MY .224 Valkyrie and 85.5 Berger Load Development

[Pietro panama]

Don't normally post---just read to learn from others. Thought I would share some. Not an AR fan, have bolt Savage re-barreled to 224Val--6.5 twist.
S77HPBTs---28.0gn---2000MR shoots ragged holes for me.
Gave up on Federal brass---very hard seating even after AMP annealing. Bought Starline. Had been using regular RCBS seating die. 1.796 to lands---trying to seat 1.776----20 thou. Also just bought Wilson seater. Now believe both Federal and Starline has donuts------cannot seat long B85.5s-----Wilson die will not seat with 21st Century press. Just ordered more Hornaday brass----know it works. Garandman, looks like you are OK with Starline---good for you.
Another good load for me has been 25.1 Varget with B85.5s.

 

[IHFarmer07]

Don't normally post---just read to learn from others. Thought I would share some. Not an AR fan, have bolt Savage re-barreled to 224Val--6.5 twist.
S77HPBTs---28.0gn---2000MR shoots ragged holes for me.
Gave up on Federal brass---very hard seating even after AMP annealing. Bought Starline. Had been using regular RCBS seating die. 1.796 to lands---trying to seat 1.776----20 thou. Also just bought Wilson seater. Now believe both Federal and Starline has donuts------cannot seat long B85.5s-----Wilson die will not seat with 21st Century press. Just ordered more Hornaday brass----know it works. Garandman, looks like you are OK with Starline---good for you.
Another good load for me has been 25.1 Varget with B85.5s.

Hey, great man! Glad you decided to comment because this caliber can be a PIA and ANY additional information is much appreciated.
Good to know, have some Berger 85.5’s loaded with varget now, just waiting for the crappy weather to blow over.

Told the wife that we HAVE to write this down on the calendar......on Friday we had around 60 degrees and had the following warnings/watches in 12hrs, tornado warning, thunderstorm warning, flood warning and a freaking winter weather advisory!!! ONLY IN MISSOURI

Anyway.....I’ve got brand new never shot brass with doughnuts!!!! So now I have to go back through them(250pcs) and take the neck turner with the doughnut reamer mandrel and redo them.

Also, I’ve tried a couple different dies....Redding types-s die has the best sizing of the brass but the brass is not very concentric at all, so I’m back to my forester. I also bought a K&M arbor press with pressure read out and Wilson die to get the best seating depth and concentricity, still not getting where I want the concentricity at but it’s doable.

So you think the Hornady brass is better than the others?? Sure hope better brass come out or is available soon, maybe at shot show.

 

[Pietro panama]

Curious as to which brand brass had donuts? Never heard of AR Comp, but must try after seeing Garandman’s targets.
Because my S77HPBT load works so well, not sure why I keep jacking with B85.5s—-other than I bought 500. 224V only meant as option to 204R prairie dog slayer. 224V fun but yes, PIA—-never could get 80s and 90s to suit me. Must be a masochist, trying B85.5s.
Bought 500 Hornaday brass vs. reaming Starline. Completely gave up on Federal——noticed loose brass not sold—-might be a hint.

 

[IHFarmer07]

Curious as to which brand brass had donuts? Never heard of AR Comp, but must try after seeing Garandman’s targets.
Because my S77HPBT load works so well, not sure why I keep jacking with B85.5s—-other than I bought 500. 224V only meant as option to 204R prairie dog slayer. 224V fun but yes, PIA—-never could get 80s and 90s to suit me. Must be a masochist, trying B85.5s.
Bought 500 Hornaday brass vs. reaming Starline. Completely gave up on Federal——noticed loose brass not sold—-might be a hint.

Ah, I forgot to say that, it’s starline brass. I neck turned the brass, checked concentricity and it was 4-5k out so I then sized 1 or 2pcs with the type-s and no change if not, it got worse, so I tried the forester die and it took the brass concentricity down to less than 1k. Ok great.....then I started checking with some pin gages and that is where I found the doughnuts, now I’m expanding again and turning whatever I can to lessen the doughnuts, it’s taking some off where the doughnuts is around about at.

Interesting with federal brass

 

[stevespeed]

I've been looking for feedback on Hornady 224 V brass without much success. Most have problems with seating primers due to not realizing factory loaded ammo having crimped in primers. Looking beyond that, consensus seems to be Federal brass is a joke and Starline is good for around 3 or 4 loadings before the primer pockets give up. Has the Hornady brass proven itself to have tougher primer pockets? Keep up the great info. Thanks

 

[IHFarmer07]

I've been looking for feedback on Hornady 224 V brass without much success. Most have problems with seating primers due to not realizing factory loaded ammo having crimped in primers. Looking beyond that, consensus seems to be Federal brass is a joke and Starline is good for around 3 or 4 loadings before the primer pockets give up. Has the Hornady brass proven itself to have tougher primer pockets? Keep up the great info. Thanks

Sorry Steve, I have not used Hornady brass in the Valkyrie....not real sure if anybody does much. I’ve had really good luck with starline for what it worth. I get more than 3-4 loading for sure out of mine. I also anneal every firing and shoot a bolt action, neck turned brass, loaded with 80eldm’s, with 25.1gr H4895 gets me 2950 about.....and 25.5g to get 3000+fps and no issues yet with primer pockets ......yet

Are you shooting an AR?

 

[stevespeed]

Sorry Steve, I have not used Hornady brass in the Valkyrie....not real sure if anybody does much. I’ve had really good luck with starline for what it worth. I get more than 3-4 loading for sure out of mine. I also anneal every firing and shoot a bolt action, neck turned brass, loaded with 80eldm’s, with 25.1gr H4895 gets me 2950 about.....and 25.5g to get 3000+fps and no issues yet with primer pockets ......yet

Are you shooting an AR?

Sorry Steve, I have not used Hornady brass in the Valkyrie....not real sure if anybody does much. I’ve had really good luck with starline for what it worth. I get more than 3-4 loading for sure out of mine. I also anneal every firing and shoot a bolt action, neck turned brass, loaded with 80eldm’s, with 25.1gr H4895 gets me 2950 about.....and 25.5g to get 3000+fps and no issues yet with primer pockets ......yet

Are you shooting an AR?

Yes, AR. Cowtown started having accurized AR matches with a focus on 223/5.56 and 224 Valkyrie. Haven't found much for results with Hornady but it seems to possibly have a thicker web. Maybe good for primer pockets, maybe bad for getting enough volume. Trying to find hands on results before investing in brass and load development. Thanks for the reply.

 

[IHFarmer07]

Yes, AR. Cowtown started having accurized AR matches with a focus on 223/5.56 and 224 Valkyrie. Haven't found much for results with Hornady but it seems to possibly have a thicker web. Maybe good for primer pockets, maybe bad for getting enough volume. Trying to find hands on results before investing in brass and load development. Thanks for the reply.

Ok, ya, wish I could help ya out.....the Valkyrie is a tough cookie to figure out.....if it wasn’t so darn temperamental it’d be awesome.
I got a great load worked up on my 6.5prc to make a 2.88” 4 shot group at 650 in under 50rnds! After dealing with the Valkyrie for so long the 6.5prc was a cake walk.