223 vs 224V

jmccracken1214

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I've been interested in the Valk since its release, but have held off since most have seemed to have trouble finding good accuracy and consistency. Seems to be a little better now, and I am still wanting to build one, bad.

I have a 223 built, 18" white oak barrel. 7 twist. Rifle gas. My plans are to try 68gr hornady and 77gr SMK for loads. Seems speeds are usually around the 2700fps mark with these bullets in 18". With the 224V, I would run a 20" and should be able to push the 90gr bullets at similar speeds.

Is it worth parting ways with my 223 barrel and changing over the the Valkyrie?
 
I wouldn’t get rid of the 223, I’d definitely keep it.

Factory ammo for the 224 Valkyrie isn’t cheap, and I’ve found that even optimizing my handloads for the 224V was a chore compared to doing the same for my 223.

I run 80gr ELD and 90gr SMK for targets/steel and I want to work up a 70/78gr Barnes TSX load for it.

My 80gr ELD with H4895 load is coming in juuuust under 3kfps...like 2960-70fps.

My 90gr SMK load is pushing about 2650fps with Varget/RE15 and a little slower with H4895 (2620fps ish).

They might be slightly slower than the factory Federal 90gr SMK rounds but they’re far more precise.

I think the 224V is a great complement to a solid 223 build but not an entire replacement at this point
 
I wouldn’t get rid of the 223, I’d definitely keep it.

Factory ammo for the 224 Valkyrie isn’t cheap, and I’ve found that even optimizing my handloads for the 224V was a chore compared to doing the same for my 223.

I run 80gr ELD and 90gr SMK for targets/steel and I want to work up a 70/78gr Barnes TSX load for it.

My 80gr ELD with H4895 load is coming in juuuust under 3kfps...like 2960-70fps.

My 90gr SMK load is pushing about 2650fps with Varget/RE15 and a little slower with H4895 (2620fps ish).

They might be slightly slower than the factory Federal 90gr SMK rounds but they’re far more precise.

I think the 224V is a great complement to a solid 223 build but not an entire replacement at this point
That idea is floating too, I will probably keep my 223 upper together and just spend a little more and get the 224V upper instead of bcg/barrel.

Outdoor limited has the federal 75gr for 45 cent a round. Seems pretty decent to me and then you have brass to load, after shooting.

I’m just searching for a 22 cal alternative to my 6.5 bolt guns, that I can load cheaper and still shoot long range with, maybe even take to a 1000 yard match. Been eyeing the 224V as the cheaper option and a 22CM as a more expensive
 
Like many others, I got like 2MOA or worse from that AE 75gr TMJ. I used it for break in and for brass like you mentioned

I’ve had much better results from Federal new brass for loading versus Hornady in terms of neck life (without annealing) and primer pocket longevity

If I went with anything besides 224 Valkyrie, I’d shoot 224 Grendel. Basically how 224V uses 6.8 mags, bolt, and parent brass, 224G uses 6.5 Grendel mags, bolt, brass. A pro shooter named John Cannon makes these at tacticalcannon.com. All ammo has to be handloaded, no aftermarket support. But it’s a Ballistic tyrannosaurus
 
Like many others, I got like 2MOA or worse from that AE 75gr TMJ. I used it for break in and for brass like you mentioned

I’ve had much better results from Federal new brass for loading versus Hornady in terms of neck life (without annealing) and primer pocket longevity

If I went with anything besides 224 Valkyrie, I’d shoot 224 Grendel. Basically how 224V uses 6.8 mags, bolt, and parent brass, 224G uses 6.5 Grendel mags, bolt, brass. A pro shooter named John Cannon makes these at tacticalcannon.com. All ammo has to be handloaded, no aftermarket support. But it’s a Ballistic tyrannosaurus
The 22 grendel is awesome but justness too much of a wildcat for me to want to dabble in it.

You talked about keeping the 223, I have only 1 precision 223 ar, but have regular ars in 223 also.

Is there a point to keeping the precision 223 if one has a 224V? Doesn’t it do everything the 223 does and then some?
 
The 22 grendel is awesome but justness too much of a wildcat for me to want to dabble in it.

You talked about keeping the 223, I have only 1 precision 223 ar, but have regular ars in 223 also.

Is there a point to keeping the precision 223 if one has a 224V? Doesn’t it do everything the 223 does and then some?

I’d keep it for a time, if not for the only purpose of deciding if you’re going to stick with 224 Valkyrie or not.

Also, the 224V will really shine over your 223 build past 6-700 yards. You could hang on to the precision 223 to shoot for half the cost out to 500yds or so
 
I’d keep it for a time, if not for the only purpose of deciding if you’re going to stick with 224 Valkyrie or not.

Also, the 224V will really shine over your 223 build past 6-700 yards. You could hang on to the precision 223 to shoot for half the cost out to 500yds or so
True enough. I forgot about a complete lower with A2 stock and larue trigger I have in the safe. That’ll make the 224 easy as ordering an upper.
 
True enough. I forgot about a complete lower with A2 stock and larue trigger I have in the safe. That’ll make the 224 easy as ordering an upper.

CMT makes some awesome complete uppers

JP does as well
 
That idea is floating too, I will probably keep my 223 upper together and just spend a little more and get the 224V upper instead of bcg/barrel.

Outdoor limited has the federal 75gr for 45 cent a round. Seems pretty decent to me and then you have brass to load, after shooting.

I’m just searching for a 22 cal alternative to my 6.5 bolt guns, that I can load cheaper and still shoot long range with, maybe even take to a 1000 yard match. Been eyeing the 224V as the cheaper option and a 22CM as a more expensive

The 22 Creedmoor, upon some research for my own curiosity, is best suited in a bolt gun. It’s a short action caliber meaning it’s an apples or oranges comparison to 224 Valkyrie, which is an AR15 cartridge....would have to stuff the 22CM into a small frame AR10 at minimum

22 Creedmoor is best compared to 22-250, whereas 224 Valkyrie competes against 22 Nosler and 224 Grendel. I think the Valkyrie is the best option of those three, if only for commercial support. If you’re in for doing it all yourself and you want the most you can get out of a 224 bullet, go for the Grendel
 
I’d keep it for a time, if not for the only purpose of deciding if you’re going to stick with 224 Valkyrie or not.

Also, the 224V will really shine over your 223 build past 6-700 yards. You could hang on to the precision 223 to shoot for half the cost out to 500yds or so
Concur, just depends on your range that your shooting. I've got folks out here tagging bad guys with Mk262 out of a 10.3" M4 out to 600m.

CD
 
@jmccracken1214

224V to 1600m and 1730m




Better results at those ranges with a 26” bolt gun but they did get hits there with a 20-22” gasser.

The 20” gas gun will have NO problem making 1000yd hits with 80-90gr projectiles
 
@jmccracken1214

224V to 1600m and 1730m




Better results at those ranges with a 26” bolt gun but they did get hits there with a 20-22” gasser.

The 20” gas gun will have NO problem making 1000yd hits with 80-90gr projectiles

I’m trying hard to hold off on this, I don’t even have my 223 brass and bullets in yet and already wanting to load for this lol
 
I’m trying hard to hold off on this, I don’t even have my 223 brass and bullets in yet and already wanting to load for this lol

It’s a lot of fun; H4895 is a great powder. You can squeeze an extra few FPS out of Varget and RE15 (Id avoid CFE223 and RE17) but H4895 is so consistent and accurate that 20-30fps isn’t a huge point of contention for me
 
How much Varget are you loading behind the 90s?
I just tried 23.6 and 23.8 behind some 88s in my PSA. Getting 2615 and 2635 out of the 20".
I have a 26" Bull Barrel upper on order from DTech, with a Shilen Select Match barrel, I hope it shoots better than the PSA.
 
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