My .224 Valkyrie Rifle - Bison Armory 24"

[Olen_4504]

My barrel should be in tomorrow. I'm starting a thread for pics, range reports, etc.

Components of this rifle:

Barrel: 1:6.5 twist Bison Armory 24" heavy fluted w/standard gas block
Upper: Midwest Industries billet upper
Handguard: Midwest Industries 15"
BCG: Toolcraft
Lower: billet lower from EDC tactical (local shop)
Trigger: Geissele SSA-E
Stock: Magpul PRS Gen3
Pistol Grip: Ergo
Magazines: CMMG .224v/6.8/22n mags
Bipod: Harris for now
Optic: TBD - will probably start with my Vortex HS-T 6-24x in a ADM mount for now.

 

[RFutch]

Let us know how it shoots. I can actually afford one of their barrels lol.

 

[Olen_4504]

Let us know how it shoots. I can actually afford one of their barrels lol.

Will do!

 

[Olen_4504]

Here is the rifle, I finished putting it together last night. Taking it to the farm today to break it in. Will also get MV data with the magneetospeed today. Will be shooting the factory 90g SMK. Not a light rifle by any means, but I didn't build it to be light. that barrel is hefty.

 

[lash]

Nice looking rifle!

 

[Olen_4504]

Sorry, I was too busy preparing for my match last week to get any good range reports with this rifle.

I show a few rounds through it with horrible groups but didn't take any time to try and diagnose. Then I ended up taking the scope off to bring to my match as a back up

I honestly think my handguard ID is too small, the bottom of the gas block is a red C**t hair from touching the handguard. so i feel like there might be some contact there during the shot. Will possibly get the bigger handguard from MI and swap it

It cycles though! i also did not break out the chrono to get MV data yet

i also took off the suppressor and mounted a SiCo brake

 

[flyer]

Check the chamber, some reamers were ground with way too much free bore.

 

[Olen_4504]

Check the chamber, some reamers were ground with way too much free bore.

I don’t think I have the tools to do that. Not sure how.
This is the first “custom” rifle I’ve put together. I dont Have all the usual things most guys have yet. I guess I’ll get them as I need them.

How do I check that?

It very well could be, but I honestly thing it’s some basic that I just haven’t had time to troubleshoot yet. Haven’t spent more than 3 minutes behind the gun. The groups were like 4-5” and consistently jumped. One center target, next shot high right, next shot high right, next shot back to center, next shot high right. Like a pattern.

 

[flyer]

There are instructions out there for measuring with a backward flat base bullet or an inspection pin and a set of calipers.

It's a known issue so eliminate it or confirm before you start changing gas blocks and stuff.

 

[Olen_4504]

There are instructions out there for measuring with a backward flat base bullet or an inspection pin and a set of calipers.

It's a known issue so eliminate it or confirm before you start changing gas blocks and stuff.

Thanks Flyer,

I do need to get a set of calipers. i'll look for that instruction too

 

[Olen_4504]

I think the 224 valk is just a fancy name. They shortened the 6.8 case to make it!!!! the 6.8 case is already a very minimal increase over the 223 without shortening it. While yes it fires a sleek bullet with less wind drift. the bullet doesn't have much energy left when it gets there. I simply think they are trying to get too much out of the limited cartridges that are available. instead I would rather federal who I think is pimping the Valkyrie, had used the grendel case, OR come up with something totally new. a grendel case with rebated rim? another case with even more compacity? all those are better options if you ask me.

if you need to shoot far enough for the valk, just get an AR 10 in 6.5 creedmooor.

good point, I guess i'll sell this rifle now and get an AR-10 in 6.5c because I definitely never considered that

 

[flyer]

I'm not a big .224 fan, I think it's too overbore so it doesn't look great next to a more efficient cartridge but when the chamber is right it does make a 1,000 yard AR which is what it was designed to do.

As for 6.8, it can fire a 95 grain bullet almost as fast as 5.56 fires a 62 grain bullet. That's a pretty big leap in energy and lots of deer, hogs, bear and other game have been taken at 300+ yards with 6.8 SPC. The evidence is clear that 6.8 is a really good medium range cartridge, .223, not so much.

As for me, I like the idea of .224 but wanted something less overbore. I got a TAC 6 which is a .224 Valkyrie/6.8 SPC wildcat that shoots a 105 grain 6mm bullet about 2,700 fps from an 18" barrel. It's just a bit worse with drop and drift at 1,000 yards than 95 grain .224 Valkyrie but I like the bullet selection better and it doesn't have rifling twist issues for bullets from 55 grain to maybe even more than 105 grain.

The Grendle was based on the .220 Russian and 6PPC so there is no need to wildcat those super popular cartridges...

 

[Olen_4504]

Good to know I could help out, let me know if you need any recommendations.

I was joking

 

[jpaz]

Any follow up range reports? I'm waiting on a 20" 1-6.5 twist to arrive.

 

[Constructor]

I think the 224 valk is just a fancy name. They shortened the 6.8 case to make it!!!! the 6.8 case is already a very minimal increase over the 223 without shortening it. While yes it fires a sleek bullet with less wind drift. the bullet doesn't have much energy left when it gets there. I simply think they are trying to get too much out of the limited cartridges that are available. instead I would rather federal who I think is pimping the Valkyrie, had used the grendel case, OR come up with something totally new. a grendel case with rebated rim? another case with even more compacity? all those are better options if you ask me.

if you need to shoot far enough for the valk, just get an AR 10 in 6.5 creedmooor.

If you run the numbers of a 224 using a 95gr SMK and a Grendel using a 123 the energy of the 224 Valkyrie is 100ftlbs More than the Grendel at 1000yds. Everyone assumes the 224 has nothing left because its a little 224 bullet. The thing is it starts off faster and using BCs as high as the 6.5s it retains the velocity advantage. If you used a 130 Berger in the Grendel it would only have 6 more ftlbs than the Valkyrie at 1000yds.

 

[Olen_4504]

Any follow up range reports? I'm waiting on a 20" 1-6.5 twist to arrive.

Taking it out tomorrow. Will report back.

 

[Subwrx300]

In for range report...

 

[abentley324]

In for range report...

Same. In for the report.

 

[Olen_4504]

Okay guys I got the rifle out today and zero'd it real quick, shot a 4 shot group, then took some chrono data, then shot out to 700 yards.

see pictures attached.


0.67MOA 4 shot group (very first 4 shots after zeroing). factory federal 90g SMK
I was shooting a flimsy yard sale sign target that was swaying back and forth with the breeze. I know this thing can shoot tighter, next time I'll set up on a proper sturdy target.

I only hooked the chrono up for 5 shots, average 2708 FPS with a SD of 7.4. I know, not a large sample, but it gave me enough to work with at the moment. I was impressed for factory ammo though.

I was having DOPE issues with both this rifle and my .308 today. I'm not sure if I didn't have something input correct in my ballistic app or what but I was consistently way too high on both rifles. like 2 moa high at 764 with the .224, and almost 4 moa high with the .308, and 1 moa high at 400 yards with the .308. idk what the issue was, then a storm rolled in so we packed it up. My dope cards were useless to me basically. but once i dialed in, the thing was a laser. I was stacking shots on the 12"x20" at 764yds

Also a wild pig ran out on us at 100 yards and I smoked him with the 75g federal ammo.

 

[lash]

Okay guys I got the rifle out today and zero'd it real quick, shot a 4 shot group, then took some chrono data, then shot out to 700 yards.

see pictures attached.


0.67MOA 4 shot group (very first 4 shots after zeroing). factory federal 90g SMK
I was shooting a flimsy yard sale sign target that was swaying back and forth with the breeze. I know this thing can shoot tighter, next time I'll set up on a proper sturdy target.

I only hooked the chrono up for 5 shots, average 2708 FPS with a SD of 7.4. I know, not a large sample, but it gave me enough to work with at the moment. I was impressed for factory ammo though.

I was having DOPE issues with both this rifle and my .308 today. I'm not sure if I didn't have something input correct in my ballistic app or what but I was consistently way too high on both rifles. like 2 moa high at 764 with the .224, and almost 4 moa high with the .308, and 1 moa high at 400 yards with the .308. idk what the issue was, then a storm rolled in so we packed it up. My dope cards were useless to me basically. but once i dialed in, the thing was a laser. I was stacking shots on the 12"x20" at 764yds

Also a wild pig ran out on us at 100 yards and I smoked him with the 75g federal ammo.

Nice! Good start! I don't have a spot where I could legally down a wild pig since most of my shooting is done on a range where they charge for pig hunts. Waiting on parts for mine, so following you guys in the meantime.

 

[RFutch]

Thanks for the update. I’d be interested to see some more groups when you get a chance to shoot more.

 

[hlee]

I think the 224 valk is just a fancy name. They shortened the 6.8 case to make it!!!! the 6.8 case is already a very minimal increase over the 223 without shortening it. While yes it fires a sleek bullet with less wind drift. the bullet doesn't have much energy left when it gets there. I simply think they are trying to get too much out of the limited cartridges that are available. instead I would rather federal who I think is pimping the Valkyrie, had used the grendel case, OR come up with something totally new. a grendel case with rebated rim? another case with even more compacity? all those are better options if you ask me.

if you need to shoot far enough for the valk, just get an AR 10 in 6.5 creedmooor.

Minimal? The numbers I am seeing say the 224 Valkyrie has 20% greater case capacity than the 223 rem. I don’t have a dog in this fight, but 20% is not insignificant...

 

[Olen_4504]

Thanks for the update. I’d be interested to see some more groups when you get a chance to shoot more.

Will do!

 

[stilesg57]

Great report, thanks. Looks like that Bison barrel is going to work out just fine — glad to know it’s an option for a future build...

 

[AJG4]

Still like the barrel? I just ordered a Bison .224 24".

Let me know. Also what bullet it likes.

 

[SRW]

I'm in need of a valkyrie barrel so I'm interested as well.

 

[Wnick308]

I have a 18" 224V Bison barrel and it shoots great.
No problems with factory or handloaded ammo.

 

[AJG4]

Still waiting on mine. I had the cerakote it black and added a JP FMOS carrier.