I’m considering building a 224 Valkyrie bolt rig and wanted to hear the pro’s and con’s from those who have them. What barrel twist should I go with for target shooting out to about a 1000yds and what’s the typical barrel life?
224 Valkyrie
- Thread starter jcmullis2
- Start date
Check out @pardom post history....he has some experience
why not 6 arc if you are building?
why not 6 arc if you are building?
The Valkyrie always interested me, why, I don’t have a clue. Probably the name to be honest with you. I’m sure there’s a dozen different chambering’s that’ll do everything the Valkyrie can do and better. However that’s probably the next one I’ll try to master. It’s just what I do.
The only issue is the bolt face, making it an expensive proposition.
I went .22 nosler since it is a .223 bolt face. The other option would be a .224 grendel, much easier to source an action with a factory bolt
I went .22 nosler since it is a .223 bolt face. The other option would be a .224 grendel, much easier to source an action with a factory bolt
I’m planning on having a old 223 bolt opened up a bit that I already have. Northland shooter supply has remage barrels for about $300. Maybe $500 for everything so it’s not gonna be too expensive.
That will work. You'll need to install an m16 style extractor as you'll likely remove enough material to destroy the extractor
I have been working on this myself. I don’t agree with the comments that it is expensive. The bolt work is not much at all. As for magazines yes the primal right adapter plus AI mags are not cheap but overall I don’t see the cost of a Valkyrie build to be any more than any other build. All depends on how much you do or don’t want to spend. It can be done at a reasonable level or go crazy and spend a ton. Up to you. Here is a link to a thread I started a while back outlining the process I have been doing. I am down to waiting for my bolt to get back from the gunsmith. Good luck I hope it goes well. I will post some info as I start shooting mine.
www.snipershide.com
.224 Valkyrie From Tikka T3x .223
After much research and planning I have decided to take the plunge. Purchased a Tikka T3x Lite in .223. The plan is as follows. Barrel: Remove the factory barrel and replace with a pre-fit chambered in .224 Valkyrie. Undecided as yet but looking at Carbonsix, McGowen, or Preferred barrel...
www.snipershide.com
I’ve got an Impact action on a Schneider 24” with 1:7 In an MPA chasis. The AICS metal mags with Primal insert are the ONLY way to go IMHO. Tried the “modified” single stack .223’s and the gunsmith just wasted my time and money with his “solution” of grinding the lips down. The plastic kept failing/jamming/causing feed issues until I went the AICS route. They’re easy to do yourself. Never had one failure to feed since the AICS’. Some guys disagree and will debate it to death, but that’s just my experience.
Mine carries the 90 SMK pretty well about 2,900fps using 2000MR. That ended up being a little hot when temps went over 88 degrees so I backed it down a bit with some Hornady 80’s running about at the same velocity. Would like to try the Hornady 88’s or some Bergers with a different powder, but just haven’t had the time yet. Experimented HEAVILY with 95SMK’s (about 400 rounds of experimentation), but couldn’t get them to group at a velocity that merited the increase in +5 grains of weight. I’m about at 1,200 rounds and accuracy is still decent.
When the Valkyrie came out I immediately wanted it for my son to reach out to 1k in a light recoiling package. It s a fun newbie gun now, and it hits a grand nicely. I agree there are better calibers, but it fit the requirements at the time when it came out. When I eventually shoot it out I’ll suck it up and buy a .308 faced Impact bolt and switch it over to something else.
There was a decent group on Facebook a while back that tracked a bunch of loads, so if you do that type of Social Media thing they have some data there Strictly for bolt Valkyrie’s. And they do tend to push them pretty hot In some loads. Be careful of some of the posts, a lot (at least when I was there a while back) is self-aggrandizing for a bad apple gunsmith (One in particular, his incompetence cost me a couple hundred $$ I didn’t have spend if he would have had more integrity) to creep in and give you his take on how he makes the best Valkyrie bolt guns and what to do/what not to do, but all in all it does have some good kernels of info if you sift through it.
If I had to do it again I’d go a .22 or .25 creedmoor. The main problem, as was stated in post #4 is correct. With the bolt head dimensions with the Valkyrie you’re kind of stuck with it to some extent. If you go some of the Creedmoors at least you could swap to something different later when you smoke the barrel after X amount of rounds. Also suggested in the post above, there are some cheaper routes including Savage / Remage prefits.
Good luck with your project!
Mine carries the 90 SMK pretty well about 2,900fps using 2000MR. That ended up being a little hot when temps went over 88 degrees so I backed it down a bit with some Hornady 80’s running about at the same velocity. Would like to try the Hornady 88’s or some Bergers with a different powder, but just haven’t had the time yet. Experimented HEAVILY with 95SMK’s (about 400 rounds of experimentation), but couldn’t get them to group at a velocity that merited the increase in +5 grains of weight. I’m about at 1,200 rounds and accuracy is still decent.
When the Valkyrie came out I immediately wanted it for my son to reach out to 1k in a light recoiling package. It s a fun newbie gun now, and it hits a grand nicely. I agree there are better calibers, but it fit the requirements at the time when it came out. When I eventually shoot it out I’ll suck it up and buy a .308 faced Impact bolt and switch it over to something else.
There was a decent group on Facebook a while back that tracked a bunch of loads, so if you do that type of Social Media thing they have some data there Strictly for bolt Valkyrie’s. And they do tend to push them pretty hot In some loads. Be careful of some of the posts, a lot (at least when I was there a while back) is self-aggrandizing for a bad apple gunsmith (One in particular, his incompetence cost me a couple hundred $$ I didn’t have spend if he would have had more integrity) to creep in and give you his take on how he makes the best Valkyrie bolt guns and what to do/what not to do, but all in all it does have some good kernels of info if you sift through it.
If I had to do it again I’d go a .22 or .25 creedmoor. The main problem, as was stated in post #4 is correct. With the bolt head dimensions with the Valkyrie you’re kind of stuck with it to some extent. If you go some of the Creedmoors at least you could swap to something different later when you smoke the barrel after X amount of rounds. Also suggested in the post above, there are some cheaper routes including Savage / Remage prefits.
Good luck with your project!
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I have a Uintah upper in 224V and shooting it is the most fun that you could have with your clothes on!
This forum doesn't have as much traffic on it as here but they are strictly a venue for discussing all things in the 224V.
http://www.224valkyrieforum.com/forums/index.php
This forum doesn't have as much traffic on it as here but they are strictly a venue for discussing all things in the 224V.
http://www.224valkyrieforum.com/forums/index.php
a ARC Nucleus or a Bighorn Origin would be the way to go. I shoot a lot so long barrel life + long range capability + low cost = excellent! I have a Bighorn and love it. 22” 6.5t Chromoly .810” taperless barrel threaded 5/8x24. Barrels can be ordered from almost anyone for the Bighorn because they’re so consistent in tolerance. I run it like a Hunter setup so I run a HS Precision DBM 4r mag but I think they make 10’s as well.
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a ARC Nucleus or a Bighorn Origin would be the way to go. I shoot a lot so long barrel life + long range capability + low cost = excellent! I have a Bighorn and love it. 22” 6.5t Chromoly .810” taperless barrel threaded 5/8x24. Barrels can be ordered from almost anyone for the Bighorn because they’re so consistent in tolerance. I run it like a Hunter setup so I run a HS Precision DBM 4r mag but I think they make 10’s as well.
