TheDomFather
Member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2017
- Messages
- 469
Finally got my rifle assembled and time to start reloading take a look and let me know if you have any feedback, suggestions or comments!
Thanks,
Dom
Thanks,
Dom
Where did you get load data for H4350? Thanks,I have tried varget, h4350, tac, power pro 2000, and cfe223...
Mine runs the best with an 80gr eld over 25.7 gr tac... 2880fps and a laser @ 700yds.
It has made a 5 shot sub 5" group at that distance.
Thanks Kaldor, I just ordered some Power pro 2000 MR, Reloader 17. big game and some win 760, I have 4895 and 8208 so we will try them all If I cant get velocities above 2700 FPS with 1/2" groups then its not worth a crap. I will keep an eye on the brass and primer pockets as well. I will keep everyone updated as there is very little out there on .224 valkyrie.Good video Dom. Still not 100% sold on the Valk being as great as they claim. Accuracy seems to be hit or miss, as in a good rifle once you hit your point where you have a load dialed in, you should be seeing 1/2" or better groups on a consistent basis. Most info Ive seen the brass seems to get beat up at higher loads, primer pocket life seems to be down. And in alot of cases, shooting bullets in the 77gr and lower range, guys are having trouble getting much above a 223 load for velocity.
I wouldnt write powders like 8208 or 4895 off too quickly. Might be worth a try as they only just a little slower than Varget and CFE223.
Thanks Kaldor, I just ordered some Power pro 2000 MR, Reloader 17. big game and some win 760, I have 4895 and 8208 so we will try them all If I cant get velocities above 2700 FPS with 1/2" groups then its not worth a crap. I will keep an eye on the brass and primer pockets as well. I will keep everyone updated as there is very little out there on .224 valkyrie.
It’s kinda silly for folks to condemn the .224 valk based on poor results by a few random straw samples. It’s no harder on brass than 6.8spc ever was, and getting an accurate barrel is a matter of a proper chamber and twist - high precision 22cal rifles is nothing new, and 22 valk isn’t outside of the realm of existing experience. It’s a dog compared to several bolt action cartridges. Many new valk shooters are hot-to-trot bandwagon jumpers, without sufficient reloading experience to produce bughole groups no matter which cartridge they shoot. Others might buy a 1:7” twist and feed it long body 90’s over too fast of powder such they don’t get the speed needed to stabilize. That’s no fault of the cartridge.
Nobody should sell their 223rem to buy a Valk, it’s not that much better. But discounting the ability to buy junk surplus ammo and brass, and discounting any need to shoot factory ammo, there isn’t any reason to say a .223rem is decidedly better than the Valk. If a guy is buying a new barrel or rifle, it’s a coin flip at worst, and all performance advantages lean towards the Valk.
1/2" is my gold standard for my guns that I shoot from a bench, so yeah, that sounds good.
Random straw samples? Where? I havent seen guys printing groups sub 1/2" or better anywhere on a regular basis. And almost every reloading article or video Ive seen seem to struggle with accuracy, and primer pockets loosening up. Thats a concern. And Im not talking about guys using H335 with 90gr bullets either with a $200 PSA upper.
I want one, but only if it performs, and even then I probably wont build it on an AR platform.
What kind of results are you seeing?I use tac and 80eld
Twist is 1:7 this seems to be the problem, Spoke to Sierra a short while ago and they told me "most" barrels with a 1:7 twist will stabilize the 90gr SMK above 2650 FPS.What's the twist rate on the barrel? Have you measured it?
Note that Sierra says the minimum twist rate for their 90 SMK is 1-in-6.5. Berger says their 90 grainer requires a 1-in-6. It's possible that you are only minimally stabilized.
Agreed, I am going to work up loads only at the higher end of the data which should all be over 2650 and we will then see if we find some accuracy. I called Sierra and thats what they told me. I will also work up the 88gr ELD-M. Hornady tells me they are designed to work in a 1:7 and the BC is very close to the SMK.Berger’s calculator shows the 90 SMK at 2650 to be more than sufficiently stabilized in a 1:7”.
Something is wonky. The Valkyrie is new, but the 90 SMK is not. Lots of us have been shooting that bullet for a few years now out of long throated 223rem Match and Service Rifles. I’ve had happy groups with the 90 SMK out of 1:7” 223rem’s without even pushing the gas pedal, running something around 2500fps (can get quite a bit faster).
In other words, I’m not buying the “1:7” twist is the problem” theory. If that Valk isn’t running fast enough, then our 223’s certainly would not be either - but they ARE.
Magazine fed, I have yet to measure depth to the lands. I will need to make up a dummy round for that. I have been running at 2.260"The depth of the rifling and the number of lands, the leads all come into play too. I've seen barrels with shallow lands not stabilize a bullet of the same twist rate.
I would think a 1:7 is what's needed to stabilize the 90gr SMK.
What jump to lands are you using? Magazine fed?