224 valkyrie 18" barrel?

[Surtr]

Wanted to try out this hyped up round but finding barrels in stock kinda sucks.

Found a criterion hybrid contour 18" 224v barrel in stock and wanted to see if i would be stupid for going 18" since everything advertised about it is 24".

Dont really want to go super long but dont want to make it useless either.

Opinions on the 18" hybrid criterion? Other option ive found is wait 2-4 weeks for craddock precision to do one with a criterion blank in 18" or 20" with a heavier contour.

 

[RyanScott]

Seems a little long but sure why not?

 

[BJames]

18” 224v shooting 75-80’s sounds about perfect for a pred gun

 

[christopher.dow]

More like seven weeks for me from Craddock. Ordered on 19 Feb and they called last week to say it would ship this week.

 

[isaacspoon]

i ordered last week from craddock and they informed me wait time was 3 weeks. maybe they are catching up since they have gotten steel stock in. he has a few barrels at his place that are not listed on their website for anyone interested in contacting him.

 

[Niles Coyote]

FWIW, I have a 18" & 22", I like them both. It just depends on what you plan to do with the rifle. My 18" will be taking over the role my old 18" 223 had as primary coyote rifle. It let's me utilize the 75 and 80 grain amax/eld normal reserved for my fast twist long throated bolt rifle and gives me shorter, handier semi auto package with about the same muzzle velocity with 4" less barrel.

I just put my 22" together and it's a little more than 100fps with 90s than the 18 and will fill the role as a range toy and match rifle for the matches inside 700 yards provided the consistency and accuracy are there.

 

[isaacspoon]

FWIW, I have a 18" & 22", I like them both. It just depends on what you plan to do with the rifle. My 18" will be taking over the role my old 18" 223 had as primary coyote rifle. It let's me utilize the 75 and 80 grain amax/eld normal reserved for my fast twist long throated bolt rifle and gives me shorter, handier semi auto package with about the same muzzle velocity with 4" less barrel.

I just put my 22" together and it's a little more than 100fps with 90s than the 18 and will fill the role as a range toy and match rifle for the matches inside 700 yards provided the consistency and accuracy are there.

Do you plan to reload your own rounds or buy box ammo? if so, what dies do you haev or plan to use

 

[Niles Coyote]

I am using Foster dies and they seem to be working out well.

 

[isaacspoon]

I am using Foster dies and they seem to be working out well.

Any noticeable marks on the projectile from seating?

 

[Niles Coyote]

Very, very slight marks when loading on brand new brass that has been through the sizing die first. On once fired and dry media tumbled brass no marks. If you just load the new brass with out sizing first the marks will be quite noticeable but once neck tension has been informed to ~.002 they are very, very light and once the necks get some lubrication from a previous firing and/or tumbling they are non existent... Though if you wet tumble I would bet that may change.

 

[BJames]

What kind of velocities are you seeing with the 75-80 class of bullets out of the 18”? I know you referenced similar performance to longer barreled 223, I haven’t played with any 223 with the precision mindset. Basically, I have no idea what it can do.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Rl-15 24.6= 2771 with the 80 Amax, 75 eld was about 100fps faster.

 

[BJames]

Awesome, thanks.