jmkasza
Silver $$ Contributor
Need some help with .224 Valkyrie reloading. Thank you in advance. I’ve done quite a bit of reading on chambering and cycling issues with hand loads, as well as tried a few things to make it work, but I need some help.
Gun is a Wyndam Weaponry 22” 1:7 barrel that is mostly stock, trigger and JP silent buffer being the only modifications. It shoots okay with factory ammo, about 1 moa most of the time. It’s shot the 75gr Federal American Eagle FMJ, Federal 90gr Fusion, and Hornady 88gr match. It shoots the Hornady the best, but no chambering or cycling issues with any factory ammo. Approximately 800 rounds shot.
The first batch of hand loads were FL sized with RCBS dies (standard series not small base). I loaded ten of each of the following test loads:
Hornady ELD-M 88gr at 2.250”
Sierra TMK 69gr at 2.200”
Nosler Varmageddon 62gr at 2.180”
Hornady V-Max 50gr at 2.180”
Barnes Varmint Grenade at 2.200”
**Maximum COL is 2.260”
None of these rounds would fully chamber and none could be fired. My next step after doing some research about many of the Valkyrie’s having a tight chamber and potentially a die setup related issue was to pull all the bullets and re-size the cases again making sure to cam over my press as much as reasonable. I re-checked the COL for each bullet (except Nosler, not available to my knowledge, but in my mind a reasonable place to start) and loaded up the same groups of ten except the Barnes.
The 69gr Sierras all loaded, fired, and grouped about 1 moa. Cycled just fine.
The 88gr ELD-M all loaded and fired, but groups were 2-2.5 moa. Cycled just fine.
The 62gr Nosler would not load or could be fired.
The 50gr V-Max would not load or could be fired.
I shot some factory rounds that day as well which all did what they should do.
Now I’m left scratching my head. Maybe it’s the length of the case? I did not trim these as they all measured about 1.595: to 1.601” after sizing. Max length should be 1.600. All were chamfered and de-burred. Should I trim a batch down to the trim length of 1.580?? I also read about how carbon ring / powder residue can contribute to chambering issues and found the gun to be very dirty. I gave the upper, chamber, and barrel a very thorough cleaning over the weekend, but have not shot it since.
Last night I’m still thinking about it… why would some of the hand loads fire and some not if the cases are all the same length it shouldn’t be due to residue build up, right? The cases were all sized the same, so that shouldn’t be the issue either. Are some of the loads getting stuck at the lands?
I did the marker test on a 62gr Nosler and it showed marks below the ogive. There was a scratch above the ogive towards the tip, but I am pretty sure that came from extraction. I also measured a case and a loaded round to compare with the SAAMI dimensions are they are the same or slightly under. No evidence of an over-sized case.
Any help with this? What should I look into next? If there is an existing thread on this I apologize, I couldn’t fine one that led me any further than where I am at now.
Thank you
Gun is a Wyndam Weaponry 22” 1:7 barrel that is mostly stock, trigger and JP silent buffer being the only modifications. It shoots okay with factory ammo, about 1 moa most of the time. It’s shot the 75gr Federal American Eagle FMJ, Federal 90gr Fusion, and Hornady 88gr match. It shoots the Hornady the best, but no chambering or cycling issues with any factory ammo. Approximately 800 rounds shot.
The first batch of hand loads were FL sized with RCBS dies (standard series not small base). I loaded ten of each of the following test loads:
Hornady ELD-M 88gr at 2.250”
Sierra TMK 69gr at 2.200”
Nosler Varmageddon 62gr at 2.180”
Hornady V-Max 50gr at 2.180”
Barnes Varmint Grenade at 2.200”
**Maximum COL is 2.260”
None of these rounds would fully chamber and none could be fired. My next step after doing some research about many of the Valkyrie’s having a tight chamber and potentially a die setup related issue was to pull all the bullets and re-size the cases again making sure to cam over my press as much as reasonable. I re-checked the COL for each bullet (except Nosler, not available to my knowledge, but in my mind a reasonable place to start) and loaded up the same groups of ten except the Barnes.
The 69gr Sierras all loaded, fired, and grouped about 1 moa. Cycled just fine.
The 88gr ELD-M all loaded and fired, but groups were 2-2.5 moa. Cycled just fine.
The 62gr Nosler would not load or could be fired.
The 50gr V-Max would not load or could be fired.
I shot some factory rounds that day as well which all did what they should do.
Now I’m left scratching my head. Maybe it’s the length of the case? I did not trim these as they all measured about 1.595: to 1.601” after sizing. Max length should be 1.600. All were chamfered and de-burred. Should I trim a batch down to the trim length of 1.580?? I also read about how carbon ring / powder residue can contribute to chambering issues and found the gun to be very dirty. I gave the upper, chamber, and barrel a very thorough cleaning over the weekend, but have not shot it since.
Last night I’m still thinking about it… why would some of the hand loads fire and some not if the cases are all the same length it shouldn’t be due to residue build up, right? The cases were all sized the same, so that shouldn’t be the issue either. Are some of the loads getting stuck at the lands?
I did the marker test on a 62gr Nosler and it showed marks below the ogive. There was a scratch above the ogive towards the tip, but I am pretty sure that came from extraction. I also measured a case and a loaded round to compare with the SAAMI dimensions are they are the same or slightly under. No evidence of an over-sized case.
Any help with this? What should I look into next? If there is an existing thread on this I apologize, I couldn’t fine one that led me any further than where I am at now.
Thank you
