In Brians first full season, he achieved several top ten finishes, two regional match wins, and a 20thplace overall finish in the National Rifle League. I think thats about right with the .224 Valkyrie. Because the bolt of an AR-15 unlocks and begins to cam the case rearward out of the chamber while the bullet is still in the bore and the chamber still pressurized, cases get stretched. Zach, a resident of McCook, Nebraska, started shooting trap and hunting when he was 10. The rifle used for load testing is pretty typical in the AR era, a rifle my father built from an Anderson Manufacturing lower and replacement .224 Valkyrie upper. Bob Meinert, FN Marketing Director, introduces FN's first commercial pistol suppressor, the FN Rush 9Ti. The Nosler is designed for 1:8 twist barrels, whereas the Valkyrie has a 1:7 twist for stabilizing larger bullets. While new load data will continue to be updated, there is currently data for 80 different loads with bullet weights ranging from 50 to 90 grains from Federal, Hornady, Nosler, Sierra and . As you can see on the included handload chart, CFE-223 is a favorite of mine. In fact, Jake has compiled more wins than any other Shooter in the United States at national level Precision Rifle Series and National Rifle League events during that span. * All prices incl. First, I try as many factory loads as I can obtain for comparison. We are engineers, reloading enthusiasts and operate one of the most powerful ballistics calculators. One is hard pressed to find a nicer person. Plus, it exacerbates action-cycling issues by requiring a gas system that is almost too short for the .224 Valkyries pressure curve. Even though the 224 Valkyrie is hot off the press, excellent cases are already available from Federal and Starline. He harvested his first turkey and whitetail deer at age 5 and completed his turkey grand slam by age 11. The Valkyries shoulder is pushed back somewhat to give bullets plenty of ogive space for long, skinny projectiles. Stocky's Owner Don Bitz walks David Faubion through the company's new rifle stocks for 2023. Handloaders can have a ball concocting their own Valkyrie loads. I have shot benchrest, F-Class, PRS, ELR, NRL hunter, and field matches. I used both for the preparation of my loads, and Federal and CCI primers were used throughout. Federal lists four factory loads for the 224 Valkyrie: a varmint load with the Nosler 60-grain Ballistic Tip; an American Eagle 75-grain TMJ load for inexpensive "blasting"; a Gold Medal Match load that shoots the sleek Sierra 90-grain MatchKing; and a Fusion 90-grain softpoint load for hunters. The Barnes TSX BT shot fine with either H414 or CFE 223, with the latter powder giving over 3,000 fps. It metered smoothly and produced very low standard deviations (SD). Ben Voss FN Product Manager talks about the new FN SCAR 15P ultra-compact rifle-caliber pistol at SHOT Show 2023. The .22 Nosler uses a 1:8 twist rate in its barrels, restricting bullet weight to 85 grains or less. For nearly two decades, Missouri-based CMMG has focused on building affordable, high-quality AR rifles. Maximum overall length is 2.260 inches. Dropping down to a 16-incher begins to enter cartridge-crippling territory. All Rights Reserved. Another surprisingly good predator and varmint load particularly for fur collectors that need to minimize pelt damage and for hunters in lead-restricted zones pushes Noslers 35-grain Lead Free BT at about 3,800 fps and groups beautifully. This bullet didnt produce the smallest groups in this test, but a handful of loads were certainly accurate enough to snipe varmints out to 300-350 yards (Federal factory loads with Nosler 60-grain Ballistic Tips produced tighter groups, a bullet with a higher BC). models. 28 nosler (new!) Noslers 62-grain Varmegeddon is an explosive, flat-base varmint bullet with a .251 BC. CFE 223 contains our Copper Fouling Eraser ingredient, originally used in military propellant, which greatly deters copper fouling and contributes to longer periods of top accuracy with less barrel . A charge of 25.5 grains of Shooters World Match Rifle clustered .76-inch at 3,110 fps. Rifle Data. The Judge has been promoted! The Hodgdon team selected the most ballistically uniform and efficient powders for the 224 Valkyrie. With medium-weight varmint bullets up through the semi-heavy, long-range bullets such as Barnes 85-grain Match Burner (BC .410), Hornadys 88-grain ELD-Match (BC .545) or Noslers 85-grain RDF (BC .498), the Valkyrie performs beautifully. Trophies, victories, livestheres too much at stake for second thoughts or second chances. Share your experiences with other customers. With the simple max BC plugged in and maintained (which of course doesnt happen in real life), the bullet does stay supersonic to 1,300 yards. While several powders performed really well in the 224 Valkyrie, a fellow could shoot nothing but CFE 223 in it and dwell in ballistic Valhalla forevermore. Ryan and Dianna continue to not only compete, but train and film all over the country. #16. Growing up, Brian spent very little time indoors, with his passions being split between baseball and spending time in either the river, the desert, or the mountains. The 22-inch, stainless steel barrel includes a medium-contour, 1:7 twist, full-length flutes and is threaded to hold a muzzle brake or suppressor. If I were going to war with prairie dogs, Id rely on the Nosler 55-grain Ballistic Tip over 26.3 grains of IMR 8208 XBR. Conventional wisdom suggests that in shorter barrels, about 25 fps is lost per inch. He is also the past Editor of Blackpowder Guns and Hunting Magazine. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Designed to rival the .22 Nosler while still running well in ARs, the new .224 Valkyrie offers excellent long-range performance when loaded with modern, high-BC bullets. Extraction then became challenging. In her off time, Regina writes for many publications in both print and digital mediums, trains other shooters, and mentors several up-and-coming female competitors in the precision rifle discipline. The 22 Nosler's 30-degree shoulder (the .223 Rem. Home; Articles; Forum; Reloading Tutorials; About; Login . All powders used were either ball-type or fine stick powders that meter consistency through progressive-press throwers, allowing smoother volume loading. My name is Robert Brantley and I have been obsessed with precision rifle since 2007. In short, the .224 Valkyrie tends to provide poor accuracy with the bullet that all the hype is built around the 90-grain Sierra MatchKing (SMK). Zach has several friends that are getting into reloading shotshells because of Zachs reloads. | The new rifle is built on an aluminum billet chassis with carbon-fiber forend and cheek riser featuring V-block bedding. Here is what Ive found works with best in my reloads. The new RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol from Rock Island Armory features a patented RVS Recoil system that maximizes barrel mass and linear movement to give shooters super soft recoil. However, the .224 Valkyrie is also possessed with some demons, and these demons do apply to handloading, so lets take a look. Sponsored by many of the hunting industries leading manufacturers, he has conducted over a thousand hunting and fishing seminars across the United States and has hunted and fished extensively around the world. I was intrigued with 3-Gun since, as a police officer, I relied on all three platforms at work. While other attempts to improve AR-15 performance (some quite valid) have been met with yawns from much of the shooting public (and firearms manufacturers), the Valkyrie was enthusiastically embraced by serious riflemen and subsequently chambered in a wide variety of AR platforms and bolt rifles. This, combined with the extremely good BCs of the bullet options discussed earlier, will help you reach way, way out there and realize the full potential of the cartridge. Hailing from the Kansas City-area, Jaclyn is a rifle shooter specializing in precision rifle shooting. Federal lists four factory loads for the 224 Valkyrie: a varmint load with the Nosler 60-grain Ballistic Tip; an American Eagle 75-grain TMJ load for inexpensive blasting; a Gold Medal Match load that shoots the sleek Sierra 90-grain MatchKing; and a Fusion 90-grain softpoint load for hunters. Reviews can only be submitted while being logged in. The 224 Valkyrie case is based on the 6.8 Remington SPC, necked down to .22 caliber. .224 Valkyrie - Published Manufacturer Loading Data Shellholders: Hornady #12 Lee #21 RCBS #19 Recipe Type: Rifle Bullet Weight: ALL 50 gr 53 gr 55 gr 60 gr 62 gr 65 gr 69 gr 70 gr 72 gr 75 gr 77 gr 78 gr 80 gr 82 gr 85 gr 85.5 gr 88 gr 90 gr Powder: ALL Accurate 2015 Accurate 2460 Accurate 2495 Accurate 2520 Accurate 2700 Accurate 4064 It offers certain advantages unparalleled by any other AR-15 compatible round. From their home in Montana, Shoot Straight with Chad & Marsha follows Chad, Marsha and their two boys-Walker and Wyatt-across the world in hunting adventures. For us, excellence is not negotiable. Being a ballistic geek, I entered the Valkyries data into a ballistic calculator (jbmballistics.com) to study its downrange numbers. A Luth-AR buttstock with adjustable LOP and comb height and 15-inch M-Lok forend were added. And yes, Hornady is offering factory ammo loaded with it. We know who we are and being true to yourself allows you to become the best at what you do. This is where the 224 Valkyrie comes in. Camp Guns: Sometimes Perfect, Other Times Not But Often Essential! Its explosive expansion provides a violent energy release on impact for quick kills on varmints and predators. Introduced by Federal in 2017 and approved by SAAMI in 2018, the new 224 Valkyrie has been quickly adopted by long-range shooters. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys hunting and fishing with his family and mentoring youth through his ministry service. Loaded Valkyrie cartridges easily meet, or come in under the 2.26-inch overall loaded length (OAL) threshold dictated by AR-15 detachable magazines, while also delivering more energy at much greater distances. Accuracy is erratic, too. Established in 1947 by Bruce and Amy Hodgdon, today, sons JB and Bob have grown Hodgdon Powder Company into the largest US supplier of smokeless, blackpowder and blackpowder substitute propellants. Second, I prepare and shoot what I call calibration loads. For these I review pressure-tested load data in the manual and select the powders that gave the highest velocities with the bullets tested. The 224 Valkyries case provides plenty of capacity, and an ultra-fast 1:7-inch barrel twist rate allows the Valkyrie to push long, heavy-for-caliber bullets to velocities that remain supersonic to 1,300 yards and beyond. It is loaded with the companys revolutionary 88-grain ELD (Extremely Low Drag) Match bullet. 220 Swift. The name Valkyrie comes from Norse mythology and literally means chooser of the slain. Valkyries were maidens who served the god Odin in his rule over Asgard. The terrain in Southern Idaho often requires a hunter to be able to take shots at 400 yards and well beyond. I dont plan on stopping anytime soon and this year is scheduled to be as busy as any while shooting 4 different series. Brian now competes in both the PRS and NRL Pro series. It was a necessary gamble, because the ultra-fast 1:6 twist is very hard on lighter-weight, thin-jacketed bullets, often applying so much torque that the jackets are compromised and come apart mid-flight. 30-06 Springfield. Varget and H-4350 are the go to but since Ive been running some IMR Enduron powders that seem to work very good as well. Caleb Giddings, Marketing Manager at Taurus, introduces the all-new TaurusTX 22 Compact. Valkyrie is an interesting name and concept for a cartridge, and my shooting results confirm the new round can fly with the best of them. Joe Kurtenbach, Executive Editor of Gun & Ammo, and John Myles from Smith & Wesson discuss features of the Equalizer 9mm micro-compact pistol and new-for-2023 M&P 5.7. Walker loves waterfowl hunting with his black lab Pow. As the 224 Valkyrie cartridge is based off the 6.8 SPC, the 224 Valk has a base diameter of 0.421" while the 223 is a bit smaller with a base diameter of 0.376". Then select your bullet weight, powder manufacturer and powder type. Looking for reloading data that is not in our reloading manual or listed below? Coupled with its outstanding ballistics, this last characteristic is a big deal. Benchmark and Varget also performed admirably, as did H414 and Ball-C(2). Reviews can only be submitted while being logged in. On the flip side, Precision Rifle Series (PRS) shooters using 28-inch barrels in match guns will experience upgraded performance. Prime with small rifle caps of your choice. By a longshot. Caleb Giddings, Marketing Manager at Taurus, introduces the all-new TaurusTX 22 Compact. While Federal isnt loading those, you can. Joe Kurtenbach and Caleb Giddings also look at the first-ever optics-ready carry revolvers with the new Taurus 605 and 856 T.O.R.O. The Valkyrie is designed for cutting-edge precision and ballistic performance, and personally I see no use in crippling it with cheap bullets. The 1:7-inch twist is a more versatile rate and enables the Valkyrie to shoot medium-light bullets well. 224 Valkyrie 100-grain Fusion MSR Do Pistols Benefit From Popular Aftermarket Modifications? The heaviest Nosler factory load is its 85-grain RDF hollowpoint, whereas Federal offers two 90-grain Valkyrie loads: Fusion MSR 90-grain spitzer boattail and 90-grain Sierra MatchKing. It is developed to mimic the long-range ballistics of the popular 6.5 Creedmoor, but in a smaller package, with the attendant reduction in recoil and implementation costs. Ive seen shooters pounding on their charging handles in an attempt to eject stuck reloads. If predators are your primary focus, I really like Noslers 50-grain Ballistic Tip. Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance. Phillip Velayo currently serves as Gunwerks Long Range University Lead Instructor. Hodgdon used the Nosler 55-grain Ballistic Tip, Hornady 75-grain ELD Match, Sierra 80-grain MatchKing, and the Federal Fusion 90-grain softpoint for its data. The SCAR 15P is chambered for 5.56 NATO and, with its 7.5-inch barrel, is the most compact SCAR to date. The .224 Valkyrie was designed by Federal Ammunition in 2017. This is particularly critical to achieving clean, concentric bullet seating. The .224 Valk was the result of that development. Spin it slower, and it gyroscopes on the thin edge of wobbly, like a top that didnt get quite enough speed. New Starline brass and Federal Premium GM205MAR AR-Match Small Rifle primers were used throughout. Aside from price, the biggest difference between 22 Nosler and 224 Valkyrie can be seen when we look at the twist rate and loads chosen by their respective manufacturers and backers. A large portion of the Valkyries mass appeal is in fast rifling twist rates in the neighborhood of 1:7, allowing the use of heavy-for-caliber bullets, though standard 55-grain bullets are certainly compatible. Facing off in a handgun challenge featuring the smallest professional-grade enclosed red dot sight on the market, Eric and Tom put the Acro P-2 to the distance test by doing a walk-back challenge. An avid shooter and outdoorsman, George takes pride in the quality custom rifles that G.A. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. If you're unsure, or just want options, check as many boxes as you'd like. "Shooting heavier . Introduced by Federal in 2017 and approved by SAAMI in 2018, the new 224 Valkyrie has been quickly adopted by long-range shooters. Please help us to improve and report any suggestions via our contact form. Plus, the gunpowder sits in a shorter, fatter column, enabling in theory a slightly more consistent burn. We use cookies to make your experience better. As a result, cases must be aggressively resized to ensure theyll chamber properly, and they must be trimmed to appropriate length yes, every durned time theyre fired. Learn more about the brands at these websites www.Hodgdon.com, www.IMRPowder.com, www.WWPowder.com or www.GoexPowder.com and connect with the Hodgdon brand on Facebook or YouTube. Former lead pilot of the Blue Angels John Foley has reached been in contact along with Remington Mcbee and several others. Zach started attending national shoots in 2018, including Junior Worlds, Junior Olympics Nationals, and USAYESS Nationals. SET YOUR SIGHTS ON PISTOL RELOADING DATA Find what you need in four easy steps. He volunteers as an alter sever at Mass on Sunday at church and is a member in the Civilian Airpatrol Program. One of the virtues of the Valkyrie is that its maximum cartridge overall length (COL) is 2.26 inches so that it will fit in an AR magazine. ABOUT MARSHA: Marsha is the co-host of Shoot Straight with Chad & Marsha and is a Licensed Montana Professional Guide. In 2016, Phillip was nominated for Scout Sniper Instructor of the Year for his meticulous instruction that resulted in institutional changes in the training of Marine Scout Snipers in both formal schools and unit level training. On the other hand, while the 22 Nosler still has the flattest trajectory of the bunch with the heavier big game load, the .224 Valkyrie has an even bigger . Precision is making and looks forward to the future of creating the best professional custom rifles on the market. The cartridge case is arguably the best .224-caliber, AR-compatible design ever engineered. Later, he started a granite countertop business allows him the time to pursue his passion for long-range shooting and high-country public land mule deer and elk hunting. As air density becomes thinner, max supersonic range extends. For all-around work inside 600 yards on everything from predators to steel targets, I actually prefer a slightly lighter bullet, thats pushed faster. Given that the .224 Valkyrie is a very polite cartridge to reload, judicious handloading can just about create what factory loads are alleged to perform. Kaliber:.224 Valkyrie: Men schlieen Nosler Nosler ist ein traditionelle Familienunternehmen, welches im Jahr 1948 gegrndet wurde. Believe me, you dont want your bolt slamming home on a too-long case and camming halfway into battery before sticking fast. Subscribe to the free newsletter and do not miss any news or promotions. Stocky's Owner Don Bitz walks David Faubion through the company's new rifle stocks for 2023. Unlike many bullet companies, Sierra tests, calculates and provides real-world BC numbers in a series of steps as velocity decreases. All charges were weighed on an RCBS M-1500 electronic scale. Any thoughts? 7mm-08 remington 7x57mm mauser 284 . We can help you out! Access the .224 Valkyrie Data via Hodgdon's Reloading Data Center. Brian moved back to Idaho, where he completed his bachelors degree in Business Finance at Albertsons College of Idaho. At Hodgdon, weve been researching this cartridge since before its introduction and are excited to release load data for the Valkyrie featuring powders like Hodgdon CFE 223, IMR 8208 XBRand Hodgdon Varget. Federal wanted to make a cartridge that could compete with .22 Nosler but still feed on an AR-15 platform rifle. Ten new, unprimed Starline brass showed a weight deviation of just one grain. Sierra Bullets Load Data for .224 Valkyrie (Partial Sample) The new .224 Valkyrie was introduced late last year as a Hot Rod cartridge that will work in AR15s. Shorter projectiles, however, must be seated considerably shorter simply to get the base of the bullet far enough into the case mouth to grip it properly and concentrically. She recently took on the role of Southwest Regional Director for the Precision Rifle Series. Please enter your login details below. Here you will find load data for some of the most recent cartridges on the market, with more being added each week. I simply selected the 90-grain MatchKing from the calculators library, which automatically plugs in Sierras variable, velocity-based ballistic coefficient (BC numbers). She has also competed for the USA in two Pan-American Shotgun matches and the 2015 IPSC World Shotgun Ladies team that brought home gold! The 60-grain Ballistic Tip was close behind at 0.53 inch, and it favored 28.6 grains of CFE 223 for a speed of 3,226 fps. See Sierra Data for other powder brands. Please help us to improve and report any suggestions via our contact form. Don't know your purpose for shooting or your barrel length, but after testing a variety of AR barrel lengths, using Lake City Brass, CCI and VVN140 (starting right around 23.6 gr) and VVN530 has worked nicely and consistently with barrels starting at 12" through 20" and 69 gr Sierra's. Plus, it meters beautifully through volumetric, mechanical powder measures. Varget hits the sweet spot for the best performance in this cartridge.. I tried several different load and bullet combos, but none of them worked out that good. We are currently populating the cartridge drop-down menu with updated cartridge renderings, new propellants and bullets, and links to complimentary product pages. Considering the eyebrow-raising advertised factory ballistic figures, who can blame them? It will give you something to do, but won't get you anywhere. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Converting an existing .223 Remington 5.56mm AR-15 to .224 Valkyrie is no more difficult than pulling some pins, swapping uppers and adopting a 6.8 SPC magazine, which is exactly how the rifle used for this testing was created. Ben Voss FN Product Manager talks about the new FN SCAR 15P ultra-compact rifle-caliber pistol at SHOT Show 2023. Speer load data in .224 Valkyrie. The results from my calibration loads are shown in a separate chart. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. For those wondering, as a projectile slows down, its BC degrades. Don't see a load you want to use or want to input your own? As noted, Ball-C(2), H414, and IMR 8208 XBR were also standouts. He has over 35 years experience in shooting, with approximately 50 tons of projectiles downrange with the assistance of Hodgdon Powder. Fun to shoot and flinging fairly heavy 224 bullets is fun too. A consistent shooter, Regina has finished in the Top 20 routinely and in the Top 10 quite frequently in both the National Rifle League and Precision Rifle Series. The TaurusTX 22 Compact delivers class-leading reliability, capacity, and shootability in a 22 LR platform, and it's cut for a slide-mounted mini red dot. .224 Valkyrie reloading data with 160 loads.