22 valkyrie experience

[wboggs]

I would like to hear the
experiences of those shooting this cartridge, good and bad. Guns and bullets used, accuracy, twist, etc.
Anything you have found helpful.
Thanks
Bill

 

[Rodney]

I have an ar-15 upper chambered in the 224 Valkyrie. From my internet research (which can be hit or miss) most people suggested a 6.5 twist. So I went with 6.5 and am very pleased with the results. 90 grain matchkings work well with varget and I’ve had good luck with power pro 2000mr. It’s a neat little cartridge if you want to shoot longer distances with an ar-15. The 6mm arc seems to be good for that also and may be the demise of the Valkyrie. Heavier bullets are a must though for the Valkyrie I’ve noticed, 70 grain is about as light as I would go. The lighter bullets are better suited for the original ar cartridge 223. Some barrels out there are 7 twist and may work with bullets 80 and below. But if you want to shoot the 90 and 95 grain stuff 6.5 is the ticket. Sierra even recommends a 6.5 twist on the box. I’ve shot some 88 ELD-M with good accuracy, but my barrel really likes the matchkings.

 

[wboggs]

I have an ar-15 upper chambered in the 224 Valkyrie. From my internet research (which can be hit or miss) most people suggested a 6.5 twist. So I went with 6.5 and am very pleased with the results. 90 grain matchkings work well with varget and I’ve had good luck with power pro 2000mr. It’s a neat little cartridge if you want to shoot longer distances with an ar-15. The 6mm arc seems to be good for that also and may be the demise of the Valkyrie. Heavier bullets are a must though for the Valkyrie I’ve noticed, 70 grain is about as light as I would go. The lighter bullets are better suited for the original ar cartridge 223. Some barrels out there are 7 twist and may work with bullets 80 and below. But if you want to shoot the 90 and 95 grain stuff 6.5 is the ticket. Sierra even recommends a 6.5 twist on the box. I’ve shot some 88 ELD-M with good accuracy, but my barrel really likes the matchkings.

Thank you, good information

 

[22vartarg]

I built a 224 Valkyrie on a savage target action and a shilling 26 inch barrel with a 1:6.5 twist. I have been shooting the Sierra 90 grain matchkings with CFE223 and it performs outstandingly. Also I have tried some of the Hornady 88 grain and they do very well too but not quite as good as the Sierra’s.

 

[wboggs]

I built a 224 Valkyrie on a savage target action and a shilling 26 inch barrel with a 1:6.5 twist. I have been shooting the Sierra 90 grain matchkings with CFE223 and it performs outstandingly. Also I have tried some of the Hornady 88 grain and they do very well too but not quite as good as the Sierra’s.

So, you are using a bolt action, What velocity you running the 90gr in the 6.5tw? No bullet disintegration? What accuracy are you getting?
Thanks

 

[AckleymanII]

I worked with the 7T using 90g, Federal and Starline brass. Brass is soft in the case head where the best accuracy node was.

 

[22vartarg]

So, you are using a bolt action, What velocity you running the 90gr in the 6.5tw? No bullet disintegration? What accuracy are you getting?
Thanks

Velocity is running about 2550 and the bullets hold together with no problems. Accuracy is from a 5 shot group at 100 yards. Yellow dot is under 3/4”.

 

[wboggs]

I worked with the 7T using 90g, Federal and Starline brass. Brass is soft in the case head where the best accuracy node was.

What brass is best and how fast did you need to run the 90s to hit the nodes?
Thanks

 

[wboggs]

Velocity is running about 2550 and the bullets hold together with no problems. Accuracy is from a 5 shot group at 100 yards. Yellow dot is under 3/4”.

2550 is below the 300k
recommended. It is a fine balancing act to get the node with a velocity that
will not destroy bullets.
Think a. 5R barrel would heip, especially after some wear?

 

[wboggs]

I worked with the 7T using 90g, Federal and Starline brass. Brass is soft in the case head where the best accuracy node was.

Brass you recommend?

 

[AckleymanII]

22 nosler or 22/204 Winchester

 

[wboggs]

I am quite surprised that there are so few responses to this thread. With all the publicity, one is led to believe there are a lot of shooters. Perhaps not that many.
Thanks for the responses.
Bill

 

[22vartarg]

Right now Federal, Hornady and Starline make brass for the cartridge. For shooting steel at a 1000 yards or varmint hunter that is more than good quality. I believe it will can around.

 

[Sharkface]

I built a budget .224 valkyrie AR15 on a whim because I loved the idea of a far reaching AR15. I fell in love with the cartridge. Very mild recoil. Great accuracy. I primarily shoot Hornady match ammo. I don’t load my own yet. But I have had awesome results and it is a great little round. Accurate and flat shooting. I love it so much I built a bolt action valkyrie as well. I haven’t shot it yet, life has gotten in the way, but I will real soon and it should be a real performer.

 

[wboggs]

I built a budget .224 valkyrie AR15 on a whim because I loved the idea of a far reaching AR15. I fell in love with the cartridge. Very mild recoil. Great accuracy. I primarily shoot Hornady match ammo. I don’t load my own yet. But I have had awesome results and it is a great little round. Accurate and flat shooting. I love it so much I built a bolt action valkyrie as well. I haven’t shot it yet, life has gotten in the way, but I will real soon and it should be a real performer.

Let us know how the bolt action works out.

 

[AndyA]

I too built a budget 224 valkyrie AR15 after shooting a friends. Loved the low recoil and heavy bullets that were offered. It has become my primary gun for feral hog hunting using the American Eagle 75gr TMJ loads. They just drop in there tracks when shot in the neck, which is easy because of the low recoil and accuracy. I have not had much luck reloading for it but should get it figured out.

 

[Gundog]

I built a 224 Valkyrie on a single shot Savage action. It wears a 26" fluted Criterion Stainless barrel with a 1-7 twist. I just returned from SD, where the 80.5 Berger Fullbore bullets were VERY effective out to 800yds. I could have gone longer, but there always seemed to be cows on the further hillside.

I also built my wife a Valkyrie on a Rem 700 action. Same barrel combination. It's a shooter also.

 

[David Milisock]

Just a cool name is all it has going for it. Guessing it will be gone in less than a year. Good quality brass will make or break a new cartridge.

Paul

As a field shooter I find heavy 22 caliber bullets need near 65,000 PSI and a long barrel to make them staliking varmint grade, then your barrel goes quickly. Any other pressure curve provides a trajectory that increases the difficulty of quick field range estimates.

If you sit at a bench or prone for long enough to range the environment the Valkyrie is a good cartridge. I would assume it would be a reasonable range cartridge.

I have found for 300 to 350 yards 22 caliber has best served me with light bullets with high velocities. I'll get one 600 yard shot for every 20 between the muzzle and 350.

 

[wboggs]

I built a 224 Valkyrie on a single shot Savage action. It wears a 26" fluted Criterion Stainless barrel with a 1-7 twist. I just returned from SD, where the 80.5 Berger Fullbore bullets were VERY effective out to 800yds. I could have gone longer, but there always seemed to be cows on the further hillside.

I also built my wife a Valkyrie on a Rem 700 action. Same barrel combination. It's a shooter also.

What throat length is your chamber?
Thanks

 

[Sharkface]

As a field shooter I find heavy 22 caliber bullets need near 65,000 PSI and a long barrel to make them staliking varmint grade, then your barrel goes quickly. Any other pressure curve provides a trajectory that increases the difficulty of quick field range estimates.

If you sit at a bench or prone for long enough to range the environment the Valkyrie is a good cartridge. I would assume it would be a reasonable range cartridge.

I have found for 300 to 350 yards 22 caliber has best served me with light bullets with high velocities. I'll get one 600 yard shot for every 20 between the muzzle and 350.

What do you mean by “field shooter?” And yes, you are correct most of my shooting with the .224 is done just at the range. I don’t do any varmint hunting, at least not yet and no real plans to start. The .224 is a bit small for any hunting I would do so it’s just a beer can and target shooting round for me. It gets much better range and accuracy with heavier bullets than a .22-250, at least in my little experienced opinion.
I wanted to build a long range AR15 and it worked excellent for that purpose and now I wAnt to just try it in other ways. Maybe I won’t love it in a bolt action platform, it doesn’t offer a ton more than just a regular .223, but I took a chance on it and we will see how it goes. I have faith in the little .22 zinger.