Opinions on the 224 Valkyrie

[Wheelhorse]

Just wondering what you guys think about this new wonder round.

[Lightning8]

I want to build a 224V upper - 20 inch barrel or more - probably 1-7 twist to handle lighter bullets along with some heavies (77-80). My goal is for 22 caliber target shooting and Varmint hunting. Already have 6.8 brass, 6.8 bolt, 6.8 mags. May buy a PSA 20 inch 224V upper at one of their big holiday sales - I really only need a barrel as I have everything else to build an upper.

[cb4017]

I've got some extra uppers and lowers in the safe and I'm kicking around the idea of building one. I'll probably wait a little longer for any bugs to be worked out.

[Kilco]

As soon as I can get a reputable brand rack grade 1 moa guarantee with a 20-24" +2 gas in a 1:6.5 twist I'll have one. U until then I'm just lurking on others.

[CVCOBRA1]

I want to build a 224V upper - 20 inch barrel or more - probably 1-7 twist to handle lighter bullets along with some heavies (77-80). My goal is for 22 caliber target shooting and Varmint hunting. Already have 6.8 brass, 6.8 bolt, 6.8 mags. May buy a PSA 20 inch 224V upper at one of their big holiday sales - I really only need a barrel as I have everything else to build an upper.

When you say you want to build one for light bullets, how light are you talking? Are you looking for .204 caliber speeds with .22 caliber bullets? I thought the whole idea behind the V was to able to shoot the really high BC 22's like the 90 grainers. Those are what are supposed to get you out to yardage of the bigger bores.

[StoneHendge]

[video=youtube_share;Upt7ZTvcriY]https://youtu.be/Upt7ZTvcriY[/video]

[Randy99CL]

When you say you want to build one for light bullets, how light are you talking? Are you looking for .204 caliber speeds with .22 caliber bullets? I thought the whole idea behind the V was to able to shoot the really high BC 22's like the 90 grainers. Those are what are supposed to get you out to yardage of the bigger bores.

My first varmint rifle was a .220 Swift and I loved the velocity with 52g BTHP Match bullets. Never shot it past a couple hundred yards.
My first thought of the Valkyrie is the same; I'd kind of like to build one for high velocity with the light bullets.

[Lightning8]

I want to build a 224V upper - 20 inch barrel or more - probably 1-7 twist to handle lighter bullets along with some heavies (77-80). My goal is for 22 caliber target shooting and Varmint hunting. Already have 6.8 brass, 6.8 bolt, 6.8 mags. May buy a PSA 20 inch 224V upper at one of their big holiday sales - I really only need a barrel as I have everything else to build an upper.

I am thinking like 55 grain to 80 grain. I would not go for the 90s. Would be interesting to see what a 224V would do with 60 Nosler BTs. Again, varmint and target shooting but not necessarily the 90 or greater projectiles.

[centerfire]

It's not ready yet, the market is screwing up with all of the 1:7 barrels. When barrel makers start cranking out 1:6 barrels I'll be in. Most of the reports I've seen are questionable accuracy with 90gr bullets.

[StoneHendge]

It's not ready yet, the market is screwing up with all of the 1:7 barrels. When barrel makers start cranking out 1:6 barrels I'll be in. Most of the reports I've seen are questionable accuracy with 90gr bullets.

Before the Valk, 90 gr SMKs were are pretty low volume SKU. Enter Federal, the hype and a mass roll out that involves a major production increase of the SKU at Sierra (and probably a very large run to fill all of those shiny black boxes) who has changed ownership recently. Is it the twist or the bullets....

1:6 would really make it a one trick pony. Spinning thin jacketed varmint bullets that fast is probably going to create increased dispersion after a couple of hundred yards - if the jacket stays on.

[Kswhitetails]

I THINK: The valk has one trick. To make Federal money. It was around just long enough to get someone over there to think they’d found the magic recipe, and Fed pounced. Enter the hype, and all the movie clips, and the fancy trajectory predictions. So far, it seems the hype is far louder than the din of happy users. Funny how the new valk ammo is available at $17/box with a much more expensive bullet than the 120 SMK Grendel load which - if you can find it - is 25/box. That leaves me with a sore loser mentality in regards to the V. And, is anyone doing anything other that paper/target with V?

[Zeus]

It's interesting but really I don't see a need for a long range .224 caliber rifle shooting heavy for caliber projectiles. Might as well be shooting a 6mm of some sort......But I'm jaded...a varmint hunter at heart that loves what a light, fast bullet can do to a small target. I bet the 22 Nosler would be a real scream with 40 grain bullets....kinda like having 22-250 capabilities in an AR15 sized rifle.

We're heading west this summer for prairie dogs and almost every rifle that's coming with us is optimized for the lightweights. If the wind becomes an issue the 6mm's come out.

[Bearcatrp]

Nice thing about the Valkyrie is it’s for the AR15 platform. I have a 12.5 inch 308 pistol. Nice setup but it’s heavy when loaded and optics. I wanted a lighter platform. Wanted the Valkyrie but the its not ready yet. Way to much hype. 1:7 is fine for the lighter bullets but they are finding out the 90 grain isn’t performing as advertised unless the perfect conditions exist. The 1:6.5 or 1:6 twist should change that. I enjoy my AR pistols and would like a 12.5 inch upper which the faster twist should fix. I’ll pass and go Grendel for now. Maybe by next year more positive results will emerge on this cartridge. Would think the military would be interested in this caliber if it lives up to its hype.

[ricsmall]

Mark at PF is putting out a 6twist pipe in the Valkyrie. Buddy of mine is wanting one but has yet to give me the go ahead.
I’m sticking with my 224 grendel, as I’m set up with several thousand fired brass, and several bolts. So far I like it, just need to get past burning season to do more tests.

[Greyling]

I don't like a 22 Cal bullet for hunting anything larger than a coyote, regardless of how far it can be fired from. If you're looking for a 1000yd target gun in an ar15, it is probably your best bet. Any other use, I'd rather have something else.

[Zeus]

I am thinking like 55 grain to 80 grain. I would not go for the 90s. Would be interesting to see what a 224V would do with 60 Nosler BTs. Again, varmint and target shooting but not necessarily the 90 or greater projectiles.

Lightning8......for some reason I cannot send a PM.............but I got your message and here's my reply.

My shooting partner and I are looking for a prairie dog hunt - you mentioned one in a post. Would you share what state and basic area your are going? Guided or non-guided? We have not been yet but on our "list".

Well that's kind of a tricky question.....There's a lot of trial and error that goes into finding good prairie dog shooting. Driving around, knocking on doors and talking to local wildlife officers are all ways that can put you on some shooting. We haven't gone since 2012 but have a good general idea of where the good towns are where we like to go.

The best shooting that I've had personally has been on private land in Montana....although the ranchers were forced to poison some years back so I'm not sure how well the populations have recovered since then. I haven't shot everywhere but the upper midwestern states are the most populous with vermin.

If I were starting from scratch, not having done it before and not having any idea on how to go about it I would go on a guided hunt first. You don't want to travel all that way and spend all your time driving around aimlessly looking for a place to shoot. Find a reputable guide (I've never been on a guided hunt) and book a trip.

[Armadillo66]

I would rather have a tack driving bolt rifle in 22-250 Ackley or .243 Ackley
.224 is a cool cartridge design but really does not offer that great of performance difference with hot 22-250 or 243 loadings

[centerfire]

Before the Valk, 90 gr SMKs were are pretty low volume SKU. Enter Federal, the hype and a mass roll out that involves a major production increase of the SKU at Sierra (and probably a very large run to fill all of those shiny black boxes) who has changed ownership recently. Is it the twist or the bullets....

1:6 would really make it a one trick pony. Spinning thin jacketed varmint bullets that fast is probably going to create increased dispersion after a couple of hundred yards - if the jacket stays on.

So you're suggesting the ownership change has impacted Sierra's ability to produce match quality bullets in volume? I think it is more likely the '1:6.5 Twist Required' stamped right on the side of the box.

Frankly I'd rather have a 6mm Valkyrie or 6mm Grendel with serious factory support. You'd be able to hunt with it in most states (unlike 22 Valkyrie) and there are tons of high BC bullets already in the pipeline for LR shooting.

[StoneHendge]

So you're suggesting the ownership change has impacted Sierra's ability to produce match quality bullets in volume? I think it is more likely the '1:6.5 Twist Required' stamped right on the side of the box.

Frankly I'd rather have a 6mm Valkyrie or 6mm Grendel with serious factory support. You'd be able to hunt with it in most states (unlike 22 Valkyrie) and there are tons of high BC bullets already in the pipeline for LR shooting.

I'm suggesting that the 90s may not currently be up to snuff. I shot a 1:7 twist prototype rifle last fall and managed a 5 shot MOA group with a pretty poor stock/shoulder weld (rifle belonged to someone 3-4" shorter than me) and took it to 1k at a DA of 3500 with ease. The Sierra ownership change could be a spurious correlation, but is worth noting. There was a time no one thought International couldn't make a decent medium duty diesel engine. Which is why the market was suckered into buying 2 million 6.0 liter Powerstrokes 10-15 years ago.

It could be that Federal and every barrel manufacturer got it wrong. And that standard twist rate models work for every bullet out there except for the 90 gr SMK. Or maybe not.

I personally don't have an interest in it for target shooting with my main issue being spotting impacts on steel at range. Plus I'm liking my 6mm Grendel barrel just fine without factory support I do have an interest in fast 22 cals due to CO varminting laws during big game season, but the rebated case head on 22 Nosler doesn't work. Based on the velocities I was getting with 22 Nosler, the Valk's smaller case volume and faster twist rates, I don't see it being more worthwhile than 223. I do wish someone other than ARP made 22 Grendel barrels AND offered a slower twist.

[ricsmall]

https://tacticalcannon.com

Stonehenge,
Check this guy out. He has a YouTube channel with some testing. I blv a 7.5 twist would be ok for say a 55 grain. I’ll load some up this week and try them for you. Be interesting to see the velocity and accuracy.