Introduced by Federal 2017 and approved by SAAMI in 2018, the new 224 Valkyrie has been quickly adopted by long-range shooters. Weighing a sample, we found them to be exceptionally consistent with just a weight variance of +/- 1 grain from the median weight of 114 grains. 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. *z?hac`T@PDOhiC;;RJ{/MZ&{Z%N |Zbp-Q[ 0 My power charges were like those that have performed well for me in other .224 Valkyrie rifles. Logged. - Ron Reiber, Hodgdon Product Manager and Ballistician. 0000015856 00000 n Moving on to the 88-grain ELD MATCH rounds, we decided to change from IMR 8208 to Hodgdon Varget. Joseph Von Benedikt visits with Aaron Oelger from Hodgdon about the unprecedented demand on the shooting supply industry. These features allow long, skinny bullets to be seated out further, so they will not intrude into precious powder space. Powerhouse .224 Valkyrie Features The cartridge case is arguably the best .224-caliber, AR-compatible design ever engineered. Of all of the propellants I tried, several Alliant choices performed well, as did Hodgdon and IMR selections. At 26.9 grains of CFE223, the author found his best load with the 60-grain V-Max. If I find anything better than I already posted I will add it. The trim length, of course, is nominally .010 inch less than that, so cases ready to go should be about 1.590 inches in length. The increased surface area allows the gun to cool faster. Learn more here: http://bit.ly/1G7xXag. 0000100751 00000 n Starting with the 60-grain V-Max loads, we fired our five-round groups and hit a node at 26.9 grains, giving us a group that measured just inside of an inch. I routinely use RCBS and Lyman powered case-prep tools and their primer pocket uniform accessories to clean every pocket when reloading a batch of ammo. The faster that bullet is moving, the more ground that will cover during this drop. Tips, techniques, and equipment are applied to these classroom discussions on how to become more proficient and successful at making long-range shots while hunting with AR-platform rifles. "Shooting heavier bullets, in an AR-platform rifle, that maintain supersonic speeds beyond 1,300 yards has captured the interest of shooters and handloaders everywhere. Learn more and buy today. Basically a 6.8 SPC necked down to .22, the Valkyrie has a shorter case than the .223 Remington (and 5.5645 NATO). 0000022153 00000 n This certainly speeds up the process and allows for the use of progressive reloading presses. 0000001896 00000 n of Israeli Defense Forces, joins David Fortier for an exclusive interview for Shotgun News. Founded by Frank Galli in 2000, Snipers Hide has been offering informational videos, podcasts, and other support to its users in one location. 0000101036 00000 n However, while Eugene Stoner got it right in 1959, the one thing that the AR-15 always lacked was range. All Shooting Times subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Up until recently, the only means to send a heavy .224-inch bullet was to either single-load or run it out of a bolt gun. Starline suggests doing this by either resizing (with regular case lube on the outside of the case) or running the case neck over the expander ball. 0000002321 00000 n 0000042357 00000 n There was no additional work needed to use the AR barrel, and gunsmith John Gallagher performed the needed modifications to the CZ 527. If you own an AR, youve probably heard of the hot, new .224 Valkyrie cartridge. 0000030982 00000 n It's a bighorn tl3 with 26 inch rock creek barrel. : 40,800 49,900 Hodgdon C 50 gr BK (Sierra) 0.224" Powder: H335 (Hodgdon) Primer: FED 205m Case: FED Trim Length: 1.590" C.O.L. Introduced by Federal in 2017 and approved by SAAMI in 2018, the new 224 Valkyrie has been quickly adopted by long-range shooters. This bullet/powder combination reached a speed of 2,523 fps, which is OK for our needs. The good ones are the aforementioned steel from PRI. Range temperatures were 72 to 93 degrees F.5. 0000004084 00000 n This is available to consumers in 100-round bags. Custom Mossberg 500 at the Range and Live Turkey!. 0000100893 00000 n Also on the list wasCFE 223. 0000030317 00000 n I have tested three .224 Valkyrie rifles, and have been impressed with velocities of heavy-bullet loads, although accuracy can vary a lot. RifleShooter Magazine editor Scott Rupp breaks down all the features of the Mossberg Patriot Predator rifle chambered in 6.5 PRC. A round that can cover more distance in less time will impact at a similar elevation over a wider range. Our test rifle consisted of a basic 20-inch 1:7-inch twist barrel with an M-Lok free-float rail. and 8 lb. CFE 223 yields top velocities in many cartridges such as the 204 Ruger, 223 Remington/5.56mm NATO, 22-250 Remington and the 308 Winchester/7.62mm NATO, plus many, many more. New Starline cases are treated with a corrosion inhibitor. But IMR-8208XBR did very well with varmint-weight bullets. Firing was done off of a Caldwell DFT Lead Sled rest from a shooting building at an elevation of 950 feet MSL.4. For. I still had to use the RCBS Trim Mate crimp remover so the primers could be properly seated later without damage. Keep up-to-date on new products, To see what your rifle can really do, pick up one of these uppers, dust off your reloading press and see what yourgun needs to reach its full potential. Powder: 26.6 grains Hodgdon CFE-223. With an Accu-Fit stock and left hand adjustable bolt, this rifle is a perfect choice for anyone! If you are the site owner (or you manage this site), please whitelist your IP or if you think this block is an error please open a support ticket and make sure to include the block details (displayed in the box below), so we can assist you in troubleshooting the issue. The new rounds maximum case length is 1.600 inches, as compared to the 6.8s case length of 1.686 inches. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Almost 100fps faster to. With the 224 Valkyrie, Hornady proves that lightning really can strike twice or even three times in the same place! A new Starline .224 Valkyrie case head. Although chilly, we weren't discouraged, as the early hours brought calm to the usual windy conditions on this particular range. The 224 Valkyrie does not have a dedicated magazine yet. Being a spherical powder, metering is superbly accurate. 0000042977 00000 n Download Sierras Full 4-page PDF to view all the data, including load information for Sierras new 95gr .224-caliber MatchKing with claimed 0.600 G1 BC. 0000099446 00000 n 0000097518 00000 n 0000099588 00000 n 0000008830 00000 n The different brands of brass weighed almost exactly the same, so I didnt need to adjust charge weights to accommodate capacity differences. 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. Starline and Hornady are also offering .224 Valkyrie, so I obtained 50 pieces of Starline brass and several boxes of Hornady ELD-Match ammo. Varget hits the sweet spot for the best performance in this cartridge.. 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. Let me know how the 8202 works I have that on hand and its performed well the Nosler 80s custom competition. trends and tips from the leader in reloading. Varget 24.3 was a 1+- moa, 24.8 opened it up to 1.5. America's favorite platform, the AR-15, reigns supreme in many applications. I have been an early, yet trepidant, fan of the .224 Valkyrie, and have tested several rifles with many handloads. Give a Gift Will test again with incremental loads) 300 = 1.56 (A 4 shot group level at 1.09". Scott Rupp gets a chance to talk to Aaron Oelger about a few new products from Hodgdon and why reloading store shelves are empty. Hodgdon Trail Boss: Is it Useful for Modern Sporting Rifles? This data is available for 80 different loads featuring 50- to 90-grain bullet options (from Hornady, Nosler, Federal, Swift and Sierra) and powders from Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester . However, the most popular solution has always been to load a standard 5.56 NATO with a heavier bullet. A World Record Attempt and everyone is out at the range shooting and practicing. 0000056500 00000 n 22 PPC does better on performance. A database of .224 Valkyrie handloads. The .224 Valkyrie has a lot of potential and an interesting background. In my testing, both rifles were usually accurate with 88- and 90-grain handloads, but each was somewhat sporadic. Okay, how about some results? So much for over spin from the fast twists. Plus, Valkyrie chamber specs are carefully matched in rifle chambers to enhance accuracy potential. Both are similar bolt actions and have 22-inch barrels. Their availability will certainly contribute to the successful Flight of the Valkyrie. Our takeaway for the Valkyrie handloading project is that this is a very viable and interesting round for handloaders. : 3,213 3,480 Press. Federal Premium initially offered 60-, 75-, and 90-grain offerings to cover a variety of hunting and target applications. Sierra Bullets states: The [Valkyrie] case length is shorter than the 223 Remington affording the use of heavier match-grade bullets with very long ogives and high ballistic coefficients. At Hodgdon, we've 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 XBR and Hodgdon Varget. Berger also offers several suitable, high-BC target bullets. For more about the new round, see Steve Gashs full-length review beginning on page 56 of this issue of Shooting Times. High-velocity rounds generate more heat, and this addition might mean the difference between taking that extra shot or sitting out. .458 Winchester Magnum History: The Complete Story, A World Record Attempt: Practice Round and Media Day, Interview with Israeli Defense Forces, Part 1. Fortunately, this is a one-time step in the reloading process. 0000096632 00000 n Pounding the proverbial pavement, I heard from a number of sources that a bad batch of chamber reamers have made their way through the industry, leading to some aftermarket barrels being out-of-spec. (function() { Hornady, Sierra, Berger, Nosler, and probably other companies offer long, heavy-for-caliber bullets with high ballistic coefficients that buck the wind and are especially designed for long-range accuracy. You may not reproduce original text or photos without advanced permission in writing. Toggle menu . J. Scott Rupp takes a first look at the Springfield M1A Loaded rifle chambered in the popular 6.5 Creedmoor. I measured the neck thickness at five points around the neck with an RCBS ball micrometer and averaged the results for each case for its measurement. The resulting average neck thickness of all 50 cases was .0139 inch, with an extreme spread of .0014 inch. The maximum length of the Valkyrie case is listed by SAAMI as 1.600 inches. Those loads have factory-rated muzzle velocities of 3,300 fps, 3,000 fps, 2,700 fps, and 2,700 fps respectively. Joseph Von Benedikt is with Rafe Nielsen of Browning to take a look at a new X-Bolt series rifle. Federal Premiums Valkyrie ammo is stoked with Sierras sleek, new 90-grain MatchKing BTHP, and the Fusion line has a 90-grain Fusion soft point meant, presumably, for deer hunting. Make sure to watch till the end. I concentrated mostly on the heavier bullets, as per Federals model. For the life of us, we couldnt find a factory load that would stay inside of 3 MOA. Basically a 6.8 SPC necked down to .22, the Valkyrie has a shorter case than the .223 Remington (and 5.5645 NATO). Subscriber Services. Im waiting on my first Army retirement check too come in. First Focal Plane vs. Second Focal Plane Scopes Explained: Which is Best? 80.5 Bergers & 85 Nosler RDF with CFE-223, Re: 80.5 Bergers & 85 Nosler RDF with CFE-223, Quote from: 1000 yrd guy on August 08, 2019, 04:13:28 AM, Quote from: Alaska_guy on August 12, 2019, 12:27:46 PM, Quote from: igotta40 on August 28, 2019, 10:29:49 PM. Sights on both rifles were Burris 4.5-14x40 A.O. 0000017843 00000 n The powder measures very well and consistently. As you can see in the performance chart, I test-fired factory ammo and handloads topped with only the heavier .22-caliber bullets. The results are shown below. 0000016556 00000 n Powders include Hodgdon, IMR The average length of these cases was 1.5906 inches, with an extreme spread of only .0095 inch, and an SD of .0016 inch. Amp up your AK with these exciting accessories. Hornady's match-grade 224 Valkyrie load features an 88-grain ELD Match bullet with a polymer tip that, unlike standard polymer-tipped ammo, won't melt in flight at extreme velocities. However, a standard 6.8 SPC mag is recommended and will function without any issue. Are there any AR15 uppers or even barrels for 22 PPC? Necks were of uniform thickness, and cases didnt lengthen much at all over the testing program. The average weight of the sample cases was 115.1 grains, with an ES of 2.5 grains, and an SD of .7198 grain. 0000034850 00000 n Reaching a speed where the round will staystabilized past 800 yards is a challenge. However, one thing is for sure: The AR-15 platform is incredibly versatile, and rounds like the 224 Valkyrie only enhance its potential. 0000015504 00000 n Although 100-yard results arent mind-blowing, this round will still outperform others at distance, because it is less susceptible to wind drift. Picking the rifle up after this development, I quickly realized how valuable it would be at slinging V-Max bullets at prairie dogs and groundhogs. 0000099099 00000 n It's not my first choice for precision loads, Varget or XBR8208 get the nod there. It meters good and gives good velocity, if I was cranking out hundreds of rounds of AR type blaster ammo I wouldn't hesitate to use it. Upgrading to a premium barrel made all the difference in this test. The load data contained on this site is intended for use with Barnes Bullets. Hodgdon Powder Company announced the launch of load data for the new 224 Valkyrie cartridge, now available on Hodgdon's Reloading Data Center at www.HodgdonReloading.com. The .224 Valkyrie has spawned a crop of new high-tech bullets that add significantly to the potential of the cartridge, to help it achieve its lofty goals. Gonna put the results in the 2nd post. 0000030957 00000 n 85 Nosler RDF with 24.2 grains CFE-223: 200 = 1.52 200 = 1.68 (Both groups show promise. In today's episode of "I Carry," we have a Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Metal pistol with a Holosun EPS Red2 red-dot sight carried in a KSG Armory Lexington IWB holster. Uniform case necks are important, and the Starline cases did well in this measurement too. I had plenty of component cases to load. Location. Give a Gift I obtained several boxes of Federals 90-grain match ammo and a hundred pieces of new, primed brass. Sierra offers several heavy .22-caliber match bullets, including the 90-grain MatchKing HPBT that Federal loads in its match ammo. To reduce shooter error, we installed a RISE Armament RA-535 APT match-grade trigger, which broke cleanly at just 3 pounds. You need a 6.8 SPC mag for this. The best groups were turned in by the Barnes 70-grain TS-X BT, Nosler 60-grain Ballistic Tip and 70-grain RDF, and the Sierra 65-grain Semi Spitzer. This substance is a mild lubricant that should be removed from the inside of the case necks before loading. With Sierra's remarkable new 95-grain MatchKing, this gives the little . This allows you to load the longest, heaviest .224-caliber bullets and still feed reliably from an AR15-type magazine. I decided to rebarrel two of my guns, and Lothar-Walther USA provided two stainless-steel barrels chambered for the new round. My first pick was IMR 8208, as I have always had good luck using it to push heavy .224-inch bullets down a barrel. The .224 Valkyrie was created to provide optimal long-range performance, and matching factory-load ballistics with handloads is relatively easy. Walther's new Performance Duty Pistol is ready for both concealed carry and conventional service situations. The author uses C Products Defense magazines as they. DISCLAIMER: All reloading data in this article is for informational purposes only. For this review, I borrowed two additional rifles that are prototypes from a major American manufacturer. 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. Contributing Editor for RifleShooter Magazine, Brad Fitzpatrick gives us a review of this modernized version of an iconic favorite. 7 0 obj <> endobj xref This is where the 224 Valkyrie comes in. Federal has created a safer, easier and more reliable way to shoot a muzzleloader. 0000002920 00000 n I have no clue what length the Valkyrie chamber will accept a 95 SMK at but the 2.260 length is based on what a thick-walled aluminum GI mag will accept. Reports of similar results here and there have been noted in the online grapevine. This setup is inherently more stable than a bipod, as it allows the gun to slide smoothly under recoil, and the wedge let us adjust elevation simply by sliding it in or out from the buttstock. Uniform components are very important for accurate handloads, and Starline cases demonstrated their quality, both on the range and in their empirical measurements. Significantly, after firing and resizing, the Starline cases lengthened only a smidgenanother bonus. Valkyries rode to war on horses wearing shields and helmets; some even flew through the air. CFE-223: Subscribe: 2662: Remarks: COAL (inches): 2.140; 5-shot 100-yard group (inches): 1.75 77: Nosler Custom Competition: Hodgdon: 0000035495 00000 n 0000080878 00000 n These are all shown in Table 2. Looks nearly identical to the .223 Ackley Improved. trailer <<4FA34A0A29BC45DBA22CD0DCBD951645>]/Prev 114384>> startxref 0 %%EOF 86 0 obj <>stream Unfortunately you wont achieve much accuracy without consistent velocity. I tried a slew of powders, but heres the bottom lineHodgdons CFE 223 was the hands down winner in both rifles. With the 90 to 95 grain bullets, the little Valkyrie can give 6mm match cartridges a real run for their money offering similar ballistics with less recoil. However, a standard 6.8 SPC mag is recommended and will function without any issue. 0000030592 00000 n I am beginning to work up a load for my valkyrie bolt gun. 0000096374 00000 n The extremely uniform primer pockets of the Starline cases made priming a breezeno crushed pellets, or goosey-loosey pockets here. However, Lane easily duplicated the ballistics of factory-loaded ammunition. Guys on the facebook page "Valkyrie Ascending Reloading" have convinced me to switch from . Introduced by Federal in 2017 and approved by SAAMI in 2018, the new 224 Valkyrie has been quickly adopted by long-range shooters. Introduced by Federal 2017 and approved by SAAMI in 2018, the new 224 Valkyrie has been quickly adopted by long-range shooters. I know some sort by brass and projectiles to get as consistent as possible, I am just not one of those people. JavaScript is disabled. There is still some fine tuning to do but I am moving on to different bullets and 8208 powder for my next tests. I never had to trim one over the course of testing, something I cant say about other brands of .224 Valkyrie cases Ive used. I've had the pleasure of working with the 300 BLK CFE powder before and even had the opportunity to do a before-and-after comparison with a Lyman Products Borecam, and it was amazing how it actually keeps its promise.Load development was relatively simple, as both of these powders have a narrow range between max and min charges. A more compact version of the classic Hi Power design. scope set at 10x.3. Im a bit confused by your statement you do dont care about velocity only accuracy. At this time, only Federal and Sierra have published load data for the .224 Valkyrie. So far both bullets perform well. 0000003057 00000 n So, its obvious that these cases are ready to go with minimal, but necessary, preparation. This removes the lube and rounds out any dings that can occur in bulk-packed brass. One1Bravo Ops4. Starline Brass and the author accept no responsibility for use of the data in this article. However, the Valkyries shoulder angle is 30o, while the 6.8s is 23o. If looking to acquire an automated powder-charge dispensing unit to speed up precision reloading, don't judge the RCBS ChargeMaster Lite powder scale and dispenser by its name; the Little Green machine packs a heavy-weight punch with speed and accuracy. And for top quality handloads, they know they need top-notch cases. Share the post ".224 Valkyrie Load Data for 52gr to 95gr Bullets from Sierra", Tags: .223 Remington, .224 Valkyrie, 22 Nosler, 6.5 Grendel, 95gr SMK, AR Cartridge, AR Magazine, AR15, High-BC, Load Data. All seated to 2.25. Lol! 0000011356 00000 n In other words, range estimation becomes less critical, even when it comes to tiny targets like small steel plates or prairie dogs. 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; (Above) The new Starline .224 Valkyrie cases were checked for length with a digital caliper, and were right at the trim length, ready for loading.