Announced earlier this fall, Federal Premium‘s new cartridge, the .224 Valkyrie, starts shipping this month. Supersonic to 1,300 yards, this AR-15-compatible round stretches the capabilities of the platform beyond the 6.5 Grendel and other options. How does it stack up? Read the following article — written by Federal — for all sorts of comparison points of the .224 Valkyrie vs. the competition. Ready to go? Rifles and uppers are already being manufactured by Savage Arms, JP Enterprises, Masterpiece Arms, Seekins Precision, LWRCI, LaRue Tactical, LMT, Q LLC, Mossberg, C&H Precision Weapons, Barrett, Accurate Mag, Precision Firearms, CMMG, and more.
224 Valkyrie Versus the World
How the newest MSR 15 round outpaces all of its competition
Federal Premium’s new 224 Valkyrie cartridge transforms the MSR 15 platform into a 1,000-yard tack driver, unleashes shooters’ full downrange potential and shatters the boundaries of ballistic performance.
Initially available in a 90-grain Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing, 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint, 90-grain Fusion MSR and 75-grain American Eagle TMJ, the lineup offers a bullet for everything from casual target shooting to serious competition and hunting everything from varmints to medium-size game like deer and hogs.
But how does the cartridge’s ballistics stack up to similar and even larger competition?
Coming In Hot
The 224 Valkyrie is fast. A round loaded with the 90-grain Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing produces a muzzle velocity of 2,700 feet per second; it maintains a blistering 1,950 fps pace at 500 yards and 1,359 fps when crossing the 1,000-yard line. In fact, it remains supersonic (faster than the speed of sound) past 1,300 yards. Velocities are based on 24-inch test barrels with a 1:7 twist.
Sustaining bullet speeds faster than the 1,125 fps speed of sound during long-range flight is critical to maximum accuracy. For starters, a projectile is more efficient and easier to put on target at higher speeds. But the transition from super- to subsonic flight (slower than the speed of sound) can also destabilize the bullet, causing it to tumble like a poorly thrown football instead of spinning in a perfect spiral like it does at supersonic speeds. Such destabilization wreaks havoc on accuracy, causing downrange performance to plummet.
“The longer you can fly faster than the speed of sound, the more you can maximize the accuracy and ballistics the bullet is designed to provide,” says elite long-range shooter and Federal Premium Brand Ambassador Jim Gilliland. “Once a bullet falls into subsonic flight, it’s much harder to hit your target.”
For its part, the 224 Valkyrie 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint yields a muzzle velocity of 3,300 fps, maintains supersonic flight to 780 yards and still cruises along at 934 fps at 1,000 yards. The 75-grain American Eagle TMJ leaves the barrel at 3,000 fps and zips by at 1,779 fps at 500 yards, while the 90-grain Fusion has an estimated 2,700 fps muzzle velocity remaining supersonic out to 975 yards. Again, all velocities are based on 24-inch test barrels with a 1:7 twist.
Compelling Comparisons
To put the Valkyrie’s performance into perspective against other match loads, a 223 Rem. 69-grain Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing produces a respectable 2,950 fps muzzle velocity, but slips into subsonic flight just 775 yards downrange—more than 500 yards less than the supersonic range of the 90-grain Sierra MatchKing 224 Valkyrie. Likewise, the 77-grain Custom Competition 22 Nosler rips from the muzzle at 2,950 fps, but quickly loses momentum before dropping below the sound barrier at 875 yards.
Still on the MSR 15 platform and in the 6.5mm class, a 130-grain Gold Medal Berger AR Hybrid 6.5 Grendel offers a 2,400 fps muzzle velocity and supersonic range of 1,100 yards, which also falls short compared to 224 Valkyrie.
The 224 Valkyrie also holds its own against popular 6mm rounds built for larger MSR 10 rifles. For example, a 108-grain Berger BT Target in 6mm Dasher produces a 2,950 fps muzzle velocity and 1,350-yard supersonic range, while the 115-grain DTAC in 6XC has a 2,950 fps muzzle velocity and stays supersonic out to 1,380 yards. While these numbers slightly surpass those of 224 Valkyrie, neither of these cartridges were designed to shoot in the MSR 15 platform.
Valkyrie even stacks up favorably against much larger, harder-kicking MSR 10 cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor. The 130-grain Gold Medal Berger AR Hybrid 6.5 Creedmoor has a 2,875 fps muzzle velocity and remains supersonic out to 1,400 yards; its 140-grain American Eagle open-tip match counterpart in 6.5 Creedmoor yields a 2,700 fps muzzle velocity and 1,280-yard supersonic range.
Max BCs
The 224 Valkyrie is designed around bullets featuring incredibly aerodynamic designs, which is reflected by their ability to score the kind of sky-high ballistic coefficient (BC) ratings typically produced only by larger caliber bullets. BC refers to a characteristic value that describes how well a bullet flies through the air. The higher the number, the better it flies.
The 90-grain Sierra MatchKing leads the 224 Valkyrie lineup with a G1 ballistic coefficient of .563, which is noteworthy for virtually any bullet and exceptional for short-action rounds. In comparison, the 223 Rem. 69-grain Sierra MatchKing scores a G1 BC of .301 and even the 22 Nosler 77-grain Custom Competition round tops out in .340 BC territory. In the 6.5mm arena, BCs range from .421 to .564.
Other 224 Valkyrie offerings also offer admirable aerodynamics. The 75-grain American Eagle TMJ achieves a .400 BC and the Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint, while lower, still registers a solid BC of .270. Such efficient flight produces higher downrange velocities and greater energy on impact, with less bullet drop.
In practical terms, elevated BCs help the bullet shoot flatter, buck the wind better and hit harder when it reaches the target. For example, at 1,000 yards the 224 Valkyrie 90-grain Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing experiences just 92.8 inches of drift with a 10 mph crosswind and drops 350 inches en route to the target. In comparison, the American Eagle 120-grain open-tip match 6.5 Grendel drifts 120 inches and drops 410 inches at the same range, under the same conditions.
The story is much the same with other small-caliber cartridges, meaning the only way to experience ballistics similar to those of the 224 Valkyrie is upsize to a heavier, more expensive MSR 10 platform paired with a larger-caliber round such as the 140-grain American Eagle 6.5 Creedmoor—which drifts 92.7 inches and drops 352 inches.
More Punch, Less Kick
The 224 Valkyrie also packs plenty of punch. For example, the 90-grain Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing packs 1,457 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle and retains 369 foot-pounds of that force at 1,000 yards.
The 224 Valkyrie 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint delivers 1,451 foot-pounds of force at the muzzle, 377 foot-pounds at 500 yards and 116 pounds at 1,000 yards; the 75-grain American Eagle TMJ has 1,499 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle, 619 foot-pounds at 500 yards and 232 at 1,000 yards. Of most importance to hunters targeting medium game like deer and hogs, the 90-grain Fusion produces 1,457 foot-pounds at the muzzle, retains 605 foot-pounds at 500 yards, and 250 foot-pounds as it falls below supersonic at 975 yards.
On the recoil front, 224 Valkyrie provides comparable ballistics as larger counterparts like the 6.5 Creedmoor—but with as little as half the felt recoil.
For example, Federal Premium’s free-recoil calculations—based on firearm weight, bullet weight, charge weight and muzzle velocity—reveal that when shot from a scoped Savage MSR 15 Recon rifle weighing 9.64 pounds, the 90-grain 224 Valkyrie Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing generates just 4.35 foot-pounds of felt recoil. Other 224 Valkyrie rounds produce similar amounts. The 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint produces 4.25 foot-pounds of recoil, while the 90-grain Fusion MSR generates 4.35 foot-pounds and the 75-grain American Eagle TMJ moves the needle just 4.51.
In comparison, a 6.5 Creedmoor 130-grain Berger AR Hybrid OTM cartridge shot from a similar platform produces more than 10 pounds of recoil. Even the 6.5 Grendel loaded with the same bullet yields nearly 7 pounds of force.
The 224 Valkyrie’s mild recoil isn’t just easy on the shoulder. “Lower recoil allows you to see where your shots are going through the scope and make follow-up shots as needed, rather than having to reset your sight picture like you might have to with a heavier recoiling round,” explains Federal Premium development engineer Jacob Burns.
“It’s just another example of how Federal Premium’s new 224 Valkyrie is going to help shooters get more from their MSR 15,” he adds. “More long-range accuracy, more consistent performance—and more fun.”
Flight of the Valkyrie
A look at the 90-grain Sierra MatchKing 224 Valkyrie’s dope card provides more insight into the cartridge’s performance. With baseline factors including 29.92 barometric pressure, 0 percent humidity, an air temperature of 59 degrees Fahrenheit and 10 mph average crosswind, the round racks up consistent ballistics throughout its 1,300-yard journey.
The bullet covers 100 yards in 0.11 seconds. It arrives traveling 2,539 feet per second with 1,288 foot-pounds of energy. Windage is virtually a non-factor at 0.67 inches. At 500 yards, flight time is 0.65 seconds and velocity is 1,950 fps. The bullet packs 760 foot-pounds of energy and drops 57 inches (with a 100-yard zero), while windage rises slightly to 19.32 inches. The 224 Valkyrie crosses the 1,300-yard line in 2.31 seconds (Mach 1.005), with a velocity of 1,122 fps and 252 foot-pounds of energy. Drop is 733 inches and windage is 173.47 inches.
The 224 Valkyrie is based on a 6.8 SPC case (necked down to .22 caliber), but comparing the two cartridges is an apples-to-oranges proposition. Designed by Special Forces personnel to increase the firepower of an M4 carbine, the 6.8 SPC uses a 0.277-inch diameter bullet and is based on a shortened version of the now-obsolete 30 Rem. case.
“The 6.8 SPC does not lend itself to using high-BC bullets for extended long-range shooting,” Burns explains. “With the 6.8 SPC, you’re launching a short .277 or 6.8mm caliber, 90-grain projectile with a lower BC at 2,850 fps. The 224 Valkyrie has a long .224 or 5.56mm caliber, 90-grain projectile with a very high BC that leaves the muzzle at 2,700 fps. When designing the Valkyrie, Federal Premium engineers didn’t consider the 6.8 SPC a comparable load. Instead, we aimed to beat the long-range ballistics of the 223 Rem., 22 Nosler and 6.5 Grendel.”
More Benefits
Besides stellar ballistics, the 224 Valkyrie packs an economical punch as well, significantly reducing the cost of 1,000-yard precision shooting for fun and competition. Suggested retails for a box of 20 224 Valkyrie rounds run from $31.95 for the 90-grain Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing down to just $13.95 for the 75-grain American Eagle TMJ. In comparison, 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition within the Federal Premium family costs from $51.95 per box for 140-grain Nosler AccuBond to $26.95 for 120-grain American Eagle open-tip match.
MSR 15 platforms also cost less than their larger MSR 10 counterparts. For example, in the Savage Arms lineup, an MSR 15 Patrol in 223 Wylde carries a suggested retail of $868 and the MSR 15 Recon costs $999. In comparison, a Savage MSR 10 Hunter chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor retails for $1,481 and an MSR 10 Long Range runs $2,284.
In the end, the advantages 224 Valkyrie offers in ballistics, recoil, accuracy and economy don’t just make this hotshot new cartridge different for the sake of different. They make it hands-down the best performing MSR 15 cartridge ever conceived—perfect for anyone who wants to shoot farther, more accurately and more effectively than ever before.
asdf
how much are uppers and who has them available
Barry – One of the best first comments I have ever seen. Bravo!
In the first paragraph many manufacturers are mentioned that are building on the .224V round:
Savage Arms, JP Enterprises, Masterpiece Arms, Seekins Precision, LWRCI, LaRue Tactical, LMT, Q LLC, Mossberg, C&H Precision Weapons, Barrett, Accurate Mag, Precision Firearms, CMMG, and more.
Barry
Palmetto Arms in S Carolina has a deal on blem uppers for the .224 valkyrie now . I believe about $399.00 each. A friend of mine bought two of them and they look real good, they’re free floating with a real nice rail and he’s in the process of testing them now.
Gun broker. Com
Won a bid, on a 224 Valkyrie barreled upper. Payed with shipping about $140 .. seen BCG’s about 70 bucks on line. So what. . . . 210ish plus ammo.. add that to a $40 LPK, and a $53 dollar stripped lower.. about $305 minus ammo.. seems i have a good lil weapon sytem.
Out of curiousity, if you are wondering how much power it has; at 1000yds the 90gr .224 Valkyrie going 1359fps has 67% MORE power than a CorBon 90gr JHP .380acp at the muzzle.
That’s… an odd comparison.
Really I find that comparison about as useful as the rest of the article. The section on the 6.5 Creedmoor “comparison” is only really comparing expensive 6.5 Creedmoor ammo to cheap 6.5 Creedmoor ammo. They fail to take the comparison back to the .224 Valkyrie.
Second, the section on BC is silly. Ballistic coefficients are not unique to specific cartridge but are rather a property of the bullet. So of course a 90 grain bullet will have a high ballistic coefficient than a 69 or 77 grain bullet. And there is nothing stopping a person from shoving that 90 bullet into a .223 and magically you have a higher ballistic coefficient.
Lower recoil? Absolutely. I would imagine that a .22 short has less recoil than a .22 mag as well. We’re splitting hairs here.
All that said… If more of the world ever shot more than 100 yards I would say this is a great idea. As is, it’s okay. Reality is that most people (myself included) won’t tap the full potential of good old .223 rem. I still might want one…
I’m not interested in 1km range and a 24″ barrel looks like, but I’d really be interested in what a 2-400m looks like out of a 16″ barrel. I live on 160 acres in Northern KY, with mostly cleared rolling hills, and taking deer close in, and coyotes at range out of something AR size/style would be nice. Building a barrelled should be relatively cheap and easy. Ammo is going to be the big issue though, 2x-3x for plinking/hunting, would be steep. Like 300blk before it.
Everyone is looking for that Goldilocks rifle, and right now that’s my old Browning BAR BOSS in 308, cheap accurate, tactitard cool. All of the lego pieces that go in AR would make 224 pretty sweet. Or I could simplify and standardize on 3 calibers and free my life from this addiction.
Just because I don’t need it, have other stuff that is 90% as good at everything, I NEED it.
If your interest is 200 to 400 meters, new cartridges like the 224V, 6.5G or 6.5C that are designed specifically to shoot highly aerodynamic bullets aren’t for you. Rather, you are better served with more traditional cartridges that are designed to shoot shorter bullets at higher velocities. At the ranges you are interested in, your .308 shoots flatter, faster and hits harder than a 6.5 Creedmoor.
That’s not to say the Valkyrie, Grendel, Creedmoor won’t do the job at 200 to 400 meters (it will do that job well), but is only when you get out past the (approximately) 900 yard mark does any of this Valkyrie, Grendel, Creedmoor stuff become clearly superior.
If you live somewhere where you can see horizon to horizon, like the west, having a rifle that can dominate everything you can see out to the horizon is very desirable.
David McGinnis,
Very well put. I agree entirely with your views.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ART OF HUNTING,INSTEAD OF JUST SHOOTING AND SAYING A HAIL MARY?
This actually looks pretty cool.
I already adopted 300BLK as my “in close” cartridge for AR pattern weapons and this looks like a damn fine cartridge to take the lightweight AR platform and extend it out to seriously long distances.
I will need to cross my fingers that BCM starts building uppers with this barrel and then I will probably pick one up.
You should give 6.5 Grendel a try. It’s got more energy than Valkyrie and is actually legal for deer.
“On the recoil front, 224 Valkyrie provides comparable ballistics as larger counterparts like the 6.5 Creedmoor—but with as little as half the felt recoil.”
“Comparable to Creedmoor” does not leave room for Grendel is more powerful.
I believe they are talking about the flight of the bullet vs the energy on target.
The 6.5 is shooting a much heavier bullet, with a similar bc, at a similar velocity. The flight of the bullet will be similar, but the energy on target from the 6.5 will be much greater.
Valkyrie is .22 caliber which is legal in most states.
Pretty useless and underwhelming in a bolt action. But intriguing for the gas guns.
I don’t intend to make the round sound anything like oh my god its just the best thing in the world mostly cause its not . i have a 308 and i love it its fun to shoot i also own an ar in 556/223 and with either round its fun to shoot like hitting steel and trying to group in the 100 – 300 yards and taking shots further is also fun. i purchased the 224 for an ar cmmg with a 24 in barrel its a blast to shoot at well have tried most rounds except for the smk 90 grain because of the cost i have them but will not use till I’m shooting further out than 600 yards to me its a waist of my money to me . I am not a great shooter no 4 shots in one hole but the group sizes are touching at 100 and 200 hundred and for now i can live with that at under 8.30 8.25 truth be told per box if i can find it cheaper god bless it. but its just another tool to have in the shed another fire arm to (play with as it is)and learn to use. I enjoyed shooting the 6.5 creedmore its less recoil that the 308 was nice not that a 308 has a lot at least mine does not and the 224 is even lighter and can even with better optics see my shots so whats not to like. cheap , potential for longer and longer range , and fun
a .223 has 12 more inches of drop than a 6.5 grendel at 1000 yards? How did they pull that off?
6.5 is a slippery bullet — longer and heavier than 5.56 — and there’s a lot more powder in the Grendel case than the 5.56 case.
Meh, if you’re taking 1000 meters shots with an AR15 platform, you made a poor choice somewhere along the way. That’s .308 or 6.5 territory. Honestly, past 1000 meters, I’d want a .338 in a bolt action. The “acceptable” 1 MOA deviation from a gas gun turns into a piza sized group at 1000 meters. With “precision” like that, you better have a big bullet carrying a lot of energy, because you sure as hell aren’t guaranteed to hit anything important.
I would be happy if i could shoot 1 MOA at 1000 yards personally. That’s nothing to turn your nose up at for you average shooter.
Don’t disagree, but the point is that these things stack. Take a 1 MOA shooter, give him a 1 MOA gun, and now you have 1.5 – 2 MOA groups. At 1000 yards, that’s a 15″-20″ circle. Basically means that unless you’re ringing gongs or punching very large paper, the error margin will probably be larger than your target. One of the main reasons I won’t be buying a .50 cal in preference to a .338. Most .50s just aren’t accurate enough to use at the sorts of ranges where the .50 BMG round really shines.
I own a 50, that statement is incorrect. Whats more its way cheaper to shoot a 50 than 338. Good luck getting more than about 2 or 3 reloads before your neck cracks
I don’t reload, so it’s a minor issue for me. What gun do you run? I know the Barretts are horrible in terms of accuracy, but some of the AI guns seem ok. For me match .338 ammo is about the same price as match .50 BMG ammo.
They’re cherry picking numbers.
The 143 grain ELD-X from Hornady has a G-1 of .625.
Definitely. And the 6.5 in 147 grain does even better.
They don’t even load those in Grendel, which is your AR-15 cartridge comparison point (more valid than comparing against any cartridge that doesn’t fit in an AR-15 action. I think the heaviest projectile loaded in
commercial Grendel ammo is the 130 grain Berger in Federal’s Gold Medal Berger. That’s a 0.56 G1 BC and about 450 inches of drop at 1,000 yards according to my calculator in my current atmospheric conditions.
Grendel may have more drop but that’s what dope is for. Grendel also has more energy on target.
Like it but wondering how short of barrel life will be. ?? And those Federal ballistics are from a 24″.
With that tight a twist, and that much bullet mass, and that much pressure, I’m going to guess “significantly less than a .223.”
Since you brought up the 6.5 Grendel, how about a review of the CZ 527 in 6.5G?
I wonder if this .224 Valkyrie is going to end up being used in that new light machine gun the military wants that holds accuracy out to 1000 yards.
I doubt it. It would take an act of God for the Army to adopt a new cartridge.
At least they could use existing projectiles I guess.
After replacing tens of thousands barrels and bolts and a few million magazines that would be a plus.
Except the army gets their ammo pre-rolled. I really doubt they’d care. No, we’re going to be sticking with m855a1 for quite a while yet.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. The AR platform with 5.56, is going to remain the standard issue weapon until firearms are superseded by energy weapons. It will be the longest serving and last standard firearm the US military uses. My guess is it’ll be another 50 years minimum before that happens.
FTA, the 5.56 is a joke.
Ha mkay buddy
Stock answer – I wouldn’t want to get shot by one.
Not a chance. Ammo links won’t fit this case for starters.
This info from Federal has me all excited!!! Just like when I go to a “gentleman’s” club and the nice lady keeps telling me how awesome I am. It must be true!!
Seriously though;. I’m probably in for at least an upper and a few hundred rounds. That’s what…… 3 trips to the ATM? My analogy holds true.
Does anyone know if someone is selling standalone barrels yet?
Palmetto State Armory may be able to supply only a 24″ barrel. I KNOW they have a 24″ upper, although unavailable at the moment.
Ranier Arms and JP Enterprises “offer” barrels but always out of stock or (in the JP example) coming in the next few months. What’s irritating about this and many other articles is that they all cite a variety of companies offering Valkyrie uppers or barrels and then when you go to each company’s website there isn’t a word of “Valkyrie” or “.224”. (let alone an actual product). In this article the ONLY company that had anything was JP. Hell, I didn’t even find press releases. Maybe I’m just stupid and I’m spelling Valkyrie or 224 wrong in the search boxes or somethin’? *shrug*
Why the hype??? Let’s see some real-world tests (without a 24″ barrel…). Somone has to have a guddamn rifle setup by now, right?
I’m as interested in the Valkyrie as all of you and it will be my next build but if the prices remain silly for decent barrels I’ll just fool around with 6.5 Grendels for now.
I am already started down the .243 wssm route of getting a longer range/AP AR. You can do more with 2,200ft/lbs than 1,500ft/lbs. I already have 850 cases and they are starting to trickle in more and more. I will only load it to 1800-1900ft/lbs most of the time to stretch the barrel life. The compromise is that I only get 11 round mags and about 70% more recoil. Too each his own.
From the tables I’ve seen .243 WSSM gives 50-150 fps over a standard. 243. Of course with reloading your mileage may vary.
For me .243 WSSM is too much pain for not enough gain. I prefer to jump up to the 6.5s as my all-around projectile.
“…this AR-15-compatible round….”
Exactly what is that supposed to mean? You can get an upper chambered for it?
If that’s what they mean, 50 BMG is “AR-15 compatible”…
It means it fits on an ar15 lower receiver, meaning it’s smaller, lighter, and cheaper than an ar10.
It fits in the standard mag/magwell of an ar15
I am tired of seeing all these numbers released from Federal. You got my attention Federal, now I want to see some real world numbers. Is anyone going to run a 24″ barrel in an AR15? 20″ seems more realistic, which means less than 2700 FPS in a 90 grain bullet. Probably more like 2650-2600 fps at best. Which really only makes it marginally better than a 77 grain SMK at 2700 FPS in a 20″ AR15. The 77 grain would go subsonic around 850 yard with a pitiful 220 ft-lbs of energy. The 90 grainer goes subsonic at 1100 yards, with 261 ft-lbs of energy. I guess if I was forced to build precision gas gun in a .224 caliber, this would give me an advantage, but I don’t know if it’s enough to make me want to build something on an AR15 vs an AR10 lower.
Agreed. I was much more excited about this round until I saw that it was through a 24″ barrel. The article doesn’t confirm that they are indeed doing an apple to apple (barrel length) testing on any of the other rounds, only the Valkyrie. (I suspect the NONE of the other round’s numbers were from a 24″.) So, are the numbers for 5.56, 6.5G for 24″ or 20″? Or 16″? Why would we not see this in the article? What numbers do we get from this new .224V via a 16″ 1:7 barrel?
Garden-variety AR15s are typically 16″-18″ barrels, because weight and form factor really matter, and if the .224V only delivers the goods with a massive 24-incher then you’re trading an arguably clunky form factor for less recoil when compared to 6.5G, which hits harder as well. We can’t let hype for something new get in the way of factual analysis and real world testing. I suspect this is simply the gun manufacturers working to wring $$$ out of an ill-informed public.
Sounds good for coyotes
It isn’t the fasted .224 that fits in an AR15
The 223 WSSM fits in a an AR15. Has a much higher muzzle velocity (4300 fps with 40gr to 3300+ fps with 77gr Sierra). Holds super sonic longer and drops 92 inches less at 1300 yards.
Hmmm I was not aware of that. Ammo isn’t cheap I’m guessing?
.224 or 5.56mm caliber
Ok, I haven’t read the comments yet, but I stopped reading the press release right there. Any clarification needed on that?
And new phone gets no follow up emails…
A bullet in 6.5 is always going to have a better ballistic quality than a .224. The difference is the cartridge case. Look at the old Swede 6.5×55 military round – incredible accuracy and range.
“stretches the capabilities of the platform beyond the 6.5 Grendel and other options”
So when you call yourself truth about guns, eroniuous 224V vs 6.5G comparisons seem really fake. DID YOU FORGET THAT THE 224 Grendel has been available for a decade? That it has a larger case capacity than the 224V? That its shorter that 224V for longer bullets? That you can also use the same brass for 6mm Grendel?
The 6.5 Grendel bullet was 40 grains heavier that the .224 Valkyrie. 110 grain 6.5 Grendel ammo manufactures claim that it travels around 2,700 fps – the same was the 224V but with 20 gr more hitting power. Was that why the MUCH heavier bullet was used? That’s not right!
Some folks in the industry do this all the time, they make wierd comparisons as if they have proved something. Similar comparisons are the 6.5 Creemore to the 308Win….but you will never see a comparison of the 260Remington, 07-08, or the .243 to the Creemore, and for reason.
If the article or future analysis is to be taken seriously then the 22×6.8 (now known as the 224 Valkyrie) must be compared to the 224 Grendel. While similar comparisons to say a 6mm Valkyrie vs. 6mm Grendel and of course 6.5 Grendel vs. 6.5 Valkyrie.
Most of what you see on this cartridge is junk hype aimed to sell the latest and greatest, with out being the latest and greatest. But I suspect, like the 6.5 Creedmore (see 6.5 PRC), Federal will have to replace it with something that actually performs.
I’m actually good with the addition to the 6.5 Grendel to the analysis because it would be a natural question that I would have anyway. The 224V is going to have to compete in the marketplace against the Grendel. But if I was writing the article, I would not have made such an obvious blunder.
You are right about “junk hype.” Adding two 6.5s at weights closer to 90 grains would have shown wisdom & intelligence, my opinion.
@LANCE: I think you are missing it, the 224 Grendel exists and has for 10 years its a 90gr bullet @3000fps. The 6mm Grendel also exists. You need not look for lite-weight 6.5 projectiles to load into the 6.5 Grendel to compare to the 22×6.8 (224 Valkyrie) the families 224, 6mm, and 6.5 can be compared appropriately between the Grendel case and 6.8 case.
Actually, I’m coming from a different angle. The article is trying to make a particular point, which I’m trying to follow & expand on. Your point is valid in that you are trying to stay with a true apples to apples comparison, that certainly is more “scientific”. But the author chose an apples to pears comparison, so to speak. In this arena, he did not do anything out of the ordinary, except that he tainted or skewed the results.
Yes, you are correct…..but I hate the Apples and Pears as its usually a nefarious tactic without the requisite math.
I notice that in the beginning of the article you mention the round is capable of maintaining super sonic speeds up to 1300 yards, however the rounds tested didnt come near to that
As stated from the article:
“For its part, the 224 Valkyrie 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint yields a muzzle velocity of 3,300 fps, maintains supersonic flight to 780 yards and still cruises along at 934 fps at 1,000 yards. The 75-grain American Eagle TMJ leaves the barrel at 3,000 fps and zips by at 1,779 fps at 500 yards, while the 90-grain Fusion has an estimated 2,700 fps muzzle velocity remaining supersonic out to 975 yards. Again, all velocities are based on 24-inch test barrels with a 1:7 twist.”
Is this because of the test conditions or from the performance of more superior ammunition?
Sorry for the question, new to shooting and was just wondering.
Cheers
Jade
As a match round and for taking raccoons at long distances Valkyrie looks interesting … 20% less drop than e.g. Grendel at 1000 yds. But, terminal energy is also important. I’ll stick with Grendel as a proven low-recoil hunting round for light-weight firearms … from varmints to elk.
After reading all this, I have a few factual comments to be made. First off the 224V sounds like fun but is limited. To What? A paper punch maybe? Thats where it shines, if you don’t have the ability to compensate for drop and drift. Also BC, its has great numbers at 90 grains. BUT when compaired to the data for the popular Grendel… wait a minute. the 224V has no real world data for bolts or AR’s. What we already know is that practical use for a hunting medium game rifle, 300 yards is the optimal, practical distance limit. For that the Grendel is better with it’s larger diameter and heavier projectile @ 123 gr. It’s easy to make a new booolit look when you only compare it with it’s strengths. Already with what is known and factual, if I’m going 90 grain for hunting, I am going 243 win. If I’m goin flat and long, I’m goin 204 ruger at 4000 feet per second. I( do realize those the 243 win requires a AR10 platform). So no interest to me at all.Don’t sell your 6.5 grendel yet. I personally don’t shoot targets and metal plates out past 500 yards. Unless you have done that, you don’t know how far that really is. Do I know what shooting accurately out to 1000 yards is like. Sorry, my experience is limited to my 204 Ruger and my 243 win out in thwe open here in the vast and flat lands at water filled milk jugs. If I hit one of those, I’m grinnin. If you have never fired a 204 Ruger, you have no idea what fast and flat is all about. This is why I have no interest in the ‘new” 224V. Get a 6.5 Creedmoore and it will blow the 224V away
After reading all this, I have a few factual comments to be made. First off the 224V sounds like fun but is limited. To What? A paper punch maybe? Thats where it shines, if you don’t have the ability to compensate for drop and drift. Also BC, its has great numbers at 90 grains. BUT when compaired to the data for the popular Grendel… wait a minute. the 224V has no real world data for bolts or AR’s. What we already know is that practical use for a hunting medium game rifle, 300 yards is the optimal, practical distance limit. For that the Grendel is better with it’s larger diameter and heavier projectile @ 123 gr. It’s easy to make a new boolit look when you only compare it with it’s strengths. Already with what is known and factual, if I’m going 90 grain for hunting, I am going 243 win. If I’m goin flat and long, I’m goin 204 ruger at 4000 feet per second. I( do realize those the 243 win requires a AR10 platform). So no interest to me at all.Don’t sell your 6.5 grendel yet. I personally don’t shoot targets and metal plates out past 500 yards. Unless you have done that, you don’t know how far that really is. Do I know what shooting accurately out to 1000 yards is like. Sorry, my experience is limited to my 204 Ruger and my 243 win out in the open here in the vast and flat lands here in Florida at water filled milk jugs. If I hit one of those, I’m grinnin. If you have never fired a 204 Ruger, you have no idea what fast and flat is all about. This is why I have no interest in the ‘new” 224V. Get a 6.5 Creedmoore and it will blow the 224V away
Compare the same bullets noob! You can’t compare a million different bullets and say ones better than the other! Horrible read!
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