2520 was solid with both 25.8 and 26.3 both yeilding around 1 moa. .224 Valkyrie vs 6.8 SPC Some writers have described the Valkyrie as a "scaled down Creedmoor." However, the Valkyrie case is derived from a slightly shortened 6.8 SPC case, necked-down to .22 caliber. Can you find a barrel for a 22-250 with an 8 inch twist? However, the most popular solution has always been to load a standard 5.56 NATO with a heavier bullet. 0000080878 00000 n . var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; The Sierra 77-grain Tipped MatchKing over 27.0 grains of CFE 223 registered 2,933 fps and averaged a tidy .77 inch. To this day, it is still my go-to service rifle loading for reduced course matches. I routinely use RCBS and Lyman powered case-prep tools and their primer pocket uniform accessories to clean every pocket when reloading a batch of ammo. An innovative way to carry your backup gun. From affordable target practice to home defense, there isn't much that cannot be done with this rifle. (function() { Just a few weeks later, I found myself at the E.R. Necks were of uniform thickness, and cases didnt lengthen much at all over the testing program. 0000002920 00000 n Hodgdon Releases 224 Valkyrie Data Hodgdon, the Brand That's True , is pleased to announce the launch of load data for the new 224 Valkyrie cartridge, now available on Hodgdon's Reloading Data Center at www.HodgdonReloading.com. But IMR-8208XBR did very well with varmint-weight bullets. The new rounds maximum case length is 1.600 inches, as compared to the 6.8s case length of 1.686 inches. I repeatedly experienced lube dents in most of the first batch of cases I resized. The only problem with this solution was the limitations of 5.56 NATO case itself. Federal's .224 Valkyrie was designed to fit, feed, and fire in the popular AR-15 platform. Ultimate Reloader is not responsible for errors in load data on this website. 0000097257 00000 n Hodgdon Trail Boss: Is it Useful for Modern Sporting Rifles? The rifles differ slightly in throating. 0000030957 00000 n /wp-content/uploads/2017/02/imr_stickylogo_red.png. Beth Shimanski of Savage introduces their all new straight-pull rifle. One1Bravo Ops4. Nosler, the world's finest bullets, ammunition, rifles, & brass. The different brands of brass weighed almost exactly the same, so I didnt need to adjust charge weights to accommodate capacity differences. Sights on both rifles were Burris 4.5-14x40 A.O. trends and tips from the leader in reloading. 0000015504 00000 n 0000096632 00000 n You are using an out of date browser. As you can see in the performance chart, I test-fired factory ammo and handloads topped with only the heavier .22-caliber bullets. This prep is carefully described on a card supplied by Starline in their packages. Just an armorers wrench and a torque wrench were needed to make the swap. At Hodgdon, weve been researching this cartridge since before its introduction and are excited to release load data for the Valkyrie featuring powders like Hodgdon CFE 223, IMR 8208 XBRand Hodgdon Varget. I still had to use the RCBS Trim Mate crimp remover so the primers could be properly seated later without damage. Although 100-yard results arent mind-blowing, this round will still outperform others at distance, because it is less susceptible to wind drift. 0000096374 00000 n : 41,900 53,400 Hodgdon 50 gr For the life of us, we couldnt find a factory load that would stay inside of 3 MOA. : 3,213 3,480 Press. However, while Eugene Stoner got it right in 1959, the one thing that the AR-15 always lacked was range. Guys on the facebook page "Valkyrie Ascending Reloading" have convinced me to switch from . Keep up-to-date on new products, When it comes to shooting known-distance targets, speed is not an issue. (The other half went to Flkvangr, the afterlife of the goddess Freyja.) The Hornady 88-grain ELD MATCH bullets finally gave us some clustering with 23.4 grains of Varget. The RL15 sucked at 25.4 with 3 moa, the upped charge at 25.9 grouped it at around 1 moa+-. Plus, Valkyrie chamber specs are carefully matched in rifle chambers to enhance accuracy potential. Gonna put the results in the 2nd post. My intent is to provide basic reloading information for a specific barrel length and type without providing information overload. Here's the specifics for this load: (this is a MAX load) Case: New Starline 224 Valkyrie Cases. My power charges were like those that have performed well for me in other .224 Valkyrie rifles. It's not my first choice for precision loads, Varget or XBR8208 get the nod there. This certainly speeds up the process and allows for the use of progressive reloading presses. About the .224 Valkyrie Cartridge. But they are still a place to start. We expect some bolt-action PRS shooters might adopt the .224 Valkyrie. 0000031612 00000 n For more details (with data charts), read Jeremy's FULL STORY on Sierra Bullets Blog. Sierras data covers the broad range of its extensive product line, and Federals recipes are limited but appear somewhat more aggressive. Of all of the propellants I tried, several Alliant choices performed well, as did Hodgdon and IMR selections. The best groups were turned in by the Barnes 70-grain TS-X BT, Nosler 60-grain Ballistic Tip and 70-grain RDF, and the Sierra 65-grain Semi Spitzer. This data is available for 80 different loads featuring 50- to 90-grain bullet options (from Hornady, Nosler, Federal, Swift and Sierra) and powders from Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester. Tips, techniques, and equipment are applied to these classroom discussions on how to become more proficient and successful at making long-range shots while hunting with AR-platform rifles. .224 Valkyrie Load Data for 52gr to 95gr Bullets from Sierra If you own an AR, you've probably heard of the hot, new .224 Valkyrie cartridge. Joseph VonBenedikt is with Joel Hodgdon to talk about the improved accuracy and long-range potential of the already reliable Core-Lokt ammo line. var _gaq = _gaq || []; About Hodgdon Powder Company, Inc. At more than 3,000 fps, this is sure to send a prairie dog flying off a mound. I just thought it might be helpful to some even though everyone has a different setup. This setup is inherently more stable than a bipod, as it allows the gun to slide smoothly under recoil, and the wedge let us adjust elevation simply by sliding it in or out from the buttstock. The cool thing about it is it uses a larger Magwell than std GI & corresponding larger promag. I switched back to applying just a dab of Reddings Imperial case wax to the lower body, and the rate of dented shoulders dropped to just an occasional occurrence. I have used Starline cases in numerous cartridges for years and have been impressed with their performance and uniformity. While the standard twist for the Valkyrie is 7 inches, both test rifles have 6.5-inch twists to see if a little extra spin improves accuracy. RifleShooter Magazine editor Scott Rupp breaks down all the features of the Mossberg Patriot Predator rifle chambered in 6.5 PRC. If looking to acquire an automated powder-charge dispensing unit to speed up precision reloading, don't judge the RCBS ChargeMaster Lite powder scale and dispenser by its name; the Little Green machine packs a heavy-weight punch with speed and accuracy. I obtained several boxes of Federals 90-grain match ammo and a hundred pieces of new, primed brass. As I see it, Federals plan for the .224 Valkyrie seems to be geared to that long-range shooting weve discussed, and factory ammo reflects that. 0000002321 00000 n *z?hac`T@PDOhiC;;RJ{/MZ&{Z%N |Zbp-Q[ 0 This isn't your grandpa's muzzleloading system. 0000042641 00000 n 0000056766 00000 n This substance is a mild lubricant that should be removed from the inside of the case necks before loading. Basically a 6.8 SPC necked down to .22, the Valkyrie has a shorter case than the .223 Remington (and 5.5645 NATO). Varget hits the sweet spot for the best performance in this cartridge.. 80.5's still have some possibilities with small changes. The maximum length of the Valkyrie case is listed by SAAMI as 1.600 inches. A lot of components are available for handloading the new .224 Valkyrie, but load data is limited at present. Fortunately, this is a one-time step in the reloading process. var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); Mikey Hartman, Lt. Col. "Shooting heavier bullets, in an AR-platform rifle, that maintain supersonic speeds beyond 1,300 yards has captured the interest of shooters and handloaders everywhere. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. - Ron Reiber, Hodgdon Product Manager and Ballistician. #2. Reports of similar results here and there have been noted in the online grapevine. I concentrated mostly on the heavier bullets, as per Federals model. The biggest bonus I have from this is the amount of load data out there that is available. Im thinking about buying a LWRC 224 Valkrie when it gets here. With the 224 Valkyrie, Hornady proves that lightning really can strike twice or even three times in the same place! (Above) Starline brass makes cases for a host of handgun and rifle cartridges, including the new .224 Valkyrie. This was our thinking behind choosing the 88-grain ELD MATCH projectile. The good ones are the aforementioned steel from PRI. 0000042357 00000 n Custom Mossberg 500 at the Range and Live Turkey!. Valkyries rode to war on horses wearing shields and helmets; some even flew through the air. You need a 6.8 SPC mag for this. This data is available for 80 different loads featuring 50- to 90-grain bullet options (from Hornady, Nosler, Federal, Swift and Sierra) and powders from Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester . 0000087166 00000 n Also on the list wasCFE 223. Shooting heavier bullets, in an AR-platform rifle, that maintain supersonic speeds beyond 1,300 yards has captured the interest of shooters and handloaders everywhere, says Ron Reiber, Hodgdon product manager and ballistician. Even stuffed with a maximum charge of Hodgdon Varget, there is still more than enough room to seat long Hornady 88-grain ELD MATCH bullets into the 224 Valkyrie case. I have loaded a fair bit of it in .223. I will post future results as I get them. | I know some sort by brass and projectiles to get as consistent as possible, I am just not one of those people. The average accuracy of all loads in Rifle #1 was .82 inch, and all but three loads averaged under an inch. Sierra has published loads for a broad range of bullet weights from 52 grains all the way up to 95 grains. January 29 . Although our original barrel was defective, we still felt that a 10+ MOA load need some sort of change, and we were hell-bent on making the 88-grain rounds fly. Check out this chart from Federal showing comparative recoil levels: * All the following powders were tested, but not all for each bullet weight: Accurate 2520, Accurate XMR 2495, Accurate 4064, Hodgdon AR Comp, Hodgdon Benchmark, Hodgdon CFE 223, Hodgdon H335, Hodgdon H380, Hodgdon H4895, Hodgdon Varget, IMR 4064, IMR 4166, IMR 8208 XBR, Power Pro 2000 MR, Power Pro Varmint, Ramshot Big Game, Ramshot TAC, Reloder 10X, Reloder 15, Reloder 17, Vihtavuori N540, Winchester 760. 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It's a bighorn tl3 with 26 inch rock creek barrel. For. But the Nolser 55- and 60-grain Ballistic Tips also shot great. Then chamfer the inside of the case mouth, and theyre ready to load. 0000008463 00000 n ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? All Rights Reserved. Valkyrie means chooser of the slain, so we may assume that the connotation is that the .224 Valkyrie cartridge is going to go forth to a battlefield, and choose the dead with its accuracy and long-range power. 0000016556 00000 n Keep up-to-date on new products, The author was able to meter each throw to within 0.1 of a grain. Learn the difference between revolvers and semi-auto pistols and what makes them different. 0000098223 00000 n While new load data will continue to be updated on Hodgdon's Reloading Data Center, the new 224 Valkyrie data is available at www.HodgdonReloading.com. The average length of these cases was 1.5906 inches, with an extreme spread of only .0095 inch, and an SD of .0016 inch. 4 . 0000087437 00000 n The Valkyrie has spawned a crop of new, high-tech bullets, including (from left): Hornady 70-grain GMX, Hornady 75-grain ELD Match, Hornady 80-grain ELD Match, Hornady 88-grain ELD Match, Sierra 77-grain Tipped MatchKing, Sierra 80-grain MatchKing, Sierra 90-grain MatchKing, Nosler 64-grain Bonded Solid Base, and Nosler 77-grain Custom Competition. Two prototype bolt-action rifles were used for all loads. With that knowledge, we decided to go with the bookends and build a heavy-for-caliber target round and a light-for-caliber varmint round.For our project, we selected the Hornady 60-grain V-Max, as I have had amazing luck with this bullet in a standard 5.56 NATO cartridge. HW[o7~_ D The author uses C Products Defense magazines as they. The 55-grain BT clocked 3,209 fps with 26.3 grains of IMR-8208XBR and averaged .54 inch. Once you know how much distance you need to dial, all you have to do is spin your turret and pray that the wind doesn't affect your bullets course. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Federal lists four factory loads for the 224 Valkyrie: a varmint load with the Nosler 60-grain Ballistic Tip; an American Eagle 75-grain TMJ load for inexpensive "blasting"; a Gold Medal Match load that shoots the sleek Sierra 90-grain MatchKing; and a Fusion 90-grain softpoint load for hunters. The .223 is limited by powder capacity, but not the usual 7- to 9-inch twists. The other is a 22-inch tube that is threaded and profiled to replace the factory barrel of my CZ-USA Model 527 bolt-action rifle thats chambered for the 7.62x39mm. 0000022062 00000 n Because I was reloading for an autoloader, I chose to full-length size every case to ensure it would function reliably. I am able to "real world" test at every range from 100-1000 yards so velocity is not important to me. It meters smoothly, it is superbly accurate, and it limits jacket fouling. Founded by Frank Galli in 2000, Snipers Hide has been offering informational videos, podcasts, and other support to its users in one location. 0000100893 00000 n 0000097375 00000 n Shown below is Sierras load data for bullet weights from 77 grains to 90 grains. For this report, I first did some metrics on a sample of 50 new Starline .224 Valkyrie cases. With the 90gr SMK, the .224 Valkyrie offers ballistics similar to the 6.5 Creedmoor but with significantly less felt recoil. The 75-, 77-, 80-, and 90-grain match bullets shot pretty well, too, and would hold up better over longer ranges. Introduced by Federal 2017 and approved by SAAMI in 2018, the new 224 Valkyrie has been quickly adopted by long-range shooters. And, since the Valkyries maximum overall cartridge length is 2.26 inches, it fits comfortably in the ubiquitous AR-15 platforma major plus. Introduced by Federal in 2017 and approved by SAAMI in 2018, the new 224 Valkyriehas been quickly adopted by long-range shooters. The idea was simple: Neck down a 6.8 SPC to accommodate the smaller diameter bullet, and you will have room for enough powder to push these babies up to 1,200 yards and beyond. 0000001896 00000 n 0000042952 00000 n