Some 224 Valkyrie advice please?

[fatelvis]

I'm breaking out the 224 Valkyrie AR with18" barrel, to do some possibly long range Coyote hunting. Any load info would be appreciated. Thanks Guys-

 

[searcher]

How about the Hornady 62 ELDVT stoked with published loads using Reloader 15 or 8208XBR. The 73 Berger is a good choice, though doesn't impart the damage the ELDVT does.

 

[Tommie]

How about the Hornady 62 ELDVT stoked with published loads using Reloader 15 or 8208XBR. The 73 Berger is a good choice, though doesn't impart the damage the ELDVT does.

That sounds about perfect

 

[fatelvis]

I'm getting the impression that those don't like to jump too much and do better jammed. Have you found this is the case? I know Berger 80.5s are Tangent and designed for semi-auto magazine jumping, but would they suffice for Coyote hunting, or would they just "ice-pick" through them? Thanks again Guys!

 

[17cal Fan]

I ended up with a Valkyrie on a trade. Not something I had an interest in but a deal I couldn't pass up.
AR platform w/18" 1:7 twist. Played with it some and got the bright idea that it might be fun in the Prairie dog towns. So I tried Speer TNT 50 grain bullets and had a jaw drop moment with 1/2" groups. 29gr CFE223 450 primer.

It was not fun in the PD towns (because of the mag hanging down and couldn't see the hits) but it's hell on coyotes

 

[fatelvis]

I ended up with a Valkyrie on a trade. Not something I had an interest in but a deal I couldn't pass up.
AR platform w/18" 1:7 twist. Played with it some and got the bright idea that it might be fun in the Prairie dog towns. So I tried Speer TNT 50 grain bullets and had a jaw drop moment with 1/2" groups. 29gr CFE223 450 primer.

It was not fun in the PD towns (because of the mag hanging down and couldn't see the hits) but it's hell on coyotes

That’s gotta be a screamer. Did you ever chrono that load?

 

[17cal Fan]

That’s gotta be a screamer. Did you ever chrono that load?

No I should have but according to Hodgdon's site it should be in the 3300 range minus 6 inches of barrel.

 

[effendude]

I don't believe the 80.5 Bergers were designed for magazine feeding. It is a target bullet designed to meet Intl Palma requirements. It works great in my .223 F-Class rifles single fed. It is a long bullet. How about 77gr Sierra MK or Tipped MK, or the Hornady 62'S? Mag length is the determining factor in AR's

 

[Ilikepie7]

On my last trip to South Dakota we had 2 guys with 224 Valkyries. One had reloads and the other had factory ammo. Both were blowing primers and had massive over pressure. 1 built rifle and 1 factory. Has anyone else had problems like that?

 

[Shifty6br]

Been running a Valkyrie since its induction, solely as a night rig. Ran 75gr pills for a long time. Avg fps was at 2830 fps, thru a 20" Craddock with Powerpro 2000mr accuracy was good not necessarily match winning groups, but able to produce consistent results on 10" steel out to 680yds being the furthest I've cared to shoot it.

I switched up loads just this season to the 60gr vmax, with the aim to lower my pbr as well as burning up my cache of vmax, started off with Powerpro 2000mr, results were excellent, showing much better initial accuracy over the 75gr (eld) at the time but speeds were pretty slow just slighltly over 223 speeds.

Then I tried LVR since I had an abundance for 6arc. That was the key, the same charge weight (28.5) of Powerpro in Lvr was getting me 150+fps more at an avg of 3230fps and accuracy was outstanding. There is still room to move up in charge weight but everything worked out so I just left it there.

It's been out 3 times so far this night season and performed all three times, the furthest being at 265.

Seems to favor the lighter pills over the heavies.

Never tried the heavy pills beyond 75-77gr.

 

[ZenArchery]

20” 1:7TR
69.5 HBC 3000FPS 25gr H335
74HHT 2950FPS 27gr LeverEvo
Use both for thermal hogs and coyotes. No shots over 150 yards (yet).
Banged steel out to 600 Yds.

 

[fatelvis]

Been running a Valkyrie since its induction, solely as a night rig. Ran 75gr pills for a long time. Avg fps was at 2830 fps, thru a 20" Craddock with Powerpro 2000mr accuracy was good not necessarily match winning groups, but able to produce consistent results on 10" steel out to 680yds being the furthest I've cared to shoot it.

I switched up loads just this season to the 60gr vmax, with the aim to lower my pbr as well as burning up my cache of vmax, started off with Powerpro 2000mr, results were excellent, showing much better initial accuracy over the 75gr (eld) at the time but speeds were pretty slow just slighltly over 223 speeds.

Then I tried LVR since I had an abundance for 6arc. That was the key, the same charge weight (28.5) of Powerpro in Lvr was getting me 150+fps more at an avg of 3230fps and accuracy was outstanding. There is still room to move up in charge weight but everything worked out so I just left it there.

It's been out 3 times so far this night season and performed all three times, the furthest being at 265.

Seems to favor the lighter pills over the heavies.

Never tried the heavy pills beyond 75-77gr.

I like your 60 Vmax/ Lever idea. What OAL are you loading them?

 

[Shifty6br]

I like your 60 Vmax/ Lever idea. What OAL are you loading them?

I'm at 1.687 base to ogive or approx. 2.115 ovr at approx. 015 jump.

 

[Shifty6br]

60gr load data per hornady app.

 

[fatelvis]

I just bought that app also, and it works beautifully. It’s nice having the loading info right in your pocket at all times.

 

[thatguyshm]

CFE223 works great across the weight range of bullets. I never tried Vmax, always seemed like they didn't do anything my 223 ARs wouldn't do, and I keep a lot of 223 60gr Vmax on hand.

I honestly found better accuracy with the 80gr ELD and shooters world precision in my bolt action, which I twisted at 1:7 rather than the standard 1:6.5. The guys at Northland Shooters took it personally that I wouldn't buy the 6.5 twist. I have a Savage build and AR, both with Criterion barrels, but the AR is a 6.5 twist, doesn't do as well as the 7 twist. My earlier 7 twist AR barrel was more accurate.

I had very good results with the 60gr TMK in both rifles, another good bullet to work with, as well as the 69 TMK.

 

[Shifty6br]

CFE223 works great across the weight range of bullets. I never tried Vmax, always seemed like they didn't do anything my 223 ARs wouldn't do, and I keep a lot of 223 60gr Vmax on hand.

I honestly found better accuracy with the 80gr ELD and shooters world precision in my bolt action, which I twisted at 1:7 rather than the standard 1:6.5. The guys at Northland Shooters took it personally that I wouldn't buy the 6.5 twist. I have a Savage build and AR, both with Criterion barrels, but the AR is a 6.5 twist, doesn't do as well as the 7 twist. My earlier 7 twist AR barrel was more accurate.

I had very good results with the 60gr TMK in both rifles, another good bullet to work with, as well as the 69 TMK.

Ya the vmax was originally what I,was shooting out of my 223/5.56 gas guns, but moved over to the 62gr bthp, for easie thru a 1050, boat tails play better.

So I needed somewheres for the vmax to work and it fit nicely thru the 224V.

I would like to mess with tmk eventually, specifically the 60gr, gain a bit more bc.

Op may want to look at those as well, worth a try.

 

[GetReal]

Really Only your rifle can tell you what load you should use. But generally speaking , you want to match bullet weight with twist rate of your barrel.

If most anything under 2 inches at a 100 yd is okay with you, Bullet velocity and powder charge are of less importance. 1: 7 and 1:8 you are going to want 69 grain or heavier bullets.

1:9 twist, you probably can get away with 55 or 62 grain.