Drinking thee AR Koolaid...

[7tenz]

and saw this LMT 224 Valkyrie for $500 off and I gulped. I had one day to make up my mind and not knowing much about the AR platform I had to give myself a crash course after I bought it. It's a direct impg action. Never heard of the 224 val either. I have a Leupold vx3i 3.5-10x40 laying around waiting for a rifle I'm going to stick on it.

10 days from purchase, CA. Grumble grumble.

 

[Valmet]

You'll enjoy it and it sounds like you got a pretty sweet deal

 

[white cloud]

You can legally own an AR in CA?

 

[billwill]

Glad you waited for the industry to work the kinks out of the platform. You will enjoy your
purchase. Go buy lots of ammo and try to wear it out. Have fun

 

[Rick_A]

The Stoner gas system is technically not direct impingement...but that's a nice gun and that round seems to show a lot of promise.

 

[7tenz]

It's too complicated to fully describe here, esp from an AR virgin like me.

You can legally own an AR in CA?

There are a lot of legal boneheaded restrictions on their manufacture. The one I'm getting has a "fixed" mag where I will need to crack open the action to release the mag, thus having a regular pistol grip. The alternative is installing a shark fin around thee pistol grip to keep you from wrapping your thumb around. Someone from CA who is really into ARs can ring in and give more and better info. I'm still in the learning stage.

So far they are leaving my Mini 14 alone because it doesn't have that evil look about it even though it functions exactly like an AR. I even got some 20 and 30 round mags for it during freedom week. Even before I jumped on the AR I stood with my AR owning brothers in getting these laws reversed. I have 3 co-workers into ARs and two build their own. I'll get some more info from them.

 

[hoc9sw]

I looked at the valkyrie briefly, but decided I don't need one. If I can't get down the stairs to go to the range, a new toy doesn't accomplish much.

I did learn that there are some very specific twist to bullet weight matches that you should do a bit of research on to get the best performance.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Think of the 224 Valkyrie as a AR-15 version of 22-250. Most are set up for heavy for caliber bullets (55-90 grains) If you have ammo sales at Wal-Mart, you should look there for Valkyrie ammo: I picked up 7 boxes for a friend of Federal American Eagle 75 gr FMJ for $7.97 a box (the brass is worth that.

The rim is the same size as 7.62x39 AK47 round, with a pretty much non tapered body. My friends rifle like the 77FMJ and 75gr A-Max bullets much better than 55 grain FMJ or V-Max.

You bought a quality rifle, feed it quality ammo! It is worth buying the competition grade die sets and going through the extra steps to make the best long range ammo. With a good scope and a little practice, you should be banging 8" gongs at 1000 yards in no time. (The gun and the round are that good!)

Ivan

 

[Wise_A]

Think of the 224 Valkyrie as a AR-15 version of 22-250. Most are set up for heavy for caliber bullets (55-90 grains)

This. Although these days, it seems like "standard" .223 starts at 62 grains.

You can legally own an AR in CA?

CA is in the same boat NY is. You can either have a fixed 10-round magazine that requires you to break open the gun and load from a stripper clip, or you can go "featureless"--no muzzle device/threads, no pistol grip, etc.

Actually, the way CA's law is written, it's less restrictive than NY's. A lot of CA-legal manufacturers tell their customers that their products are okay in NY, but NY demands that a rifle be rendered unable to accept a detachable magazine.

All of which is funny, because good gun owners and shops really struggle to follow this ridiculous law, while less-than-law-abiding folks ignore a law that almost nobody has been charged under. I believe we actually had our first SAFE Act possession arrest last year--some guy "well-known to local police" decided to wave around his non-compliant AR on his front lawn. Virtually all of the thousands of "SAFE Act prosecutions" were arrests in NYC that got bumped from misdemeanors to felonies under the law.

 

[Fishinfool]

LMT are quality AR's, and have a great reputation with LEO and competition shooters. Not familiar with the 224-V. I tend to stick to 5.56 & 7.62x51 in these guns because of the availability of inexpensive plinking ammo. Looks like you got a good deal on that rifle.

Larry

 

[7tenz]

This. Although these days, it seems like "standard" .223 starts at 62 grains.



CA is in the same boat NY is. You can either have a fixed 10-round magazine that requires you to break open the gun and load from a stripper clip, or you can go "featureless"--no muzzle device/threads, no pistol grip, etc.

Actually, the way CA's law is written, it's less restrictive than NY's. A lot of CA-legal manufacturers tell their customers that their products are okay in NY, but NY demands that a rifle be rendered unable to accept a detachable magazine.

All of which is funny, because good gun owners and shops really struggle to follow this ridiculous law, while less-than-law-abiding folks ignore a law that almost nobody has been charged under. I believe we actually had our first SAFE Act possession arrest last year--some guy "well-known to local police" decided to wave around his non-compliant AR on his front lawn. Virtually all of the thousands of "SAFE Act prosecutions" were arrests in NYC that got bumped from misdemeanors to felonies under the law.

I can completely remove the magazine and insert a loaded one back in after slightly cracking the action open a little. The clerk showed me a "CA" button that makes opening the action without pulling the pin. Don't know how long that will be legal here. If I had to use a stripper clip that would be a no go there for me.

 

[Wise_A]

I can completely remove the magazine and insert a loaded one back in after slightly cracking the action open a little. The clerk showed me a "CA" button that makes opening the action without pulling the pin. Don't know how long that will be legal here. If I had to use a stripper clip that would be a no go there for me.

Yes, I mis-spoke. I believe straight bullet-button magazine releases were okay in CA, and now you have to have one that requires "disassembly"--tilting the upper off the lower. We're stuck with "cannot accept a detachable magazine". Our law is modeled off yours, except our jerkwads saw you guys with your bullet buttons and decided that was slightly too much freedom/fun.

Either way, for me, it's a giant pain in the neck. I wanted to get into rifles, so I went with bolt guns. I can have all the black-rifle stuff I want, with 3200 fps 55-grains (factory, I haven't pushed 55-grain loads much beyond that), or 3400 fps 40's.

 

[7tenz]

Yes, I mis-spoke. I believe straight bullet-button magazine releases were okay in CA, and now you have to have one that requires "disassembly"--tilting the upper off the lower. We're stuck with "cannot accept a detachable magazine". Our law is modeled off yours, except our jerkwads saw you guys with your bullet buttons and decided that was slightly too much freedom/fun.

Either way, for me, it's a giant pain in the neck. I wanted to get into rifles, so I went with bolt guns. I can have all the black-rifle stuff I want, with 3200 fps 55-grains (factory, I haven't pushed 55-grain loads much beyond that), or 3400 fps 40's.

That's screwed. I'm a native of upstate NY and I know your pain. I left there in '81 and lived in gun-loving Texas for 6 years before moving to CA. Wasn't bad here then. Edit:I don't think there is any bullet button requirement any more. Got swapped out for some SOS.

 

[7tenz]

Think of the 224 Valkyrie as a AR-15 version of 22-250. Most are set up for heavy for caliber bullets (55-90 grains) If you have ammo sales at Wal-Mart, you should look there for Valkyrie ammo: I picked up 7 boxes for a friend of Federal American Eagle 75 gr FMJ for $7.97 a box (the brass is worth that.

The rim is the same size as 7.62x39 AK47 round, with a pretty much non tapered body. My friends rifle like the 77FMJ and 75gr A-Max bullets much better than 55 grain FMJ or V-Max.

You bought a quality rifle, feed it quality ammo! It is worth buying the competition grade die sets and going through the extra steps to make the best long range ammo. With a good scope and a little practice, you should be banging 8" gongs at 1000 yards in no time. (The gun and the round are that good!)

Ivan

Nice. I have doubts I'll find it here in a CA Walmart, but I'll check on it.

Edit:Here it is a day later and yep found some at the local WM. Was $2 more here in CA.

 

[Wise_A]

That's screwed. I'm a native of upstate NY and I know your pain. I left there in '81 and lived in gun-loving Texas for 6 years before moving to CA. Wasn't bad here then. Edit:I don't think there is any bullet button requirement any more. Got swapped out for some SOS.

I was bummed about ARs, but I think I'm way happier working with bolt-actions anyway. I feel like I get a lot more gun for the money. My club doesn't really have a "carbine"-type range, anyway.

I've already got a .308 planned for after the 6.5CM LRP. Although what I'd really like is a 30BR, I just don't want to have to deal with making brass for it.

 

[BillBro]

LMT is one of the best to be had, period. Their equipment is strictly hard use weapons. I'd live to have an LMT.
The Valkyrie is a very interesting new round and I've been considering one since before it actually hit the market. I'm already practically set up to reload for it. A caliber change on one of my 7 existing rifles is nothing but a bolt and barrel change away. It's supposed to be a great long range round, still supersonic a 1k? Yeah. Congrats on a smoking deal.

 

[7tenz]

LMT is one of the best to be had, period. Their equipment is strictly hard use weapons. I'd live to have an LMT.
The Valkyrie is a very interesting new round and I've been considering one since before it actually hit the market. I'm already practically set up to reload for it. A caliber change on one of my 7 existing rifles is nothing but a bolt and barrel change away. It's supposed to be a great long range round, still supersonic a 1k? Yeah. Congrats on a smoking deal.

Sorry for the late reply, I'm slowly learning more, at least no longer a newbie. In case you don't already know, but I think you do know that if you have a 6.8spc you only need a barrel. I'm considering a 6.8spc myself off in the future. An LMT bolt is only 89 bucks for a 556.

 

[JayFramer]

Valk has more of a thumping factor rating over Remy or nato. More velocity in the bullets.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Fortune favors the brave. May it serve you well.

 

[7tenz]

I looked at the valkyrie briefly, but decided I don't need one. If I can't get down the stairs to go to the range, a new toy doesn't accomplish much.

I did learn that there are some very specific twist to bullet weight matches that you should do a bit of research on to get the best performance.

I didn't know enough on this to reply right away, and I still am up in the air. I watched a lot of youtube vids and overall heavier bullets do tend to favor the 6.5 to 1 over the 7, but not by much. I won't be target shooting anyway. I bought the gun for it's price. The caliber is inconsequential.