I'm new to the forum and thought I'd get the first post out of the way. I'm currently building a 224 Valkyrie caliber AR-15. I'm in a bind because I'm trying to figure out the best buffer set up to use. I'm getting the Magpul ubr gen 2 stock which allows you to use either a carbine or A5 length buffer set up with it. I've got a rifle length gas system on my barrel without an adjustable block. Anybody have some advise for me??
224 Valkyrie Buffer Systems
- Thread starter M*298
- Start date
Welcome! I'd go with a JP Silent Captured Spring like I did on all my other rifles. The SCS really quiets down buffer noise and smooths out the recoil impulse. It will come with a white spacer so you can use it as is in carbine length tubes or with the spacer in a rifle length tube. Good luck with the Valkyrie. It's definitely a fun little cartridge.
^^^100% this ^^^^ I have one in all my gas guns and it's a marked improvement over a standard buffer/spring system. Tuneable and ultra smooth.
Some say you can make a standard system feel like an SCS, but I've tried my damnedest and have yet to find that to be true. JP SCS is the way to go. Build your system with an adjustable gas block and the JP SCS with spring kit and you can fine tune cycling to your exact needs.
Which JP SCS do you recommend for that build? The only difference in my build is that I have the adjustable gas block.
In my experience the carbine length tubes and buffer systems don’t work well with Valkyrie. I built an upper and before finishing my rifle length lower, put it on a carbine lower to test. Had some issues with the bolt not locking back and feed problems. After finishing the rifle length lower and using it, the problems went away. Could be an isolated case but thought it was worth mentioning.
Thanks for the heads-up. I've been in contact with the folks at JP, and they recommended the heavy version of their SCS. They said it should work fine with a carbine length buffer and an adjustable gas block.
I wasn’t running an adjustable gas block. With that option you should have a lot of flexibility with the buffer system. Let us know how it works out.
Order 1 or 2 of their steel weights as well, just in case the heavy is too heavy...
In addition to the good advice you got above, you could also consider their adjustable mass bolt carrier group. That would allow you to tune the weight of not only the buffer but also the bolt carrier itself. That’s the set up i am running on mine.
New to the forum. I have a 224, I’m running a 22” 6.5 barrel. 75 grain eldm. I have a superlative arms adjustable gas block. I use a supressor. And a “lighter” nickel boron bcg. It shoots Great. But it’s dirty. I currently have a tubs flat spring.
I would like to get the Armaspec stealth spring, but not sure which weight to use. I want minimum recoil but enough push for proper feeding and as little gas blowback as possible.
Any suggestions on buffer weight for the stealth?
I would like to get the Armaspec stealth spring, but not sure which weight to use. I want minimum recoil but enough push for proper feeding and as little gas blowback as possible.
Any suggestions on buffer weight for the stealth?
I run it with 2 tungsten and 1 steel weight along with a superlative AGB. Rifle length +2 gas
I have two 18" barreled uppers in 224V. They both have rifle+1 gas tubes. I use a standard carbine buffer and a lightweight Sprinco spring in them.
Even with that spring/buffer combination, I have the gas block opened up to almost max, just to get last round hold open.
My experience with the 224V is it's a very soft shooting round.
I can't imagine needing a heavier buffer or spring, but you just need to find a place to start and test your way through the various components.
Even with that spring/buffer combination, I have the gas block opened up to almost max, just to get last round hold open.
My experience with the 224V is it's a very soft shooting round.
I can't imagine needing a heavier buffer or spring, but you just need to find a place to start and test your way through the various components.
Reading through this thread it seems that the Valkyrie is not too difficult to tune. I laid out on paper my configuration before I ordered parts and after assembly it all worked nicely from the get go.
I found Federal ammo would cycle with normal AR setups, but Hornady Match is a pain in the arse. My 18", R+1GS running an A5 setup needed a A5H0 buffer, lightweight BCG and a carbine spring to cycle reliably. My 22" RLGS with a rifle buffer setup has the same issues, and needs some work for the Hornady ammo.
I found this to be true, in that Federal ammo is hotter and cycles well in a standard setup. Since I wanted to shoot Hornady, I had to just go to the lightest spring on my SCS setup and crank my adjustable gas block up for maximum gas. This is in a 22” barrel with +2 gas. It cycles perfectly now with the Hornady and similar hand loads.
Obviously, there’s more than one way to get the same results, but this works well for me.
I don't much about powders, but I feel Hornady uses a fast burning powder. I had a lot that wouldn't cycle, but also presented over-pressure signs. Hornady tested the lot, confirmed it was HOT and replaced it. So, even loaded above spec pressure it still wouldn't cycle reliably. I'm thinking the powder must burn fast, leaving less pressure at the gas port for a given peak chamber pressure.
How does the brass look with with the +2. Mine is 20" rifle length, it leaves some light extractor marks.
I haven’t had it out in a while, but don’t remember any issues. I’ll go look at some of the brass and get back to you.
Okay, so the Hornady Brass looks good, but the Federal brass does show those light extractor marks you mentioned. That’s with the current spring and gas block settings, optimized for the Hornady match ammo.
I can’t remember at all what the original federal brass looked like.
FWIW I get light ejector swipes on about half of the factory 88 ELD loads. They are slow as hell to boot, 2506 last time I checked some.
Same for factory FGMM 80.5 Berger & it runs 2759.
Hand loads with same 80.5 bullet plus Lever are running 2875 - 2920 (brass dependent) with similar swipes. I get swipes (not burrs) on most 88 ELD hand loads using Lever, but they are running 2690 - 2740. Lever is gassy & I've just accepted the fact that AR's typically make at least light swipes. Reducing head space for .002-.003 shoulder bump made a big difference with my 308 AR vs the typical FGMM .008 + head space. I suspect that's one of the reasons the 224 brass looks as good as it does running 100 - 200fps faster than factory.
Powder choice makes a big difference in mine. 18" rifle +1" gas. Just a muzzle break on mine.
For factory 75 TMJ - 88eld's I'm running a std Vltor A5 buffer/spring setup with a low mass carrier & SLR adjustable block set in mid range.
This setup also runs great with full power Lever loads at about 2 - 3 clicks down on gas. 75 - 80.5's @ 2875 - 2950fps
With XBR powder and hot loads 60Vmax @3200 it needs the 2-3 clicks back open + 1 or 2 more.
With XBR fire forming loads using 69 gr RMR @ 2875 I had to swap out the buffer system with a reduced power Sprinco Yellow + Odin adjustable buffer configured @ 2.58 oz. I don't have to screw with the gas block, just swap buffer/spring/spacer and it runs like a champ fire forming 24 Nosler - Valk. Those also show swipes, but they are blowing the shoulder forward about .018
Same for factory FGMM 80.5 Berger & it runs 2759.
Hand loads with same 80.5 bullet plus Lever are running 2875 - 2920 (brass dependent) with similar swipes. I get swipes (not burrs) on most 88 ELD hand loads using Lever, but they are running 2690 - 2740. Lever is gassy & I've just accepted the fact that AR's typically make at least light swipes. Reducing head space for .002-.003 shoulder bump made a big difference with my 308 AR vs the typical FGMM .008 + head space. I suspect that's one of the reasons the 224 brass looks as good as it does running 100 - 200fps faster than factory.
Powder choice makes a big difference in mine. 18" rifle +1" gas. Just a muzzle break on mine.
For factory 75 TMJ - 88eld's I'm running a std Vltor A5 buffer/spring setup with a low mass carrier & SLR adjustable block set in mid range.
This setup also runs great with full power Lever loads at about 2 - 3 clicks down on gas. 75 - 80.5's @ 2875 - 2950fps
With XBR powder and hot loads 60Vmax @3200 it needs the 2-3 clicks back open + 1 or 2 more.
With XBR fire forming loads using 69 gr RMR @ 2875 I had to swap out the buffer system with a reduced power Sprinco Yellow + Odin adjustable buffer configured @ 2.58 oz. I don't have to screw with the gas block, just swap buffer/spring/spacer and it runs like a champ fire forming 24 Nosler - Valk. Those also show swipes, but they are blowing the shoulder forward about .018
I’m getting 2750 with factory 88s in the 22” barrel. That seems fine to me, as it is very repeatable and matches the ballistics of my 260 load. Though I have not even tried loading something better to be honest.
I just checked my book. It was 2502 Sd 11 for the factory 88 eld load. I only had about 100 rounds on it then so it may have speed up some.
Hard to believe 4" more barrel is giving you + 250fps over my 18".
I've kind of settled on the Lever with 77RDF's @2950 or 80.5's at 2920 for mine. Those 77 RDF's are an anomaly, consistent .4 - .6 groups without flyers. Just ried TS 15.5 in the Valk last weekend. Don't bother. Pressured up fast without delivering on speed & tore up brass. Might be good in a Valk bolt gun, but a lotta suck in my gasser.
2750 with factory 88's is great You've got a keeper with that barrel.
Thanks! It’s a Craddock Rock Creek cut rifled 6.7 twist. I am very happy with it. I know that quote a few people, at least in the beginning, got crappy barrels that gave poor results. I must have been lucky, I guess.
BTW, I appreciate all of the info you’ve posted in this thread. It’s good stuff.
ETA
BTW, I appreciate all of the info you’ve posted in this thread. It’s good stuff.
ETA
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