224 valkyrie cfe 223 load data

J. Scott Rupp takes a first look at the Springfield M1A Loaded rifle chambered in the popular 6.5 Creedmoor. (I fully admit that shooter error is a potential factor.) Serious handloaders know the importance of quality cases for accurate ammo. Rifle #2 was only slightly less accurate, averaging .94 inch for all loads tested, and only five came in over an inchstill impressive performance. Bullet: Berger 22 Caliber 80.5 Grain Fullbore Target. For this review, I borrowed two additional rifles that are prototypes from a major American manufacturer. Notes:1. Hodgdon Trail Boss: Is it Useful for Modern Sporting Rifles? The only problem with this solution was the limitations of 5.56 NATO case itself. There was no additional work needed to use the AR barrel, and gunsmith John Gallagher performed the needed modifications to the CZ 527. (Above) Starline brass makes cases for a host of handgun and rifle cartridges, including the new .224 Valkyrie. Minuteman. We obtained this information with a MagnetoSpeed chronograph, which has alwaysprovided consistent results in our testing.Speed is important for this particular cartridge, as it plays a major rolefor this round's intended purpose. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. .224 Valkyrie reloading data with 160 loads. The average weight of the sample cases was 115.1 grains, with an ES of 2.5 grains, and an SD of .7198 grain. The increased surface area allows the gun to cool faster. Being a spherical powder, metering is superbly accurate. CFE 223 yields top velocities in many cartridges such as the 204 Ruger, 223 Remington/5.56mm NATO, 22-250 Remington and the 308 Winchester/7.62mm NATO, plus many, many more. 80.5's still have some possibilities with small changes. Moving on to the 88-grain ELD MATCH rounds, we decided to change from IMR 8208 to Hodgdon Varget. 0000001896 00000 n More accuracy can be achieved by adjusting seating depth, but it certainly will be a shooter. New Starline cases are treated with a corrosion inhibitor. I decided to rebarrel two of my guns, and Lothar-Walther USA provided two stainless-steel barrels chambered for the new round. Is this the kind of information anyone here is interested in? 0000031612 00000 n I hoped performing that step would also fully prep the Hornady once-fired primer pockets. CFE-223: Subscribe: 2662: Remarks: COAL (inches): 2.140; 5-shot 100-yard group (inches): 1.75 77: Nosler Custom Competition: Hodgdon: Fortunately, I had a stuck-case-remover kit on hand and was able to undo my mistake. The different brands of brass weighed almost exactly the same, so I didnt need to adjust charge weights to accommodate capacity differences. Introduced by Federal in 2017 and approved by SAAMI in 2018, the new 224 Valkyriehas been quickly adopted by long-range shooters. 0000006276 00000 n Starting with the 60-grain V-Max loads, we fired our five-round groups and hit a node at 26.9 grains, giving us a group that measured just inside of an inch. Joseph VonBenedikt is with Joel Hodgdon to talk about the improved accuracy and long-range potential of the already reliable Core-Lokt ammo line. I will not post velocities (I don't care about velocity, only accuracy.) Uniform case necks are important, and the Starline cases did well in this measurement too. I tried wiping off excess lube before sizing and removed too much on one case and it seized in the sizer die. 22 PPC does better on performance. This is my favorite powder for .223 Rem & 224 Valkyrie. So far both bullets perform well. However, Lane easily duplicated the ballistics of factory-loaded ammunition. In my testing, both rifles were usually accurate with 88- and 90-grain handloads, but each was somewhat sporadic. I never could get very tight ES with it . As far as potential uses go, outside of target-shooting, I personally wouldn't use a light bullet for deer-sized game, but people certainly have done it over the years, and the 224 Valkyrie would indeed make a clean kill with good shot placement. Some writers have described the Valkyrie as a scaled down Creedmoor. However, the Valkyrie case is derived from a slightly shortened 6.8 SPC case, necked-down to .22 caliber. Along with 308. I have used Starline cases in numerous cartridges for years and have been impressed with their performance and uniformity. In the future, I may do some work with one to seewhat the best-possible accuracy and range can be had out of this cartridge.Only time will tell what our 224 Valkyrie handloads will do. Here is Rowland's account of how he developed a .223 Rem load. *j. I repeatedly experienced lube dents in most of the first batch of cases I resized. I acquired a set of Redding competition dies that includes both full-length-sizing and neck-sizing dies and a micrometer-adjustment seating die. This will likely be my last post for the CFE 80.5 and 85 grain loads. A new Starline .224 Valkyrie case head. A very economical American Eagle load with a 75-grain FMJ bullet is available for blasting ammo, and the varmint hunter is covered with a Nosler 60-grain Ballistic Tip load. While new load data will continue to be updated on Hodgdon's Reloading Data Center, the new 224 Valkyrie data is available at www.HodgdonReloading.com. /wp-content/uploads/2017/02/imr_stickylogo_red.png. 4 . However, a standard 6.8 SPC mag is recommended and will function without any issue. While theyre not geared to the long-range crowd, they are light enough to be toted over hill and dale by varmint hunters, and theyd sure be a prairie dog or coyotes worst nightmare. This allows you to load the longest, heaviest .224-caliber bullets and still feed reliably from an AR15-type magazine. Both have 22-inch barrrels, and 6.5-inch twists.2. As you can see in the performance chart, I test-fired factory ammo and handloads topped with only the heavier .22-caliber bullets. 0000009486 00000 n The RL15 sucked at 25.4 with 3 moa, the upped charge at 25.9 grouped it at around 1 moa+-. 0000035033 00000 n 0000099446 00000 n containers. Sierras data covers the broad range of its extensive product line, and Federals recipes are limited but appear somewhat more aggressive. Whether such an arm would crowd out the .223 or 22-250 Remingtons is a question that can be only answered in the marketplace. I set about acquiring an AR-style and a bolt-action rifle chambered for the new cartridge so that I could work up some handloads. The Sierra 77-grain Tipped MatchKing over 27.0 grains of CFE 223 registered 2,933 fps and averaged a tidy .77 inch. Im a bit confused by your statement you do dont care about velocity only accuracy. However, a standard 6.8 SPC mag is recommended and will function without any issue. Jul 13, 2012 1,535 581 33 . A lot of recent cartridge and rifle development has been geared to long-range shooting. (Of course, what is considered long range means different things to different shooters). It meters good and gives good velocity, if I was cranking out hundreds of rounds of AR type blaster ammo I wouldn't hesitate to use it. I measured the neck thickness at five points around the neck with an RCBS ball micrometer and averaged the results for each case for its measurement. The resulting average neck thickness of all 50 cases was .0139 inch, with an extreme spread of .0014 inch. With a slower round that's dropping faster, 25 yards of error in range estimation could be the difference between a hit and a miss with asteeper, rainbow-style trajectory. This data is available for 80 different loads featuring 50- to 90-grain bullet options (from Hornady, Nosler, Federal, Swift and Sierra) and powders from Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester. At more than 3,000 fps, this is sure to send a prairie dog flying off a mound. of Israeli Defense Forces, joins David Fortier for an exclusive interview for Shotgun News. Over the years, I've always been able to fine-tune cartridges to run better than factory ammo, and I was certain this cartridge wouldn't be any different or so I thought. ALL Bulletin content is copyrighted, 2023 AccurateShooter.com. This data is available for 80 different loads featuring 50- to 90-grain bullet options (from Hornady, Nosler, Federal, Swift and Sierra) and powders from Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester. Although 100-yard results arent mind-blowing, this round will still outperform others at distance, because it is less susceptible to wind drift. Metering it is effortless and very consistent. For this report, I first did some metrics on a sample of 50 new Starline .224 Valkyrie cases. So maybe the .224 Valkyries higher velocities with long, heavy bullets will carve out a unique niche in the shooting ecosystem, as theres no denying that the new round has the potential to hold its own on the range or in the field. I have been through the wringer on a few different load developments, but this one really had us thrown for a loop. 2520 was solid with both 25.8 and 26.3 both yeilding around 1 moa. })(); To comment on a post, click Post Title or "Comment" Link. The Valkyrie has spawned a crop of new, high-tech bullets, including (from left): Hornady 70-grain GMX, Hornady 75-grain ELD Match, Hornady 80-grain ELD Match, Hornady 88-grain ELD Match, Sierra 77-grain Tipped MatchKing, Sierra 80-grain MatchKing, Sierra 90-grain MatchKing, Nosler 64-grain Bonded Solid Base, and Nosler 77-grain Custom Competition. Abbreviations: TSX-BT, Triple Shock-X Boat Tail; GMX, Gilding Metal eXpanding; ELD-M, Extremely Low Drag RDF, Reduced Drag Factro; CC, Custom Competition; BT, Boat Tail; TMK, Tipped MatchKing; SS, Semi Spitzer. XcPNH) :X?X$?K l21\b8'k>. Learn more here: http://bit.ly/1G7xXag. You may not reproduce original text or photos without advanced permission in writing. 0000047766 00000 n 0000087166 00000 n This data is available for 80 different loads featuring 50- to 90-grain bullet options (from Hornady, Nosler, Federal, Swift and Sierra) and powders from Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester . Looks nearly identical to the .223 Ackley Improved. Interesting data. The company distributes gunpowder under the Hodgdon, IMR, Winchester and Goex brands. While new load data will continue to be updated on Hodgdons Reloading Data Center, this new 224 Valkyriedata is available immediately at www.HodgdonReloading.com. Most critically, case length (base to mouth) is short enough to allow loading super-sleek, high-BC bullets with long, fine-entry ogives. The average length of these cases was 1.5906 inches, with an extreme spread of only .0095 inch, and an SD of .0016 inch. All Shooting Times subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. : 3,213 3,480 Press. These are excellent bullets, but these lighter bullets are a few bubbles off the .224 Valkyries heavy bullet paradigm. Using bullets from Nosler Varmageddon, Speer Gold Dot, Nosler Custom Competition, Hornady ELD-Match, Berger VLD Target. If you own an AR, youve probably heard of the hot, new .224 Valkyrie cartridge. This is where ballistic coefficient is king. Give a Gift What seating depth is actually doingactual node or just pass/fail? Since I haven't had any feedback I am simply curious. Values in green indicate MAXIMUM loads use CAUTION. Lighter and tougher and more precise than ever, it's the perfect back country hunting rifle. Varget hits the sweet spot for the best performance in this cartridge.. Are there any AR15 uppers or even barrels for 22 PPC? "Shooting heavier bullets, in an AR-platform rifle, that maintain supersonic speeds beyond 1,300 yards has captured the interest of shooters and handloaders everywhere. .224 Valkyrie (Load Development) reloading data with 60 loads. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. So much for over spin from the fast twists. Check out this chart from Federal showing comparative recoil levels: * All the following powders were tested, but not all for each bullet weight: Accurate 2520, Accurate XMR 2495, Accurate 4064, Hodgdon AR Comp, Hodgdon Benchmark, Hodgdon CFE 223, Hodgdon H335, Hodgdon H380, Hodgdon H4895, Hodgdon Varget, IMR 4064, IMR 4166, IMR 8208 XBR, Power Pro 2000 MR, Power Pro Varmint, Ramshot Big Game, Ramshot TAC, Reloder 10X, Reloder 15, Reloder 17, Vihtavuori N540, Winchester 760. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program. INDICATES MAXIMUM LOAD USE WITH CAUTION Ri e Data 224Vea lki yr 30 1.3307.256.256.4031.4207.049.358 .200.422 1.2033 1.600 224Va ek i yrl Ri e . The rest of the process typified reloading any other bottlenecked rifle case. Up until recently, the only means to send a heavy .224-inch bullet was to either single-load or run it out of a bolt gun. Hodgdon Powder Company announced the launch of load data for the new 224 Valkyrie cartridge, now available on Hodgdon's Reloading Data Center at www.HodgdonReloading.com. Whatever works for you. The company distributes gunpowder under the Hodgdon, IMR, Winchester and Goex brands. We never did figure out how big those groups werebecause we couldnt keep five shots on an 8.5x11-inch target.Something was very wrong, so we packed up and did some investigation. What powder are you getting the best results with 224 Valkyrie? This certainly speeds up the process and allows for the use of progressive reloading presses. The Valkyrie and the Creedmoor have several similar features of case design that make them both great cartridges. Reports of similar results here and there have been noted in the online grapevine. 0000100071 00000 n Learn more about the brands at these websites www.Hodgdon.com, www.IMRPowder.com, www.WWPowder.com or www.GoexPowder.com and connect with the Hodgdon brand on Facebook or YouTube. 80.5 Bergers & 85 Nosler RDF with CFE-223, Re: 80.5 Bergers & 85 Nosler RDF with CFE-223, Quote from: 1000 yrd guy on August 08, 2019, 04:13:28 AM, Quote from: Alaska_guy on August 12, 2019, 12:27:46 PM, Quote from: igotta40 on August 28, 2019, 10:29:49 PM. With Sierras remarkable new 95-grain MatchKing, this gives the little Valkyrie long-range performance that can rival some much larger cartridge types. High-velocity rounds generate more heat, and this addition might mean the difference between taking that extra shot or sitting out. After a quick swap, we headed back to the range and duplicated our test parameters. Buy CFE 223 copper fouling eraser directly from Hodgdon. Location. Custom Mossberg 500 at the Range and Live Turkey!. Federal's .224 Valkyrie was designed to fit, feed, and fire in the popular AR-15 platform. I have never weighed my projectiles when reloading. Our takeaway for the Valkyrie handloading project is that this is a very viable and interesting round for handloaders. Download Sierras Full 4-page PDF to view all the data, including load information for Sierras new 95gr .224-caliber MatchKing with claimed 0.600 G1 BC. 0000035400 00000 n Federal spent considerable time and energy developing a smaller cartridge to duplicate (and even improve upon) the Creedmoors impressive ballistics. Interestingly, both rifles shot most loads with varmint-weight bullets pretty well. Loads for 20 bullet types and 22 powders* are listed. | . You need a 6.8 SPC mag for this. The 55-grain BT clocked 3,209 fps with 26.3 grains of IMR-8208XBR and averaged .54 inch. 0000011356 00000 n I'll be testing anyway. I have loaded a fair bit of it in .223. With the 90gr SMK, the .224 Valkyrie offers ballistics similar to the 6.5 Creedmoor but with significantly less felt recoil. 0000080878 00000 n Sierra's .224 Valkyrie load data covers projectiles from 50 grain all the way up to 95 grains. I just thought it might be helpful to some even though everyone has a different setup. trailer <<4FA34A0A29BC45DBA22CD0DCBD951645>]/Prev 114384>> startxref 0 %%EOF 86 0 obj <>stream We installed this drop-in trigger in minutes right at the bench and were just about ready to go.We rested our build on a Champion V-Bag in the front and a Champion Wedge Bag in the rear. Make sure to watch till the end. Federal was happy to provide us with the same brass that the company uses in its factory ammunition. Varget 24.3 was a 1+- moa, 24.8 opened it up to 1.5. 0000000016 00000 n 0000035008 00000 n Graciously, the company supplied me with one for testing and I left with it that day. At Hodgdon, weve been researching this cartridge since before its introduction and are excited to release load data for the Valkyrie featuring powders like Hodgdon CFE 223, IMR 8208 XBRand Hodgdon Varget. The rim diameter of both rounds is .442 inch. We took a cartridge that offers less wind drift, drop and recoil and added the accuracy and consistency that made Hornady famous! However, the most popular solution has always been to load a standard 5.56 NATO with a heavier bullet. We began zeroing and immediately realized something was off. I still had to use the RCBS Trim Mate crimp remover so the primers could be properly seated later without damage. Those loads have factory-rated muzzle velocities of 3,300 fps, 3,000 fps, 2,700 fps, and 2,700 fps respectively. As I see it, Federals plan for the .224 Valkyrie seems to be geared to that long-range shooting weve discussed, and factory ammo reflects that. _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-6323545-2']); The author uses C Products Defense magazines as they. Introduced by Federal in 2017 and approved by SAAMI in 2018, the new 224 Valkyriehas been quickly adopted by long-range shooters. Established in 1947 by Bruce and Amy Hodgdon, today, sons JB and Bob have grown Hodgdon Powder Company into the largest US supplier of smokeless, blackpowder and blackpowder substitute propellants. This sounded plausible to me and our targets certainly support that, especially since we used a budget upper receiver. (Above) Test handloads were prepared with RCBS dies.