For the life of us, we couldnt find a factory load that would stay inside of 3 MOA. For. I have been an early, yet trepidant, fan of the .224 Valkyrie, and have tested several rifles with many handloads. 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. Both have 22-inch barrrels, and 6.5-inch twists.2. This offers super-sonic velocities at ranges greater than the .223 Remington and the 6.5 Grendel can achieve at magazine length. Loading every possible safe charge in three-grain increments only meant either 7 or 11 different loads for each powder/bullet combination.Our first range day brought us some cold and damp weather typical of a Northeastern winter. I have no clue what length the Valkyrie chamber will accept a 95 SMK at but the 2.260 length is based on what a thick-walled aluminum GI mag will accept. Then chamfer the inside of the case mouth, and theyre ready to load. For when the 22-250 just aint enough.err, wait. You may not reproduce original text or photos without advanced permission in writing. Full Member. 0000003643 00000 n If I find anything better than I already posted I will add it. 0000049698 00000 n It meters smoothly, it is superbly accurate, and it limits jacket fouling. Im a bit confused by your statement you do dont care about velocity only accuracy. 0000097813 00000 n About the .224 Valkyrie Cartridge. 0000100071 00000 n Federal's .224 Valkyrie was designed to fit, feed, and fire in the popular AR-15 platform. The .224 Valkyrie was created to provide optimal long-range performance, and matching factory-load ballistics with handloads is relatively easy. This prep is carefully described on a card supplied by Starline in their packages. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Logged. The recent introduction of the Federal Premium 224 Valkyrie, reviewed here by Shooting Illustrated's Ammo editor, aimed at solving this shortcoming, so we decided to see what kind of capabilities could be had with this new round.A number of cartridges have been designed with the idea of getting more effective range from an AR-15-sized cartridge. With a G7 BC of .274, it trumps even the 6.5 mm 123-grain ELD MATCH rounds in wind-beating capability, which only has a G7 BC of .255. 85 Nosler RDF with 24.2 grains CFE-223: 200 = 1.52 200 = 1.68 (Both groups show promise. So, I was anxious to try out the new Starline brass in the .224. My power charges were like those that have performed well for me in other .224 Valkyrie rifles. 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Because I was reloading for an autoloader, I chose to full-length size every case to ensure it would function reliably. This is where the 224 Valkyrie comes in. Notes:1. 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. Reaching a speed where the round will staystabilized past 800 yards is a challenge. Introduced by Federal in 2017 and approved by SAAMI in 2018, the new 224 Valkyrie has been quickly adopted by long-range shooters. . (Above) The new Starline .224 Valkyrie cases were checked for length with a digital caliper, and were right at the trim length, ready for loading. And since I would be reloading several hundred rounds, I decided to use a spray lubricant to speed up the process. It's a bighorn tl3 with 26 inch rock creek barrel. Montrose, CO. Apr 4, 2022. There was no additional work needed to use the AR barrel, and gunsmith John Gallagher performed the needed modifications to the CZ 527. Sierra Bullets states: The [Valkyrie] case length is shorter than the 223 Remington affording the use of heavier match-grade bullets with very long ogives and high ballistic coefficients. We expect some bolt-action PRS shooters might adopt the .224 Valkyrie. 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. 0000006404 00000 n | Federal Premium initially offered 60-, 75-, and 90-grain offerings to cover a variety of hunting and target applications. Powder Bul Weight C.O.L. The good ones are the aforementioned steel from PRI. Mikey Hartman, Lt. Col. With Sierra's remarkable new 95-grain MatchKing, this gives the little . : 3,213 3,480 Press. There is still some fine tuning to do but I am moving on to different bullets and 8208 powder for my next tests. The faster that bullet is moving, the more ground that will cover during this drop. Access from your Country was disabled by the administrator. Learn more here: http://bit.ly/1G7xXag. var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; Login with username, password and session length. While theyre not geared to the long-range crowd, they are light enough to be toted over hill and dale by varmint hunters, and theyd sure be a prairie dog or coyotes worst nightmare. var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); 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 . This isn't your grandpa's muzzleloading system. Just a few weeks later, I found myself at the E.R. 0000042952 00000 n The different brands of brass weighed almost exactly the same, so I didnt need to adjust charge weights to accommodate capacity differences. Custom Mossberg 500 at the Range and Live Turkey!. Give a Gift })(); To comment on a post, click Post Title or "Comment" Link. Starline Brass and the author accept no responsibility for use of the data in this article. (I fully admit that shooter error is a potential factor.) Velocities on these were smoking, reaching 3,074 fps out of our relatively short 18.5-inch barrel. The 60-grain BT preferred 26.0 grains of the same powder, averaging .94 inch at 3,089 fps. 0000019414 00000 n 0000004084 00000 n 0000015504 00000 n Will test again with incremental loads) 300 = 1.56 (A 4 shot group level at 1.09". We installed this drop-in trigger in minutes right at the bench and were just about ready to go.We rested our build on a Champion V-Bag in the front and a Champion Wedge Bag in the rear. I tried wiping off excess lube before sizing and removed too much on one case and it seized in the sizer die. 0000009486 00000 n Interesting data. Introduced by Federal in 2017 and approved by SAAMI in 2018, the new 224 Valkyriehas been quickly adopted by long-range shooters. JavaScript is disabled. 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. As far as potential uses go, outside of target-shooting, I personally wouldn't use a light bullet for deer-sized game, but people certainly have done it over the years, and the 224 Valkyrie would indeed make a clean kill with good shot placement. More accuracy can be achieved by adjusting seating depth, but it certainly will be a shooter. Can you find a barrel for a 22-250 with an 8 inch twist? var _gaq = _gaq || []; The Mossberg 500 Pump Action Shotgun is one of the most popular home defense shotguns on the market. The average accuracy of all loads in Rifle #1 was .82 inch, and all but three loads averaged under an inch. However, while Eugene Stoner got it right in 1959, the one thing that the AR-15 always lacked was range. Whatever works for you. 0000100414 00000 n 0000003057 00000 n The rifles differ slightly in throating. I used primers common to reloaders of similar sized cases, i.e., Federal No. The .223 is limited by powder capacity, but not the usual 7- to 9-inch twists. America's favorite platform, the AR-15, reigns supreme in many applications. The maximum length of the Valkyrie case is listed by SAAMI as 1.600 inches. Gonna put the results in the 2nd post. Introduced by Federal 2017 and approved by SAAMI in 2018, the new 224 Valkyrie has been quickly adopted by long-range shooters. With the 90gr SMK, the .224 Valkyrie offers ballistics similar to the 6.5 Creedmoor but with significantly less felt recoil. However, the most popular solution has always been to load a standard 5.56 NATO with a heavier bullet. 0000031460 00000 n Federal Premiums Valkyrie ammo is stoked with Sierras sleek, new 90-grain MatchKing BTHP, and the Fusion line has a 90-grain Fusion soft point meant, presumably, for deer hunting. I set a Trijicon AccuPoint 2.5-12.5x 42mm scope in Precision Hardcore Gear Black Opps 30mm rings for testing. 0000099588 00000 n 80.5's still have some possibilities with small changes. Hodgdon Powder Company has announced the launch of reloading data for the new .224 Valkyrie, now available on the company's Reloading Data Center website.. and 8 lb. I never had to trim one over the course of testing, something I cant say about other brands of .224 Valkyrie cases Ive used. Up until recently, the only means to send a heavy .224-inch bullet was to either single-load or run it out of a bolt gun. 0000031612 00000 n 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. A faster barrel will certainly help. Share the post ".224 Valkyrie Load Data for 52gr to 95gr Bullets from Sierra", Tags: .223 Remington, .224 Valkyrie, 22 Nosler, 6.5 Grendel, 95gr SMK, AR Cartridge, AR Magazine, AR15, High-BC, Load Data. One is a 24-inch, heavyweight, target barrel configured for my switch-barrel DRD Tactical CDR-15 AR. *z?hac`T@PDOhiC;;RJ{/MZ&{Z%N |Zbp-Q[ 0 August 16, 2018 By G&A Online Editors. containers. I think the round has tremendous potential, but if it is to be the be-all, end-all cartridge with heavyweight .22-caliber bullets, more moderately-priced rifles, like the bolt guns I used, need to enter the marketplace. Designed to rival the .22 Nosler while still running well in ARs, the new .224 Valkyrie offers excellent long-range performance when loaded with modern, high-BC bullets. Also on the list wasCFE 223. 0000101036 00000 n 0000048231 00000 n A round that can cover more distance in less time will impact at a similar elevation over a wider range. Federal has created a safer, easier and more reliable way to shoot a muzzleloader. Varget hits the sweet spot for the best performance in this cartridge." 'Identical' AR-15 Upper Receivers: Are They Really the Same? Communism only made one thing that works, and capitalism can make it even better. Powerhouse .224 Valkyrie Features The cartridge case is arguably the best .224-caliber, AR-compatible design ever engineered. 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. 0000098366 00000 n hb``e`` Hornady developed a new 88-grain ELD Match bullet specifically to meet the Valkyries performance requirements. 22 PPC does better on performance. NOTE: This is only a partial sample, less than a third of the data Sierra has published. You must log in or register to reply here. The .224 Valkyrie (5.641 mm) [5] cartridge is a .22 caliber (5.6 mm) rimless bottlenecked intermediate rifle cartridge, developed by Federal Premium Ammunition to rival the performance of the .22 Nosler, while still being compatible with modern sporting rifles (MSRs). Nevermind,they made the case length 0.02 shorter than everyone else lists to fit it in. Shown below is Sierras load data for bullet weights from 77 grains to 90 grains. Whether such an arm would crowd out the .223 or 22-250 Remingtons is a question that can be only answered in the marketplace. IHFarmer07 Gunny Sergeant. So far both bullets perform well. 0000035400 00000 n As a bullet passes through the air, it is dropping at a rate of 9.8 meters per second. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. The Hornady 88-grain ELD MATCH bullets finally gave us some clustering with 23.4 grains of Varget. The 55-grain BT clocked 3,209 fps with 26.3 grains of IMR-8208XBR and averaged .54 inch. Starting our journey, we looked at what was already commercially available. After a quick swap, we headed back to the range and duplicated our test parameters. 0000031529 00000 n Hodgdon Powder Company announced the launch of load data for the new 224 Valkyrie cartridge, now available on Hodgdon's Reloading Data Center at www.HodgdonReloading.com. It may not display this or other websites correctly. And for top quality handloads, they know they need top-notch cases. (function() { >V (`f` While new load data will continue to be updated on Hodgdons Reloading Data Center, this new 224 Valkyriedata is available immediately at www.HodgdonReloading.com. Rifle #2 was only slightly less accurate, averaging .94 inch for all loads tested, and only five came in over an inchstill impressive performance. Minuteman. Both are similar bolt actions and have 22-inch barrels. In Norse mythology, Valkyries were maidens who served the god Oden, who ruled over the realm of Asgard. It meters good and gives good velocity, if I was cranking out hundreds of rounds of AR type blaster ammo I wouldn't hesitate to use it. Since I haven't had any feedback I am simply curious. (Ret.) Established in 1947 by Bruce and Amy Hodgdon, today, sons JB and Bob have grown Hodgdon Powder Company into the largest US supplier of smokeless, blackpowder and blackpowder substitute propellants. Varget 24.3 was a 1+- moa, 24.8 opened it up to 1.5. 0000022377 00000 n Available in 1 lb. Let me know how the 8202 works I have that on hand and its performed well the Nosler 80s custom competition. With the 90 to 95 grain bullets, the little Valkyrie can give 6mm match cartridges a real run for their money offering similar ballistics with less recoil. 0000096374 00000 n The Valkyrie and the Creedmoor have several similar features of case design that make them both great cartridges. All seated to 2.25. I measured the neck thickness at five points around the neck with an RCBS ball micrometer and averaged the results for each case for its measurement. The resulting average neck thickness of all 50 cases was .0139 inch, with an extreme spread of .0014 inch. .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. But do you know how to properly use them? 0000001896 00000 n Sierras data covers the broad range of its extensive product line, and Federals recipes are limited but appear somewhat more aggressive. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, 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. The .224 valkyrie should be a better choice with heavier bullets since it is shorter and will allow longer OAL with the longer bullets. 0000035033 00000 n I have been through the wringer on a few different load developments, but this one really had us thrown for a loop. Powder: 26.6 grains Hodgdon CFE-223. Almost 100fps faster to. The biggest bonus I have from this is the amount of load data out there that is available. ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? Learn the difference between revolvers and semi-auto pistols and what makes them different. 223 REMINGTON 223 WSSM 224 VALKYRIE 5.56 NATO 10.5 BARREL 5.56 NATO 14.5 BARREL 5.56 NATO 16.5 BARREL 5.56 NATO 20 BARREL 224 WEATHERBY MAGNUM 22-250 REMINGTON (NEW) 22 HORNET.243. 0000016556 00000 n 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. Okay, how about some results? They loaded smoothly and held up well over many reloads. 0000034850 00000 n Looking it over, we found a dozen different powders that we can load with, and staring at me were two of my favorites. The new Sako Finnlight II sports an innovative stock and Cerakote metal paired with the terrific 85 action. (Above) Test handloads were prepared with RCBS dies. Metering it is effortless and very consistent. Reduced recoil. From affordable target practice to home defense, there isn't much that cannot be done with this rifle. The company distributes gunpowder under the Hodgdon, IMR, Winchester and Goex brands. I will post future results as I get them. In addition to this, powder capacity is sacrificed to accommodate the long bullet, which reduces velocity. With Sierras remarkable new 95-grain MatchKing, this gives the little Valkyrie long-range performance that can rival some much larger cartridge types. 0000022446 00000 n trends and tips from the leader in reloading. According to Sierra, the ogive on the 95 SMK is 0.661 nominal. : 2.110" Powder: 28.8 gr 31.1 gr Vel. .224 Valkyrie reloading data with 160 loads. I am beginning to work up a load for my valkyrie bolt gun. These are all shown in Table 2. The new brass is available from Starlines network of dealers in pre-packaged bags of 250, 500, or 1,000 or Factory Direct online at www.starlinebrass.com. you could start with Varget/CFE 223 and go from there. 0000096939 00000 n Although 100-yard results arent mind-blowing, this round will still outperform others at distance, because it is less susceptible to wind drift. 0000050046 00000 n 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. Starting with the 60-grain V-Max loads, we fired our five-round groups and hit a node at 26.9 grains, giving us a group that measured just inside of an inch. The .224 Valkyrie has a lot of potential and an interesting background. Im thinking about buying a LWRC 224 Valkrie when it gets here. Primer: Federal 205 Small Rifle. To show viewers how to succeed at long range, J. Guthrie gears up for a challenging shot while chasing Colorado pronghorn at long range with DPMS' Panther 6.5 Creedmoor. 0000006041 00000 n I have tested three .224 Valkyrie rifles, and have been impressed with velocities of heavy-bullet loads, although accuracy can vary a lot. The company distributes gunpowder under the Hodgdon, IMR, Winchester and Goex brands. Firing was done off of a Caldwell DFT Lead Sled rest from a shooting building at an elevation of 950 feet MSL.4. Two prototype bolt-action rifles were used for all loads. Pounding the proverbial pavement, I heard from a number of sources that a bad batch of chamber reamers have made their way through the industry, leading to some aftermarket barrels being out-of-spec. The development of the name of this cartridge is no less interesting that the design of the case itself. A new Starline .224 Valkyrie case head. So maybe the .224 Valkyries higher velocities with long, heavy bullets will carve out a unique niche in the shooting ecosystem, as theres no denying that the new round has the potential to hold its own on the range or in the field. Franchi Momentum Elite Bolt-Action Rifle in Varmint Configurations, Savage Model 110 Timberline 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle: Full Review. Starline and Hornady are also offering .224 Valkyrie, so I obtained 50 pieces of Starline brass and several boxes of Hornady ELD-Match ammo. A Luth-AR buttstock with adjustable LOP and comb height and 15-inch M-Lok forend were added. A recent addition is the new .224 Valkyrie, developed by Federal as a low-recoil round for long-range shooting. The new .224 Valkyrie was introduced late last year as a Hot Rod cartridge that will work in AR15s. All Shooting Times subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Joseph Von Benedikt is with Jorge Spat to learn all about it. 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. Round two, here we go. As an example, the 6.5 Creedmoor was introduced in 2008, and is indeed a terrific cartridgeflat shooting, efficient, and super accurate. The 75-, 77-, 80-, and 90-grain match bullets shot pretty well, too, and would hold up better over longer ranges. This bullet/powder combination reached a speed of 2,523 fps, which is OK for our needs. Shaw booth at the NRA Great American Outdoor Show, a company known for its world-class, bolt-action rifle barrels. Being that the case body is much wider in diameter, the powder column settles much lower now, allowing the bullet to be seated deep enough to function in a standard AR-15 magazine.The result was a gun that shoots as soft as a 5.56 NATO, gets to the target quicker and has a better ballistics coefficient than most 6 mm and even 6.5 mm ELD projectiles!The ammo junkie in me hears about this new cartridge and its factory loadings and immediately thinks "I can make this better." "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. This is my favorite powder for .223 Rem & 224 Valkyrie. J. Scott Rupp takes a first look at the Springfield M1A Loaded rifle chambered in the popular 6.5 Creedmoor. The powder measures very well and consistently. CFE-223: Subscribe: 2662: Remarks: COAL (inches): 2.140; 5-shot 100-yard group (inches): 1.75 77: Nosler Custom Competition: Hodgdon: For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I used RCBS dies, but sets are available from Hornady and Redding, as well. Hornady, Sierra, Berger, Nosler, and probably other companies offer long, heavy-for-caliber bullets with high ballistic coefficients that buck the wind and are especially designed for long-range accuracy. 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. Rifle #1 has a standard SAAMI-spec throat, but the throat on Rifle #2 is cut a little shorter so that it provides a .010-inch bullet jump for the Sierra 90-grain MK factory ammo. The correct shellholder is the same as the 6.8 SPC. Introduced in 1965 with the .444 Marlin cartridge, the Model 444 was the most powerful lever action of its day. I decided to rebarrel two of my guns, and Lothar-Walther USA provided two stainless-steel barrels chambered for the new round. Being a spherical powder, metering is superbly accurate. Hodgdon, the Brand Thats True, is pleased to announce the launch of load data for the new 224 Valkyriecartridge, now available on Hodgdons Reloading Data Center at www.HodgdonReloading.com.