Speed. Basically this is the goal of the caliber, regardless of the bullet type (60gr Tipped Matchking for absolutely destroying coyotes or 88gr ELDs for ringing steel at 1200yds), speed is the name of the game.
There are three “major” brass players: Federal, Starline, and Hornady.
Bought new and unfired, Starline is the best out of the bag, Hornady is a close second, and Federal is last. The 100ct Federal bags have about 10-20% of the brass with really rough or dinged up case mouths. Nothing that sizing and trimming can’t fix but dang...there’s a noticeable QC issue here (like their damaged meplats on the new 90gr SMK loads but I digress)
Federal is generally the cheapest per 100ct (around 30 cents each), and Starline and Hornady are also very close (upper 30s/low 40s each depending on sales and retailer).
Back to the original point of speed. If you want to really go all out with this caliber, do yourself a favor and get a longer barrel to start with. MINIMUM 22”, if not 24-26”.
With a 20” barrel, 80gr ELDs, and a close to 4”
but not quite “hot” load of H4895, I’m pushing 2910fps. With a 24” barrel, I’d be knocking on 3000fps.
The barrel length is key because it allows you to maximize brass life by achieving speeds you either can’t get close to with shorter barrel (18-20”), or if you DO get close, you’re running dangerously hot loads at the expense of wear on the rifle and BRASS LIFE.
I’ve done a TON of load testing. Primarily with Varget, RE15, H4895, and CFE223 under 69gr and 77gr TMKs, 80gr & 88gr ELDs and 90gr SMKs, Ive found that with my current favorite load with either the 80gr ELD or 90gr SMK, I can get between 6-8 loads on a Federal case, 2-3 on a Hornady case, and unfortunately, Starline performs the worst in terms of primer pocket life. Out of the 50 once fired pieces I prepped for a second loading last night only SEVEN pieces are able to hold a primer. I won’t even bother looking for them after I fire them.
If I was loading for a PRS match and I needed the best brass, regardless of future life, Starline would be my go to.
But due to the cost, I need brass I can reuse a few times, so for me, Federal it is.
But just know that if you are pushing your Valkyrie loads to the max, whether trying to overcome a velocity issue when a longer barrel is really what you need, or you’ve got a longer barrel and you’re trying to really just see what she can do, your brass life, namely your primer pocket life will abandon you with a quickness.
I almost bought an annealing setup for this caliber but it wouldn’t have mattered. The brass is usually done before neck tension begins to need work.
Hope this helps any new Valkyrie loader
There are three “major” brass players: Federal, Starline, and Hornady.
Bought new and unfired, Starline is the best out of the bag, Hornady is a close second, and Federal is last. The 100ct Federal bags have about 10-20% of the brass with really rough or dinged up case mouths. Nothing that sizing and trimming can’t fix but dang...there’s a noticeable QC issue here (like their damaged meplats on the new 90gr SMK loads but I digress)
Federal is generally the cheapest per 100ct (around 30 cents each), and Starline and Hornady are also very close (upper 30s/low 40s each depending on sales and retailer).
Back to the original point of speed. If you want to really go all out with this caliber, do yourself a favor and get a longer barrel to start with. MINIMUM 22”, if not 24-26”.
With a 20” barrel, 80gr ELDs, and a close to 4”
but not quite “hot” load of H4895, I’m pushing 2910fps. With a 24” barrel, I’d be knocking on 3000fps.
The barrel length is key because it allows you to maximize brass life by achieving speeds you either can’t get close to with shorter barrel (18-20”), or if you DO get close, you’re running dangerously hot loads at the expense of wear on the rifle and BRASS LIFE.
I’ve done a TON of load testing. Primarily with Varget, RE15, H4895, and CFE223 under 69gr and 77gr TMKs, 80gr & 88gr ELDs and 90gr SMKs, Ive found that with my current favorite load with either the 80gr ELD or 90gr SMK, I can get between 6-8 loads on a Federal case, 2-3 on a Hornady case, and unfortunately, Starline performs the worst in terms of primer pocket life. Out of the 50 once fired pieces I prepped for a second loading last night only SEVEN pieces are able to hold a primer. I won’t even bother looking for them after I fire them.
If I was loading for a PRS match and I needed the best brass, regardless of future life, Starline would be my go to.
But due to the cost, I need brass I can reuse a few times, so for me, Federal it is.
But just know that if you are pushing your Valkyrie loads to the max, whether trying to overcome a velocity issue when a longer barrel is really what you need, or you’ve got a longer barrel and you’re trying to really just see what she can do, your brass life, namely your primer pocket life will abandon you with a quickness.
I almost bought an annealing setup for this caliber but it wouldn’t have mattered. The brass is usually done before neck tension begins to need work.
Hope this helps any new Valkyrie loader