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Old 07-02-2018, 08:23 PM
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Default 224 Valkyrie

Been seeing a lot of articles extolling the long range capabilities and thinking about building/buying an upper to try it out. Has anyone had any experience with one? Positive or negative I am interested. Thanks in advance.
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Old 07-03-2018, 12:01 AM
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Yeah, the ballistics sound good, but a light bullet at long range is a difficult sell to me. I would like to try it though.
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Old 07-03-2018, 02:04 AM
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Does sound interesting,but looks like it works best with 6.8SPC mags. Looked at the PSA uppers, and in answer to one review PSA says they only guaranty 3 MOA. Say What? Think I'll stick with my T/C Compass in 6.5 Creedmoor for long range.
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Old 07-03-2018, 09:36 AM
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I believe the design intent was to launch heavier match bullets at higher velocity for across the course bullseye shooting. I'm wondering what the barrel life is like? Small bore, heavy bullet and powder charge and high velocity appears to be a recipe for short barrel life. Which, I note, is not mentioned in the reviews.

Of course, the folks who like to shoot vermin at preposterous distances are going to be thrilled-at least until they realize they may be rebarreling after every trip.

Last edited by WR Moore; 07-03-2018 at 09:37 AM.
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Old 07-03-2018, 11:24 AM
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I don't think this one is really that much of a barrel burner its not that fast. 6.8 (30 Remington) case isn't that big. 2,700 fps or so at the muzzle is no screamer.
The standard 5.56 case using the long bullets you run out of room in magazine pretty quick. This is just using a fatter, shorter case so you can use the longer higher BC bullets in the length constraints of an AR. Since it's a 6.8 derived round you need a different bolt and the 6.8 specific mags will work better.
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Old 07-03-2018, 12:49 PM
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I do not have any experience with that specific cartridge but I did read an article about it and I did stay at a Holiday-In Express recently. The cartridge is geared towards across the course high power shooters. I guess the selling point is that it has better performance at 600 yards and less recoil than the 6.5 Grendel using the 90gr HPBTM projectiles. You can load those in a .223/5.56 but you have to single load them into the chamber. With the Valkyrie they are of magazine length so you can shoot the same load across the course instead of using one load for the rapid fire stages and another for the slow fire.
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Old 07-03-2018, 01:23 PM
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I am curious about the terminal effects as it would seem that it should be more effective on medium sized game than 5.56 which is often used. Small hog control (I eat them)in particular where you may need repeat shots in rapid succession.For deer I like a little more pop and my bolt guns work just fine.
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Old 07-03-2018, 02:16 PM
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Boots Obermeyer of Obermeyer gun barrel fame had/has a blog on their website. Since he both shot/shoots across the course and makes barrels for those who do, his experience would seem to be worth consideration.

He noted that heavier than usual bullets for caliber seem to accelerate throat erosion. His theory was that the heavier bullets take longer to accelerate and hold a higher gas temperature (pressure too, I'd think) in the throat longer. If someone builds one, please advise on barrel life.

Looking at sectional density, an 80 gr .224 bullet has about the same SD as a 150 gr .30 bullet. A 90 gr .224 would be about the same as a 165 gr .30 bullet.

Now the larger issue is the construction of the bullet. I used to use 69 gr SMKs to shoot groundhogs. Then I happened to have one sitting up facing me. I heard the bullet impact and strolled out (162 paces) to examine the remains. Massive chest wound that excavated the chest cavity, no exit wound. The second time this happened (similar range) I realized the bullet was fragmenting on the sternum and didn't have enough weight/velocity to exit a 20+lb critter. [I switched to 60 gr Sierra JHPs, got holes on both sides.] The 75 gr Hornaday HPBT seems to be constructed differently, haven't used it on any groundhogs though. Big question, who's gonna build a 90 gr .224 bullet designed as a hunting bullet?

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Old 07-04-2018, 09:21 AM
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This should work for deer and hogs.




As far as burning out barrels, remember that they make new ones daily. This is not a cartridge for people that wish to do mag dumps. Performance costs.

Last edited by MichiganScott; 07-04-2018 at 09:24 AM.
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Old 07-10-2018, 09:17 AM
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I just started shooting the 224 Valkrie. My interest for this round is shooting groups at 1000 yd plus applications. I have been shooting several precision 223’s with 77 and 80 grain target bullet the past year and I have pretty well “ hit the wall” with these loads at extended ranges.
The 224 is going to be used with 90 and 95 grain high bc bullets. I am not a fan of using smk’s on game animals, but the fusions should be effective for certain applications.
I am not the least bit concerned about barrel life. I have been shooting 7mm mags and 300 win mags for decades and rebarrelling these rifles at a certain round count is sop. If and when the barrel needs replaced, I will deal with that then. My 224 is on a AR upper, so rebarreling is something I can do.
Have two boxes of the new Sierra 95 smk’s on the table here and am going to load some this afternoon.

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Old 07-10-2018, 07:54 PM
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Loc n load any updates you might have would be appreciated. The 1000 yard capability makes the Valkyrie interesting beyond hog hunting.
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Old 07-10-2018, 09:30 PM
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I will keep you in the loop.......just getting started with it......just got dies, bullets and brass.
The rifle I am going to use is a 24” heavy barrel.

Last edited by loc n load; 07-10-2018 at 09:32 PM.
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