Lastest Load Data for .224 Valkyrie from Sierra
Shorter, Fatter, Faster, Flatter. The new .224 Valkyrie is the hot new cartridge for the AR15 platform. With a shorter, fatter cartridge based on the 6.8 SPC case, the .224 Valkyrie delivers high muzzle velocities for a flatter trajectory at long range. With the latest high-BC projectiles, the .224 Valkyrie can stay supersonic to 1300 yards and beyond.
Sierra Bullets recently provided new load data and twist info for the .224 Valkyrie: “Sierra recommends a 1:6.5″-twist barrel for the #9290 22 cal 90 gr HPBT bullet. However, for cartridges like the Valkyrie, that can push them over 2650 fps muzzle velocity, a 1:7″-twist barrel will stabilize the bullet correctly.”
Shown below is Sierra’s load data for bullet weights from 77 grains to 90 grains. Values in green indicate MAXIMUM loads — use CAUTION. NOTE: This is only a partial sample, less than a third of the data Sierra has published. Download Sierra’s Full 4-page PDF to view all the data, including load information for Sierra’s new 95gr .224-caliber MatchKing with claimed 0.600 G1 BC.
Sierra Bullets Load Data for .224 Valkyrie (Partial Sample) »
About the .224 Valkyrie Cartridge
Basically a 6.8 SPC necked down to .22, the Valkyrie has a shorter case than the .223 Remington (and 5.56×45 NATO). This allows you to load the longest, heaviest .224-caliber bullets and still feed reliably from an AR15-type magazine. With Sierra’s remarkable new 95-grain MatchKing, this gives the little Valkyrie long-range performance that can rival some much larger cartridge types. 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. This offers … super-sonic velocities at ranges greater than the .223 Remington and the 6.5 Grendel can achieve at magazine length”.
Similar Posts:
- .224 Valkyrie Load Data for 52gr to 95gr Bullets from Sierra
- Hodgdon Releases Load Data for .224 Valkyrie
- Load Data for .224 Valkyrie — Optimizing the Cartridge
- New Official Load Data for Latest High-BC Sierra MatchKings
- New .224 Cartridge for AR Match Rifles
Tags: .224 Valkyrie, 6.8 SPC, Federal, Sierra, Varminting
Hard to get excited by these velocity gains. One could do the same with a .223 improved.
Well that is the thing with these “marketing” cartridges. Better results are already possible with other cases and hand loading in a bolt gun will make is thing faster.
But, much like the Creedmoor, the Valkyrie is a triumph of marketing over common sense. Despite its col name, let’s see how long it lasts in the real world.
In a bolt gun, sure; a 223 improved will do the same. In a gas gun, I don’t think so. That said, I’m also not particularly excited about this cartridge. It’s like the 6.5 Grendel: it just doesn’t make sense for me because I don’t own gas guns and don’t plan to.
The annoyingly deceptive thing about this cartridge is that they are testing it on a 24in barrel. For an AR that is supper long and very unwieldy. The cartridge in a standard 16 or 18 in barrel will perform with a yawn and is unimpressive. 16in barrel is the most popular size for an AR15 right now.
Not true, I’m getting faster MV than they list from a 20 inch barrel.
I am shooting 224V XTC w a 24″ Krieger 1:6.5 bbl in a WOA space gun upper and getting at least sub 0.5 MOA from Fed box ammo. We’ll see when I start reloading if I can get 0.4 or 0.3 MOA using RL17 and SMK 90’s.
It is an advantage shooting 90’s over 80’s at 600. I can;’t clean the target from 600 with 77’s or 80’s but the 90’s do. I think the cartridge is excellent and would be great for competing in windy courses.
224V may offer a small advantage over SMK 77’s in rapid fire strings at 300 depending on conditions.
My impression after 600 rounds is that this would be a great round for using the modern sporting rifle in open country.
Like the other contributors here, I do not believe the 224V makes sense for any other purpose than extending the range of the MSR platform by using 90 and 95 grain bullets. If you’re going to shoot 77’s or less and want increased velocities, get a 223 Wylde chamber.
I also think it might have excellent military application for deployments in regions like Afghanistan and the ME where terrorists are known to stand off at RPG range where this round shines.