making it an exceptional long-range contender. Both 90-grain loads showed a bit more variance, but I consider this of no consequence since maximum muzzle velocity deviations with each rifle were larger than the difference due to barrel length. Wow!) WebThose were the primary objectives of the engineers at Wilson Combat when they designed the SS-15 Super Sniper-- and the result far exceeded our expectations. For its .224 Valkyrie test, RifleShooter.com sourced a Shilen Match Barrel and fitted it to a Rem 700 short action employing a one-piece PT&G bolt with the required .440 (SPC-sized) bolt-face. We are assessing which products can be legally shipped. With the 15" Geissele handguard in place, the Superlative Arms adjustable gas block is just covered by the handguard, but not so much that I can't quickly and easily adjust the gas system. To an extent, this was one problem with the 6.8 SPC. We've spent more than enough time discussing why I think 224 Valkyrie sounds good on paper. (See page 74.) If your eyes tend to glaze over when a lot of numbers come up on your screen, here are the basics: Aside from price, the biggest difference between 22 Nosler and 224 Valkyrie can be seen when we look at the twist rate and loads chosen by their respective manufacturers and backers. Finally, theres the bullet. The recoil was a moot point in this test, and most hunters wont wear My personal preference for game I would eat (if I hunted any more) would be for Barnes to make a heavier .224" diameter TSX, but using the existing 70gr TSX projectiles in 224 Valkyrie should offer some extended engagement distances due to moderately increased velocities. 223 rem and 6mm creedmoor just to name a few. you say. No. it tore a gaping hole on exit. No, the 224 Valkyrie isn't as good as the 6.5mm Creedmoor in terms of external ballistics, but if you want to shoot to nearly the same distances at significantly lower cost and with less recoil, you'll probably love having a 224 Valkyrie in the safe next to your 6.5 Creedmoor. OBVIOUSLY it's going to be easier to make hits with the fancy rifle!". Accordingly, you haven't and probably won't see a whole lot of super light, super-fast loads for the 224 Valkyrie, because those more lightly constructed bullets have a reputation for not holding up to being spun so much. You are failing to comprehend the point. In contrast, the 224 Valkyrie caused the range safety officer (who seemed to take a particular interest in the rifles I was shooting) to immediately comment on how loud the impact sound was when I was making hits. Whether this would apply to other barrels of a different manufacture is unknown. All-new 224 Valkyrie isnt just another cartridge. Note that 22 Nosler brass currently costs 20 cents more per case than a loaded round of 224 Valkyrie. There is, however, a sizable contingent of the gun owning population that can benefit from the advantages of 224 Valkyrie, and even some of the folks who would be "fine" with 5.56 would be better off with 224 Valkyrie. Admittedly, the designers were looking to balance external and terminal ballistics, as was pointed out to me by Zak Smith of Thunder Beast, who has written extensively about the 6.8 SPC. Overall thats probably better-than-average performance, when it comes to ammunition living up to advertising hype. Learn more at What does that have to do with the 224 Valkyrie? Subscribe to our email list and get exclusive access to promotions, sales events and more! That thing is a monster! i just kinda stuck it up to the shoulder and pointed, didnt have no iron sights and the scope aint worth a crap at short distance. ya'll take care. that would make a great movie, you guys should have TV show!