224 Valkyrie build recommendations

[PD Gohil]

I've decided to build a 224 Valkyrie upper.


Goals:
100 yd 1/2 MOA
1000 yd 3/4 MOA.
Hand load 90gr smk's
Not break the shooting budget getting there.


I've built 3 ARs, But nothing for this level of precision. I'm looking for a 24-in barrel possibly a 26. I'm thinking I need a BCG that is matched to the barrel. Barrel prices seem to go from $275 to $1200. Really would appreciate a recommendation of a quality barrel not just an expensive one.
I'll be doing all the work myself as I do not have a competent precision gunsmith that I know.

I'm also not against buying an upper assembly that is already matched up.

Optics recommendations for 100-1300 yd shooting ?

Thank you in advance.

PGohil
WV

 

[6bra1k]

Met those goals with the following:

Upper - Shilen Select Match 24" 1-6.5 twist if using the 90's or 95's http://www.dtechuppers.com/ar-15-upper-receivers.html
Lower - Aero Precision fits perfectly
BCG - https://www.crypticcoatings.com/product-category/bolt-carrier-groups/08/ (smooth as glass, easier to clean, no "sandy" sound when shooting
Dual recoil spring - https://www.crypticcoatings.com/product/armaspec-stealth-recoil-spring/ (not only does it reduce recoil, there is no "twang" like a normal AR spring. Be sure to get the proper spring weight.)
Geisselle trigger - https://geissele.com/hi-speed-national-match-trigger-set.html (this gives you the option of different trigger weights/springs for flexibility in use.)

Best powders were CFE-223 and RE-15. Fed MAR primers.

Optics - go with a Hensoldt https://www.eurooptic.com/hensoldt-zf-35-26x56-sand-riflescope.aspx
That way you can charge everyone who asks to look through it a fee to help pay it off because nobody you know will likely ever be able to afford one...lol!......Sightron would probably the most value for your buck.

could we see the 1000 yard targets..5 shot or 10 shot 3/4 moa groups with a valk ??7.5" at 1000

 

[6bra1k]

I've decided to build a 224 Valkyrie upper.


Goals:
100 yd 1/2 MOA
1000 yd 3/4 MOA.
Hand load 90gr smk's
Not break the shooting budget getting there.


I've built 3 ARs, But nothing for this level of precision. I'm looking for a 24-in barrel possibly a 26. I'm thinking I need a BCG that is matched to the barrel. Barrel prices seem to go from $275 to $1200. Really would appreciate a recommendation of a quality barrel not just an expensive one.
I'll be doing all the work myself as I do not have a competent precision gunsmith that I know.

I'm also not against buying an upper assembly that is already matched up.

Optics recommendations for 100-1300 yd shooting ?

Thank you in advance.

PGohil
WV

do not waste your money.
go to the valk site , read and ask.
if you get a 15-55 or a 12-42 you could shoot from 100 out.
all the original hype was a 1000 yard cart in an ar15. BUT THEY NEVER once showed a target nor a group.
all the original offerings were 16-20" yest there testing was done with 24", to yes a 24 ATLEAST.
A 90 gr bullet is not ideal for 1000.... the small 6mm shoot 103 to110.
i assume you have ASSEMBLED 3 ars for purchased parts, not the same as building, as a gunsmith.
krieger
you are going to need a dummy round and a reamer to match, tho a throater might work.
nave you looked at baliastics software and see what can be done ??

 

[Nowhere Man]

You also might want to look for bullets first. The 90-95 SMK are MIA.

 

[Rtheurer]

Please dont go below 24" barrel if you want to meet your long range goal. I work at a 1000 yard rifle range and see time and time again the 224 V not make it to the 1000 yard line.

 

[Intell]

What RKS said.
I also have a D Tech Shilen 6.5 twist and mine shoots great with 90s and 95s. I used Win760 in mine and it’s 24”. It’s almost the same Dope as my 6.5 creedmoor with 142 SMKs.
That said, I don’t use it for long range matches, just plinking and prairie dog shooting. I also have a light weight carbon fiber Valkyrie that’s handy and easy to carry hunting coyotes.

 

[PD Gohil]

Open mouth, insert foot... I think I got caught up in all the hype. I'm hearing all about thousand yard shot s with the Valkyrie, but I'm not seeing anyone posting the evidence thereof...
I think I'm going to hold off until I can find someone that shoots legit sub MOA groups at 1000 consistently with the 224 Valkyrie in the AR platform that hasn't spent an arm and a leg to do so. As previously stated there are plenty of excellent calibers that do shoot well at a thousand without going through the nuances of the Valkyrie.

 

[6bra1k]

My 1K experience with the Valkyrie was primarily on steel with MOA sized targets. I would say that it held under MOA quite well in non windy conditions at that range. I'm not aware of anyone using this round for paper matches at 1K nor would I think it was intended for that - especially in an AR platform. Probably why you can't find those results posted on the internet. I'm assuming you have no development experience with this cartridge yourself.

I was able to tune down to 1/3MOA at 100 yds and ring steel out to 1K without issue in favorable conditions.

I started on (predatormasters - good information) and (Valkyrie forums - garbage information) when I built it. The main failure was not on the cartridge and its abilities. Most people had the math wrong. 1:7 twist is not ideal and that is what they mostly offered when it came out. And with a number of others it looked like amateur hour with people loading something blindly, shooting, and then trashing the cartridge because they were lost and likely were doing it incorreclty. Was it over-hyped? I think it was. You can only expect so much out of a .22 cal bullet at long range.

Dtech and Craddock Precision had the best uppers and offered 1:6.5 twist which was better than 1:7. I even tried the 65gr bullets and they shot well out to 300yds in the faster twist. Whether or not they would have survived at longer range I don't know.

Would I use this as a competition rifle? No, not anymore. The 6.5 CM in an AR has too much advantage over it. Would I use it in paper matches? No. But it is crazy fun to shoot and can be really accurate in the right applications.

100yd match target with common results.
The rifle.
Powder tune test at 100yds.

as a person that actually shoots long range at paper targets...5 and 10 shot groups, I CAN TELL you that the targets you posted, all have VERTICAL which will kill accuracy a 1000. also we do not get to choose when to shoot , if there is wind we still shoot. yes this was sold as a 1000 yard ar15 platform round. which is why i suggested he NOT build.

 

[The boogalorian]

What is a reasonable velocity to expect for say a Berger 85.5gn out of a Valkyrie with a 24” barrel?

 

[Jeff Porter]

It can be done… I had a 26” 1:6:5 Kreiger on Aero precision upper and handguard with Geissele HSNM trigger and a UBR buttstock. Loaded 88 ELD-M up to 2775 or shot factory 88’s at 2700 and held 1/2 moa five shot groups. I never got the 85.5’s or 90’s to shoot as well as the Hornady.
I shot it at 1000 one time before selling it. On an E target at Camp Atterbury. Held about 1 moa elevation from a sling. YMMV.

 

[Jeff Porter]

If you have every shot at Atterbury .. you will appreciate the effect of a 10 mph fishtail from 4:00 to 7:00. The three shots at 10:00 (2,19) are all me. When I bullgaze or day dream instead of looking at the reticle that is where I push the shot.

 

[65WSM]

I see references to powders that are temperature sensitive like 223 CFE. Stick with Enduron, Extreme, VihtaVuori and the most recently developed Alliant powders like R-16. I am still testing 2000MR. The Army has developed new and tighter enforcement of specifications for temperature sensitivity in smokeless propellants. Many of the powders for sale to the public are simply outdated. I am continually amazed by what shooters continue to buy, even when improvements in propellants are made available.

I have loaded about 3500 rounds of Valkyrie cartridges and am following this thread because I am interested in a new barrel. My nitrocarburized factory CMMG "Endeavour barrel is still going strong, at testiment that the cartridge produces long barrel life, but I shoot it a lot. I have a seven twist barrel and have learned that it likes the 77 gr bullets the best. I have tried the 80 gr Sierra, Nosler CC and 80.5 Berger with poor results. The 77 gr Berger OTM is the best and 77 gr Sierra Tipped MK are also excellent. The attached group was shot at 540 yards (happens to be the back of the Upper Nisqually range) with 26.0 gr of N-140, Star cases and CCI 450 primers. Two, 3 round magazines of Sierra 77 TMKs. The three below (horizontal group) were at 25.8 gr. The circle is two inches.