For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and nosler.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the 2019 Modern Gun issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. For digital editions, visit <\/em><\/strong>Amazon<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"224 Valkyrie: Is the Round Just Another Fast and Furious .223?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/02\/11\/224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":9},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
If you are a big 6.8 SPC shooter, the Valkyrie is a barrel swap. It\u2019s the same thing for those using 5.56mm with the .22 Nosler. Shorter barrels and lighter bullets seem to favor the .22 Nosler, so those wanting an 18-inch barrel may be better served. Having compared the Valkyrie and a 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> out to 800 yards, I\u2019d say it is a solid competitor for PRS gas gun matches. As with many of these things, much will boil down to personal preference, and both will get the job done quite nicely, regardless of which one you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and nosler.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the 2019 Modern Gun issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. For digital editions, visit <\/em><\/strong>Amazon<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"224 Valkyrie: Is the Round Just Another Fast and Furious .223?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/02\/11\/224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":9},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
For most people, which one to choose is really going to be about personal preference. Outside support for the Valkyrie is better. Ammunition choice is about the same now, but the Valkyrie seems to be gathering steam. There are multitudes of differences in the minutiae. I have heard them far too often, from the case dimensions to the bolt faces. Most of us get lost about 2.5 seconds in and fall asleep. From a shooter\u2019s perspective they remain pretty similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a big 6.8 SPC shooter, the Valkyrie is a barrel swap. It\u2019s the same thing for those using 5.56mm with the .22 Nosler. Shorter barrels and lighter bullets seem to favor the .22 Nosler, so those wanting an 18-inch barrel may be better served. Having compared the Valkyrie and a 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> out to 800 yards, I\u2019d say it is a solid competitor for PRS gas gun matches. As with many of these things, much will boil down to personal preference, and both will get the job done quite nicely, regardless of which one you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and nosler.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the 2019 Modern Gun issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. For digital editions, visit <\/em><\/strong>Amazon<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"224 Valkyrie: Is the Round Just Another Fast and Furious .223?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/02\/11\/224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":9},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
For most people, which one to choose is really going to be about personal preference. Outside support for the Valkyrie is better. Ammunition choice is about the same now, but the Valkyrie seems to be gathering steam. There are multitudes of differences in the minutiae. I have heard them far too often, from the case dimensions to the bolt faces. Most of us get lost about 2.5 seconds in and fall asleep. From a shooter\u2019s perspective they remain pretty similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a big 6.8 SPC shooter, the Valkyrie is a barrel swap. It\u2019s the same thing for those using 5.56mm with the .22 Nosler. Shorter barrels and lighter bullets seem to favor the .22 Nosler, so those wanting an 18-inch barrel may be better served. Having compared the Valkyrie and a 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> out to 800 yards, I\u2019d say it is a solid competitor for PRS gas gun matches. As with many of these things, much will boil down to personal preference, and both will get the job done quite nicely, regardless of which one you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and nosler.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the 2019 Modern Gun issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. For digital editions, visit <\/em><\/strong>Amazon<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"224 Valkyrie: Is the Round Just Another Fast and Furious .223?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/02\/11\/224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":9},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Handloading changes the game here, since you can speed these up quite a bit, but with the AR platform it won\u2019t be a done deal. I will be loading the Nosler 70- and 85-grain RDF for the Valkyrie for another project, and it will be interesting to see what, if any, difference there is. Bolt guns are starting to crop up as well, making handloading even more promising for either. Removing the cycling issue is huge. I\u2019m still not sure how big a game changer it is, but it does add another component to the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For most people, which one to choose is really going to be about personal preference. Outside support for the Valkyrie is better. Ammunition choice is about the same now, but the Valkyrie seems to be gathering steam. There are multitudes of differences in the minutiae. I have heard them far too often, from the case dimensions to the bolt faces. Most of us get lost about 2.5 seconds in and fall asleep. From a shooter\u2019s perspective they remain pretty similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a big 6.8 SPC shooter, the Valkyrie is a barrel swap. It\u2019s the same thing for those using 5.56mm with the .22 Nosler. Shorter barrels and lighter bullets seem to favor the .22 Nosler, so those wanting an 18-inch barrel may be better served. Having compared the Valkyrie and a 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> out to 800 yards, I\u2019d say it is a solid competitor for PRS gas gun matches. As with many of these things, much will boil down to personal preference, and both will get the job done quite nicely, regardless of which one you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and nosler.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the 2019 Modern Gun issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. For digital editions, visit <\/em><\/strong>Amazon<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"224 Valkyrie: Is the Round Just Another Fast and Furious .223?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/02\/11\/224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":9},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Handloading changes the game here, since you can speed these up quite a bit, but with the AR platform it won\u2019t be a done deal. I will be loading the Nosler 70- and 85-grain RDF for the Valkyrie for another project, and it will be interesting to see what, if any, difference there is. Bolt guns are starting to crop up as well, making handloading even more promising for either. Removing the cycling issue is huge. I\u2019m still not sure how big a game changer it is, but it does add another component to the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For most people, which one to choose is really going to be about personal preference. Outside support for the Valkyrie is better. Ammunition choice is about the same now, but the Valkyrie seems to be gathering steam. There are multitudes of differences in the minutiae. I have heard them far too often, from the case dimensions to the bolt faces. Most of us get lost about 2.5 seconds in and fall asleep. From a shooter\u2019s perspective they remain pretty similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a big 6.8 SPC shooter, the Valkyrie is a barrel swap. It\u2019s the same thing for those using 5.56mm with the .22 Nosler. Shorter barrels and lighter bullets seem to favor the .22 Nosler, so those wanting an 18-inch barrel may be better served. Having compared the Valkyrie and a 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> out to 800 yards, I\u2019d say it is a solid competitor for PRS gas gun matches. As with many of these things, much will boil down to personal preference, and both will get the job done quite nicely, regardless of which one you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and nosler.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the 2019 Modern Gun issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. For digital editions, visit <\/em><\/strong>Amazon<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"224 Valkyrie: Is the Round Just Another Fast and Furious .223?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/02\/11\/224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":9},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
My initial thought was the 1-in-8-inch twist barrel may provide an issue for the 85-grain RDF, but nope, it ran like a champ and was very accurate. Granted, the 70-grain RDF was a tad more accurate and flatter than all the precision bullets, but the 85-grain RDF worked just fine with the faster twist. Having tested a 1-in-7-inch twist Wilson Combat .224 Valkyrie barrel, I was unable to discern any real difference. Both grouped well at 100 and 300 yards, and holds were the same at 1,308 yards. I am sure there is a difference, maybe over a broad spectrum, but either way the Wilson Combat barrels were excellent in this caliber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Handloading changes the game here, since you can speed these up quite a bit, but with the AR platform it won\u2019t be a done deal. I will be loading the Nosler 70- and 85-grain RDF for the Valkyrie for another project, and it will be interesting to see what, if any, difference there is. Bolt guns are starting to crop up as well, making handloading even more promising for either. Removing the cycling issue is huge. I\u2019m still not sure how big a game changer it is, but it does add another component to the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For most people, which one to choose is really going to be about personal preference. Outside support for the Valkyrie is better. Ammunition choice is about the same now, but the Valkyrie seems to be gathering steam. There are multitudes of differences in the minutiae. I have heard them far too often, from the case dimensions to the bolt faces. Most of us get lost about 2.5 seconds in and fall asleep. From a shooter\u2019s perspective they remain pretty similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a big 6.8 SPC shooter, the Valkyrie is a barrel swap. It\u2019s the same thing for those using 5.56mm with the .22 Nosler. Shorter barrels and lighter bullets seem to favor the .22 Nosler, so those wanting an 18-inch barrel may be better served. Having compared the Valkyrie and a 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> out to 800 yards, I\u2019d say it is a solid competitor for PRS gas gun matches. As with many of these things, much will boil down to personal preference, and both will get the job done quite nicely, regardless of which one you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and nosler.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the 2019 Modern Gun issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. For digital editions, visit <\/em><\/strong>Amazon<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"224 Valkyrie: Is the Round Just Another Fast and Furious .223?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/02\/11\/224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":9},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Both the 70-grain RDF and 90-grain SMK ran using the H2 buffer and increased power spring without issue, with consistent brass ejection and very little felt recoil. Moving to the 85-grain RDF required a small adjustment at the gas block. Most lighter and much faster loads required the gas to be turned down a bit to keep it smooth. If you are going to run lots of different ammunition, use an adjustable gas block. Felt recoil was subjective, but it seemed the Valkyrie was \u201csofter\u201d with a somewhat slower bolt cycling time. Shooting rifles almost daily over years provides me a feel most people may not even notice, but to me it\u2019s there. The Valkyrie is a bit softer in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My initial thought was the 1-in-8-inch twist barrel may provide an issue for the 85-grain RDF, but nope, it ran like a champ and was very accurate. Granted, the 70-grain RDF was a tad more accurate and flatter than all the precision bullets, but the 85-grain RDF worked just fine with the faster twist. Having tested a 1-in-7-inch twist Wilson Combat .224 Valkyrie barrel, I was unable to discern any real difference. Both grouped well at 100 and 300 yards, and holds were the same at 1,308 yards. I am sure there is a difference, maybe over a broad spectrum, but either way the Wilson Combat barrels were excellent in this caliber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Handloading changes the game here, since you can speed these up quite a bit, but with the AR platform it won\u2019t be a done deal. I will be loading the Nosler 70- and 85-grain RDF for the Valkyrie for another project, and it will be interesting to see what, if any, difference there is. Bolt guns are starting to crop up as well, making handloading even more promising for either. Removing the cycling issue is huge. I\u2019m still not sure how big a game changer it is, but it does add another component to the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For most people, which one to choose is really going to be about personal preference. Outside support for the Valkyrie is better. Ammunition choice is about the same now, but the Valkyrie seems to be gathering steam. There are multitudes of differences in the minutiae. I have heard them far too often, from the case dimensions to the bolt faces. Most of us get lost about 2.5 seconds in and fall asleep. From a shooter\u2019s perspective they remain pretty similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a big 6.8 SPC shooter, the Valkyrie is a barrel swap. It\u2019s the same thing for those using 5.56mm with the .22 Nosler. Shorter barrels and lighter bullets seem to favor the .22 Nosler, so those wanting an 18-inch barrel may be better served. Having compared the Valkyrie and a 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> out to 800 yards, I\u2019d say it is a solid competitor for PRS gas gun matches. As with many of these things, much will boil down to personal preference, and both will get the job done quite nicely, regardless of which one you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and nosler.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the 2019 Modern Gun issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. For digital editions, visit <\/em><\/strong>Amazon<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"224 Valkyrie: Is the Round Just Another Fast and Furious .223?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/02\/11\/224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":9},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Both the 70-grain RDF and 90-grain SMK ran using the H2 buffer and increased power spring without issue, with consistent brass ejection and very little felt recoil. Moving to the 85-grain RDF required a small adjustment at the gas block. Most lighter and much faster loads required the gas to be turned down a bit to keep it smooth. If you are going to run lots of different ammunition, use an adjustable gas block. Felt recoil was subjective, but it seemed the Valkyrie was \u201csofter\u201d with a somewhat slower bolt cycling time. Shooting rifles almost daily over years provides me a feel most people may not even notice, but to me it\u2019s there. The Valkyrie is a bit softer in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My initial thought was the 1-in-8-inch twist barrel may provide an issue for the 85-grain RDF, but nope, it ran like a champ and was very accurate. Granted, the 70-grain RDF was a tad more accurate and flatter than all the precision bullets, but the 85-grain RDF worked just fine with the faster twist. Having tested a 1-in-7-inch twist Wilson Combat .224 Valkyrie barrel, I was unable to discern any real difference. Both grouped well at 100 and 300 yards, and holds were the same at 1,308 yards. I am sure there is a difference, maybe over a broad spectrum, but either way the Wilson Combat barrels were excellent in this caliber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Handloading changes the game here, since you can speed these up quite a bit, but with the AR platform it won\u2019t be a done deal. I will be loading the Nosler 70- and 85-grain RDF for the Valkyrie for another project, and it will be interesting to see what, if any, difference there is. Bolt guns are starting to crop up as well, making handloading even more promising for either. Removing the cycling issue is huge. I\u2019m still not sure how big a game changer it is, but it does add another component to the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For most people, which one to choose is really going to be about personal preference. Outside support for the Valkyrie is better. Ammunition choice is about the same now, but the Valkyrie seems to be gathering steam. There are multitudes of differences in the minutiae. I have heard them far too often, from the case dimensions to the bolt faces. Most of us get lost about 2.5 seconds in and fall asleep. From a shooter\u2019s perspective they remain pretty similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a big 6.8 SPC shooter, the Valkyrie is a barrel swap. It\u2019s the same thing for those using 5.56mm with the .22 Nosler. Shorter barrels and lighter bullets seem to favor the .22 Nosler, so those wanting an 18-inch barrel may be better served. Having compared the Valkyrie and a 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> out to 800 yards, I\u2019d say it is a solid competitor for PRS gas gun matches. As with many of these things, much will boil down to personal preference, and both will get the job done quite nicely, regardless of which one you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and nosler.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the 2019 Modern Gun issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. For digital editions, visit <\/em><\/strong>Amazon<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"224 Valkyrie: Is the Round Just Another Fast and Furious .223?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/02\/11\/224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":9},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Nosler\u2019s 55-grain E-tip and Federal\u2019s 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip made about 3,330 fps from these barrels. Nosler\u2019s 62-grain Varmageddon measured 3,110 fps. Moving to a 24-inch barrel would increase these, as would handloads, possibly practical for prairie dogs or similar, but most of that crowd sees anything under 4,000 fps as slow, and I am just not sure that is either safe or possible with these calibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both the 70-grain RDF and 90-grain SMK ran using the H2 buffer and increased power spring without issue, with consistent brass ejection and very little felt recoil. Moving to the 85-grain RDF required a small adjustment at the gas block. Most lighter and much faster loads required the gas to be turned down a bit to keep it smooth. If you are going to run lots of different ammunition, use an adjustable gas block. Felt recoil was subjective, but it seemed the Valkyrie was \u201csofter\u201d with a somewhat slower bolt cycling time. Shooting rifles almost daily over years provides me a feel most people may not even notice, but to me it\u2019s there. The Valkyrie is a bit softer in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My initial thought was the 1-in-8-inch twist barrel may provide an issue for the 85-grain RDF, but nope, it ran like a champ and was very accurate. Granted, the 70-grain RDF was a tad more accurate and flatter than all the precision bullets, but the 85-grain RDF worked just fine with the faster twist. Having tested a 1-in-7-inch twist Wilson Combat .224 Valkyrie barrel, I was unable to discern any real difference. Both grouped well at 100 and 300 yards, and holds were the same at 1,308 yards. I am sure there is a difference, maybe over a broad spectrum, but either way the Wilson Combat barrels were excellent in this caliber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Handloading changes the game here, since you can speed these up quite a bit, but with the AR platform it won\u2019t be a done deal. I will be loading the Nosler 70- and 85-grain RDF for the Valkyrie for another project, and it will be interesting to see what, if any, difference there is. Bolt guns are starting to crop up as well, making handloading even more promising for either. Removing the cycling issue is huge. I\u2019m still not sure how big a game changer it is, but it does add another component to the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For most people, which one to choose is really going to be about personal preference. Outside support for the Valkyrie is better. Ammunition choice is about the same now, but the Valkyrie seems to be gathering steam. There are multitudes of differences in the minutiae. I have heard them far too often, from the case dimensions to the bolt faces. Most of us get lost about 2.5 seconds in and fall asleep. From a shooter\u2019s perspective they remain pretty similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a big 6.8 SPC shooter, the Valkyrie is a barrel swap. It\u2019s the same thing for those using 5.56mm with the .22 Nosler. Shorter barrels and lighter bullets seem to favor the .22 Nosler, so those wanting an 18-inch barrel may be better served. Having compared the Valkyrie and a 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> out to 800 yards, I\u2019d say it is a solid competitor for PRS gas gun matches. As with many of these things, much will boil down to personal preference, and both will get the job done quite nicely, regardless of which one you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and nosler.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the 2019 Modern Gun issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. For digital editions, visit <\/em><\/strong>Amazon<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"224 Valkyrie: Is the Round Just Another Fast and Furious .223?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/02\/11\/224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":9},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Both Nosler and Federal advertise their offerings as the ultimate .223 varmint hunting rounds with loads to match. Given that my 53-grain VMAX handload makes 3,200 fps from a 16-inch barrel and has been used to great effect on varmints, I am not sure that\u2019s really true. Opinions differ considerably on this subject. There is no doubt that both are faster than most factory ammunition from a .223, but whether that results in a practical difference will be argued ad nauseam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nosler\u2019s 55-grain E-tip and Federal\u2019s 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip made about 3,330 fps from these barrels. Nosler\u2019s 62-grain Varmageddon measured 3,110 fps. Moving to a 24-inch barrel would increase these, as would handloads, possibly practical for prairie dogs or similar, but most of that crowd sees anything under 4,000 fps as slow, and I am just not sure that is either safe or possible with these calibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both the 70-grain RDF and 90-grain SMK ran using the H2 buffer and increased power spring without issue, with consistent brass ejection and very little felt recoil. Moving to the 85-grain RDF required a small adjustment at the gas block. Most lighter and much faster loads required the gas to be turned down a bit to keep it smooth. If you are going to run lots of different ammunition, use an adjustable gas block. Felt recoil was subjective, but it seemed the Valkyrie was \u201csofter\u201d with a somewhat slower bolt cycling time. Shooting rifles almost daily over years provides me a feel most people may not even notice, but to me it\u2019s there. The Valkyrie is a bit softer in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My initial thought was the 1-in-8-inch twist barrel may provide an issue for the 85-grain RDF, but nope, it ran like a champ and was very accurate. Granted, the 70-grain RDF was a tad more accurate and flatter than all the precision bullets, but the 85-grain RDF worked just fine with the faster twist. Having tested a 1-in-7-inch twist Wilson Combat .224 Valkyrie barrel, I was unable to discern any real difference. Both grouped well at 100 and 300 yards, and holds were the same at 1,308 yards. I am sure there is a difference, maybe over a broad spectrum, but either way the Wilson Combat barrels were excellent in this caliber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Handloading changes the game here, since you can speed these up quite a bit, but with the AR platform it won\u2019t be a done deal. I will be loading the Nosler 70- and 85-grain RDF for the Valkyrie for another project, and it will be interesting to see what, if any, difference there is. Bolt guns are starting to crop up as well, making handloading even more promising for either. Removing the cycling issue is huge. I\u2019m still not sure how big a game changer it is, but it does add another component to the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For most people, which one to choose is really going to be about personal preference. Outside support for the Valkyrie is better. Ammunition choice is about the same now, but the Valkyrie seems to be gathering steam. There are multitudes of differences in the minutiae. I have heard them far too often, from the case dimensions to the bolt faces. Most of us get lost about 2.5 seconds in and fall asleep. From a shooter\u2019s perspective they remain pretty similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a big 6.8 SPC shooter, the Valkyrie is a barrel swap. It\u2019s the same thing for those using 5.56mm with the .22 Nosler. Shorter barrels and lighter bullets seem to favor the .22 Nosler, so those wanting an 18-inch barrel may be better served. Having compared the Valkyrie and a 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> out to 800 yards, I\u2019d say it is a solid competitor for PRS gas gun matches. As with many of these things, much will boil down to personal preference, and both will get the job done quite nicely, regardless of which one you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and nosler.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the 2019 Modern Gun issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. For digital editions, visit <\/em><\/strong>Amazon<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"224 Valkyrie: Is the Round Just Another Fast and Furious .223?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/02\/11\/224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":9},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Both Nosler and Federal advertise their offerings as the ultimate .223 varmint hunting rounds with loads to match. Given that my 53-grain VMAX handload makes 3,200 fps from a 16-inch barrel and has been used to great effect on varmints, I am not sure that\u2019s really true. Opinions differ considerably on this subject. There is no doubt that both are faster than most factory ammunition from a .223, but whether that results in a practical difference will be argued ad nauseam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nosler\u2019s 55-grain E-tip and Federal\u2019s 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip made about 3,330 fps from these barrels. Nosler\u2019s 62-grain Varmageddon measured 3,110 fps. Moving to a 24-inch barrel would increase these, as would handloads, possibly practical for prairie dogs or similar, but most of that crowd sees anything under 4,000 fps as slow, and I am just not sure that is either safe or possible with these calibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both the 70-grain RDF and 90-grain SMK ran using the H2 buffer and increased power spring without issue, with consistent brass ejection and very little felt recoil. Moving to the 85-grain RDF required a small adjustment at the gas block. Most lighter and much faster loads required the gas to be turned down a bit to keep it smooth. If you are going to run lots of different ammunition, use an adjustable gas block. Felt recoil was subjective, but it seemed the Valkyrie was \u201csofter\u201d with a somewhat slower bolt cycling time. Shooting rifles almost daily over years provides me a feel most people may not even notice, but to me it\u2019s there. The Valkyrie is a bit softer in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My initial thought was the 1-in-8-inch twist barrel may provide an issue for the 85-grain RDF, but nope, it ran like a champ and was very accurate. Granted, the 70-grain RDF was a tad more accurate and flatter than all the precision bullets, but the 85-grain RDF worked just fine with the faster twist. Having tested a 1-in-7-inch twist Wilson Combat .224 Valkyrie barrel, I was unable to discern any real difference. Both grouped well at 100 and 300 yards, and holds were the same at 1,308 yards. I am sure there is a difference, maybe over a broad spectrum, but either way the Wilson Combat barrels were excellent in this caliber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Handloading changes the game here, since you can speed these up quite a bit, but with the AR platform it won\u2019t be a done deal. I will be loading the Nosler 70- and 85-grain RDF for the Valkyrie for another project, and it will be interesting to see what, if any, difference there is. Bolt guns are starting to crop up as well, making handloading even more promising for either. Removing the cycling issue is huge. I\u2019m still not sure how big a game changer it is, but it does add another component to the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For most people, which one to choose is really going to be about personal preference. Outside support for the Valkyrie is better. Ammunition choice is about the same now, but the Valkyrie seems to be gathering steam. There are multitudes of differences in the minutiae. I have heard them far too often, from the case dimensions to the bolt faces. Most of us get lost about 2.5 seconds in and fall asleep. From a shooter\u2019s perspective they remain pretty similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a big 6.8 SPC shooter, the Valkyrie is a barrel swap. It\u2019s the same thing for those using 5.56mm with the .22 Nosler. Shorter barrels and lighter bullets seem to favor the .22 Nosler, so those wanting an 18-inch barrel may be better served. Having compared the Valkyrie and a 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> out to 800 yards, I\u2019d say it is a solid competitor for PRS gas gun matches. As with many of these things, much will boil down to personal preference, and both will get the job done quite nicely, regardless of which one you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and nosler.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the 2019 Modern Gun issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. For digital editions, visit <\/em><\/strong>Amazon<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"224 Valkyrie: Is the Round Just Another Fast and Furious .223?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/02\/11\/224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":9},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Comparing the heavier bullets from each manufacturer, the difference is minimal, well within errors made by the shooter or shifting conditions. Although this is verifiable, I am not sure most people would notice the difference. Running either caliber for a Precision Rifle Series (PRS) match or similar will yield the same results. Both RDF loads were consistently flatter out to 800 yards. Sierra\u2019s 90-grain SMK held 6.0 mils, the 85-grain RDF 5.7, the 70-grain 5.4, which was pretty significant on paper, marginally so as a practical matter. The .22 Nosler is nonetheless flatter out to 800 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Nosler and Federal advertise their offerings as the ultimate .223 varmint hunting rounds with loads to match. Given that my 53-grain VMAX handload makes 3,200 fps from a 16-inch barrel and has been used to great effect on varmints, I am not sure that\u2019s really true. Opinions differ considerably on this subject. There is no doubt that both are faster than most factory ammunition from a .223, but whether that results in a practical difference will be argued ad nauseam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nosler\u2019s 55-grain E-tip and Federal\u2019s 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip made about 3,330 fps from these barrels. Nosler\u2019s 62-grain Varmageddon measured 3,110 fps. Moving to a 24-inch barrel would increase these, as would handloads, possibly practical for prairie dogs or similar, but most of that crowd sees anything under 4,000 fps as slow, and I am just not sure that is either safe or possible with these calibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both the 70-grain RDF and 90-grain SMK ran using the H2 buffer and increased power spring without issue, with consistent brass ejection and very little felt recoil. Moving to the 85-grain RDF required a small adjustment at the gas block. Most lighter and much faster loads required the gas to be turned down a bit to keep it smooth. If you are going to run lots of different ammunition, use an adjustable gas block. Felt recoil was subjective, but it seemed the Valkyrie was \u201csofter\u201d with a somewhat slower bolt cycling time. Shooting rifles almost daily over years provides me a feel most people may not even notice, but to me it\u2019s there. The Valkyrie is a bit softer in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My initial thought was the 1-in-8-inch twist barrel may provide an issue for the 85-grain RDF, but nope, it ran like a champ and was very accurate. Granted, the 70-grain RDF was a tad more accurate and flatter than all the precision bullets, but the 85-grain RDF worked just fine with the faster twist. Having tested a 1-in-7-inch twist Wilson Combat .224 Valkyrie barrel, I was unable to discern any real difference. Both grouped well at 100 and 300 yards, and holds were the same at 1,308 yards. I am sure there is a difference, maybe over a broad spectrum, but either way the Wilson Combat barrels were excellent in this caliber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Handloading changes the game here, since you can speed these up quite a bit, but with the AR platform it won\u2019t be a done deal. I will be loading the Nosler 70- and 85-grain RDF for the Valkyrie for another project, and it will be interesting to see what, if any, difference there is. Bolt guns are starting to crop up as well, making handloading even more promising for either. Removing the cycling issue is huge. I\u2019m still not sure how big a game changer it is, but it does add another component to the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For most people, which one to choose is really going to be about personal preference. Outside support for the Valkyrie is better. Ammunition choice is about the same now, but the Valkyrie seems to be gathering steam. There are multitudes of differences in the minutiae. I have heard them far too often, from the case dimensions to the bolt faces. Most of us get lost about 2.5 seconds in and fall asleep. From a shooter\u2019s perspective they remain pretty similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a big 6.8 SPC shooter, the Valkyrie is a barrel swap. It\u2019s the same thing for those using 5.56mm with the .22 Nosler. Shorter barrels and lighter bullets seem to favor the .22 Nosler, so those wanting an 18-inch barrel may be better served. Having compared the Valkyrie and a 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> out to 800 yards, I\u2019d say it is a solid competitor for PRS gas gun matches. As with many of these things, much will boil down to personal preference, and both will get the job done quite nicely, regardless of which one you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and nosler.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the 2019 Modern Gun issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. For digital editions, visit <\/em><\/strong>Amazon<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"224 Valkyrie: Is the Round Just Another Fast and Furious .223?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/02\/11\/224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":9},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Comparing the heavier bullets from each manufacturer, the difference is minimal, well within errors made by the shooter or shifting conditions. Although this is verifiable, I am not sure most people would notice the difference. Running either caliber for a Precision Rifle Series (PRS) match or similar will yield the same results. Both RDF loads were consistently flatter out to 800 yards. Sierra\u2019s 90-grain SMK held 6.0 mils, the 85-grain RDF 5.7, the 70-grain 5.4, which was pretty significant on paper, marginally so as a practical matter. The .22 Nosler is nonetheless flatter out to 800 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Nosler and Federal advertise their offerings as the ultimate .223 varmint hunting rounds with loads to match. Given that my 53-grain VMAX handload makes 3,200 fps from a 16-inch barrel and has been used to great effect on varmints, I am not sure that\u2019s really true. Opinions differ considerably on this subject. There is no doubt that both are faster than most factory ammunition from a .223, but whether that results in a practical difference will be argued ad nauseam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nosler\u2019s 55-grain E-tip and Federal\u2019s 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip made about 3,330 fps from these barrels. Nosler\u2019s 62-grain Varmageddon measured 3,110 fps. Moving to a 24-inch barrel would increase these, as would handloads, possibly practical for prairie dogs or similar, but most of that crowd sees anything under 4,000 fps as slow, and I am just not sure that is either safe or possible with these calibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both the 70-grain RDF and 90-grain SMK ran using the H2 buffer and increased power spring without issue, with consistent brass ejection and very little felt recoil. Moving to the 85-grain RDF required a small adjustment at the gas block. Most lighter and much faster loads required the gas to be turned down a bit to keep it smooth. If you are going to run lots of different ammunition, use an adjustable gas block. Felt recoil was subjective, but it seemed the Valkyrie was \u201csofter\u201d with a somewhat slower bolt cycling time. Shooting rifles almost daily over years provides me a feel most people may not even notice, but to me it\u2019s there. The Valkyrie is a bit softer in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My initial thought was the 1-in-8-inch twist barrel may provide an issue for the 85-grain RDF, but nope, it ran like a champ and was very accurate. Granted, the 70-grain RDF was a tad more accurate and flatter than all the precision bullets, but the 85-grain RDF worked just fine with the faster twist. Having tested a 1-in-7-inch twist Wilson Combat .224 Valkyrie barrel, I was unable to discern any real difference. Both grouped well at 100 and 300 yards, and holds were the same at 1,308 yards. I am sure there is a difference, maybe over a broad spectrum, but either way the Wilson Combat barrels were excellent in this caliber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Handloading changes the game here, since you can speed these up quite a bit, but with the AR platform it won\u2019t be a done deal. I will be loading the Nosler 70- and 85-grain RDF for the Valkyrie for another project, and it will be interesting to see what, if any, difference there is. Bolt guns are starting to crop up as well, making handloading even more promising for either. Removing the cycling issue is huge. I\u2019m still not sure how big a game changer it is, but it does add another component to the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For most people, which one to choose is really going to be about personal preference. Outside support for the Valkyrie is better. Ammunition choice is about the same now, but the Valkyrie seems to be gathering steam. There are multitudes of differences in the minutiae. I have heard them far too often, from the case dimensions to the bolt faces. Most of us get lost about 2.5 seconds in and fall asleep. From a shooter\u2019s perspective they remain pretty similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a big 6.8 SPC shooter, the Valkyrie is a barrel swap. It\u2019s the same thing for those using 5.56mm with the .22 Nosler. Shorter barrels and lighter bullets seem to favor the .22 Nosler, so those wanting an 18-inch barrel may be better served. Having compared the Valkyrie and a 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> out to 800 yards, I\u2019d say it is a solid competitor for PRS gas gun matches. As with many of these things, much will boil down to personal preference, and both will get the job done quite nicely, regardless of which one you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and nosler.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the 2019 Modern Gun issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. For digital editions, visit <\/em><\/strong>Amazon<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"224 Valkyrie: Is the Round Just Another Fast and Furious .223?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/02\/11\/224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":9},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Nosler\u2019s 85-grain held true at 8.2 mils. This does not seem like much, but at 1,000 yards that can mean a miss. While its ballistic coefficient (BC) is lower (0.245 vs. 0.274) than the SMK\u2019s, it is making another 100 fps, which also makes a difference. Wind holds were the same, 1.25 to 1.35 mills as it shifted. Hold at 1,308 was listed as 13.5 mils and confirmed on steel holding the same 1.75 to 2.00 mils of wind. Interestingly, the 70-grain RDF confirmed at 8.2 mils at 1,000 yards, same as the 85-grain RDF, but increased to 14.5 at 1,308 yards. Its much lower BC (0.197 vs. 0.245) gave way to the 85-grain as range increased, in spite of its increased velocity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Comparing the heavier bullets from each manufacturer, the difference is minimal, well within errors made by the shooter or shifting conditions. Although this is verifiable, I am not sure most people would notice the difference. Running either caliber for a Precision Rifle Series (PRS) match or similar will yield the same results. Both RDF loads were consistently flatter out to 800 yards. Sierra\u2019s 90-grain SMK held 6.0 mils, the 85-grain RDF 5.7, the 70-grain 5.4, which was pretty significant on paper, marginally so as a practical matter. The .22 Nosler is nonetheless flatter out to 800 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Nosler and Federal advertise their offerings as the ultimate .223 varmint hunting rounds with loads to match. Given that my 53-grain VMAX handload makes 3,200 fps from a 16-inch barrel and has been used to great effect on varmints, I am not sure that\u2019s really true. Opinions differ considerably on this subject. There is no doubt that both are faster than most factory ammunition from a .223, but whether that results in a practical difference will be argued ad nauseam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nosler\u2019s 55-grain E-tip and Federal\u2019s 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip made about 3,330 fps from these barrels. Nosler\u2019s 62-grain Varmageddon measured 3,110 fps. Moving to a 24-inch barrel would increase these, as would handloads, possibly practical for prairie dogs or similar, but most of that crowd sees anything under 4,000 fps as slow, and I am just not sure that is either safe or possible with these calibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both the 70-grain RDF and 90-grain SMK ran using the H2 buffer and increased power spring without issue, with consistent brass ejection and very little felt recoil. Moving to the 85-grain RDF required a small adjustment at the gas block. Most lighter and much faster loads required the gas to be turned down a bit to keep it smooth. If you are going to run lots of different ammunition, use an adjustable gas block. Felt recoil was subjective, but it seemed the Valkyrie was \u201csofter\u201d with a somewhat slower bolt cycling time. Shooting rifles almost daily over years provides me a feel most people may not even notice, but to me it\u2019s there. The Valkyrie is a bit softer in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My initial thought was the 1-in-8-inch twist barrel may provide an issue for the 85-grain RDF, but nope, it ran like a champ and was very accurate. Granted, the 70-grain RDF was a tad more accurate and flatter than all the precision bullets, but the 85-grain RDF worked just fine with the faster twist. Having tested a 1-in-7-inch twist Wilson Combat .224 Valkyrie barrel, I was unable to discern any real difference. Both grouped well at 100 and 300 yards, and holds were the same at 1,308 yards. I am sure there is a difference, maybe over a broad spectrum, but either way the Wilson Combat barrels were excellent in this caliber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Handloading changes the game here, since you can speed these up quite a bit, but with the AR platform it won\u2019t be a done deal. I will be loading the Nosler 70- and 85-grain RDF for the Valkyrie for another project, and it will be interesting to see what, if any, difference there is. Bolt guns are starting to crop up as well, making handloading even more promising for either. Removing the cycling issue is huge. I\u2019m still not sure how big a game changer it is, but it does add another component to the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For most people, which one to choose is really going to be about personal preference. Outside support for the Valkyrie is better. Ammunition choice is about the same now, but the Valkyrie seems to be gathering steam. There are multitudes of differences in the minutiae. I have heard them far too often, from the case dimensions to the bolt faces. Most of us get lost about 2.5 seconds in and fall asleep. From a shooter\u2019s perspective they remain pretty similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a big 6.8 SPC shooter, the Valkyrie is a barrel swap. It\u2019s the same thing for those using 5.56mm with the .22 Nosler. Shorter barrels and lighter bullets seem to favor the .22 Nosler, so those wanting an 18-inch barrel may be better served. Having compared the Valkyrie and a 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> out to 800 yards, I\u2019d say it is a solid competitor for PRS gas gun matches. As with many of these things, much will boil down to personal preference, and both will get the job done quite nicely, regardless of which one you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and nosler.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the 2019 Modern Gun issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. For digital editions, visit <\/em><\/strong>Amazon<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"224 Valkyrie: Is the Round Just Another Fast and Furious .223?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:18:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/02\/11\/224-valkyrie-round-just-another-fast-223\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":9},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Nosler\u2019s 85-grain held true at 8.2 mils. This does not seem like much, but at 1,000 yards that can mean a miss. While its ballistic coefficient (BC) is lower (0.245 vs. 0.274) than the SMK\u2019s, it is making another 100 fps, which also makes a difference. Wind holds were the same, 1.25 to 1.35 mills as it shifted. Hold at 1,308 was listed as 13.5 mils and confirmed on steel holding the same 1.75 to 2.00 mils of wind. Interestingly, the 70-grain RDF confirmed at 8.2 mils at 1,000 yards, same as the 85-grain RDF, but increased to 14.5 at 1,308 yards. Its much lower BC (0.197 vs. 0.245) gave way to the 85-grain as range increased, in spite of its increased velocity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Comparing the heavier bullets from each manufacturer, the difference is minimal, well within errors made by the shooter or shifting conditions. Although this is verifiable, I am not sure most people would notice the difference. Running either caliber for a Precision Rifle Series (PRS) match or similar will yield the same results. Both RDF loads were consistently flatter out to 800 yards. Sierra\u2019s 90-grain SMK held 6.0 mils, the 85-grain RDF 5.7, the 70-grain 5.4, which was pretty significant on paper, marginally so as a practical matter. The .22 Nosler is nonetheless flatter out to 800 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Nosler and Federal advertise their offerings as the ultimate .223 varmint hunting rounds with loads to match. Given that my 53-grain VMAX handload makes 3,200 fps from a 16-inch barrel and has been used to great effect on varmints, I am not sure that\u2019s really true. Opinions differ considerably on this subject. There is no doubt that both are faster than most factory ammunition from a .223, but whether that results in a practical difference will be argued ad nauseam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nosler\u2019s 55-grain E-tip and Federal\u2019s 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip made about 3,330 fps from these barrels. Nosler\u2019s 62-grain Varmageddon measured 3,110 fps. Moving to a 24-inch barrel would increase these, as would handloads, possibly practical for prairie dogs or similar, but most of that crowd sees anything under 4,000 fps as slow, and I am just not sure that is either safe or possible with these calibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both the 70-grain RDF and 90-grain SMK ran using the H2 buffer and increased power spring without issue, with consistent brass ejection and very little felt recoil. Moving to the 85-grain RDF required a small adjustment at the gas block. Most lighter and much faster loads required the gas to be turned down a bit to keep it smooth. If you are going to run lots of different ammunition, use an adjustable gas block. Felt recoil was subjective, but it seemed the Valkyrie was \u201csofter\u201d with a somewhat slower bolt cycling time. Shooting rifles almost daily over years provides me a feel most people may not even notice, but to me it\u2019s there. The Valkyrie is a bit softer in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My initial thought was the 1-in-8-inch twist barrel may provide an issue for the 85-grain RDF, but nope, it ran like a champ and was very accurate. Granted, the 70-grain RDF was a tad more accurate and flatter than all the precision bullets, but the 85-grain RDF worked just fine with the faster twist. Having tested a 1-in-7-inch twist Wilson Combat .224 Valkyrie barrel, I was unable to discern any real difference. Both grouped well at 100 and 300 yards, and holds were the same at 1,308 yards. I am sure there is a difference, maybe over a broad spectrum, but either way the Wilson Combat barrels were excellent in this caliber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Handloading changes the game here, since you can speed these up quite a bit, but with the AR platform it won\u2019t be a done deal. I will be loading the Nosler 70- and 85-grain RDF for the Valkyrie for another project, and it will be interesting to see what, if any, difference there is. Bolt guns are starting to crop up as well, making handloading even more promising for either. Removing the cycling issue is huge. I\u2019m still not sure how big a game changer it is, but it does add another component to the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For most people, which one to choose is really going to be about personal preference. Outside support for the Valkyrie is better. Ammunition choice is about the same now, but the Valkyrie seems to be gathering steam. There are multitudes of differences in the minutiae. I have heard them far too often, from the case dimensions to the bolt faces. Most of us get lost about 2.5 seconds in and fall asleep. From a shooter\u2019s perspective they remain pretty similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a big 6.8 SPC shooter, the Valkyrie is a barrel swap. It\u2019s the same thing for those using 5.56mm with the .22 Nosler. Shorter barrels and lighter bullets seem to favor the .22 Nosler, so those wanting an 18-inch barrel may be better served. Having compared the Valkyrie and a 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> out to 800 yards, I\u2019d say it is a solid competitor for PRS gas gun matches. As with many of these things, much will boil down to personal preference, and both will get the job done quite nicely, regardless of which one you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and nosler.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the 2019 Modern Gun issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>
BROWSE BY BRAND
BROWSE BY BRAND
Final Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
Final Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
Handloading 224 Valkyrie Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Final Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
Handloading 224 Valkyrie Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Final Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
Handloading 224 Valkyrie Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Final Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
224 Valkyrie Round Considerations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Handloading 224 Valkyrie Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Final Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
224 Valkyrie Round Considerations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Handloading 224 Valkyrie Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Final Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
224 Valkyrie Round Considerations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Handloading 224 Valkyrie Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Final Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
224 Valkyrie Varmint Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
224 Valkyrie Round Considerations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Handloading 224 Valkyrie Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Final Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
224 Valkyrie Varmint Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
224 Valkyrie Round Considerations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Handloading 224 Valkyrie Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Final Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
![\"224](\"https:\/\/cdn.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2019\/02\/VAL_Nosler_Closeup.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n224 Valkyrie Varmint Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
224 Valkyrie Round Considerations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Handloading 224 Valkyrie Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Final Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n224 Valkyrie Varmint Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
224 Valkyrie Round Considerations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Handloading 224 Valkyrie Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Final Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
Holds & BCs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n224 Valkyrie Varmint Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
224 Valkyrie Round Considerations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Handloading 224 Valkyrie Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Final Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n