Inside the 300-400 yard range which wold be more accurate using hand loads - 6.8SPC or a 224 Valkyrie? I am trying to limit my gun collection to as few as possible (I know - perhaps I need counseling as this is contrary to my earlier philosophy - but I am 70). I only hunt coyotes and prairie dogs these days and of course like to shoot paper and steel. I have the 6.8 and it is fairly accurate out to 200-250 yards. I have access to a site that I can shot up to 500 yards, but my eyes and the steadiness of my nerves isn't what they once were - so I would max out my shooting at 400 yards. I do like an accurate gun. Any thoughts?
Which is more accurate?
- Thread starter prairiefire
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There is no need for a 224V inside of 400. 5.56 will easily do 600+ with bullets heavier than 55 grain. The whole point of 224V was to stay supersonic out to the 'magical' 1000 everyone wants to brag about these days.
6.8SPC was developed for more energy and more terminal effect, especially out of shorter barrels.
The 224V is based on the 6.8SPC case. It is a little more 'overbore' when necked down to 22 caliber but not dramatically different in the proportions like a 22PPC for example. So there are really no physical reasons why one of your choices should be inherently more accurate than the other.
6.8SPC was developed for more energy and more terminal effect, especially out of shorter barrels.
The 224V is based on the 6.8SPC case. It is a little more 'overbore' when necked down to 22 caliber but not dramatically different in the proportions like a 22PPC for example. So there are really no physical reasons why one of your choices should be inherently more accurate than the other.
There is no need for a 224V inside of 400. 5.56 will easily do 600+ with bullets heavier than 55 grain. The whole point of 224V was to stay supersonic out to the 'magical' 1000 everyone wants to brag about these days.
6.8SPC was developed for more energy and more terminal effect, especially out of shorter barrels.
The 224V is based on the 6.8SPC case. It is a little more 'overbore' when necked down to 22 caliber but not dramatically different in the proportions like a 22PPC for example. So there are really no physical reasons why one of your choices should be inherently more accurate than the other. As mentioned above, barrel and reloading practices will be the major factors determining accuracy.
6.8SPC was developed for more energy and more terminal effect, especially out of shorter barrels.
The 224V is based on the 6.8SPC case. It is a little more 'overbore' when necked down to 22 caliber but not dramatically different in the proportions like a 22PPC for example. So there are really no physical reasons why one of your choices should be inherently more accurate than the other. As mentioned above, barrel and reloading practices will be the major factors determining accuracy.
@NormanChang do you get a Nemo discount for posting their vids in every thread possible?
Edit: why did you delete them?
Edit: why did you delete them?
Last edited:
This. Our Valkyrie is a hammer but I’m sure people have 6.8s that are hammers too.
For coyotes, pdogs, and 500 yard target shooting I’d stick with 223/556. A nice SPR type with a high quality barrel would serve you well.
Just had this conversation with a new friend after church today.
While there are cool calibers, I have a TON of decent 556 brass, primers, powder, and a set of high quality dies for it. Dicking around with another caliber with my limited shooting time is just not something I want to do.
While there are cool calibers, I have a TON of decent 556 brass, primers, powder, and a set of high quality dies for it. Dicking around with another caliber with my limited shooting time is just not something I want to do.
Did the valkyrie ever gain any traction? Last I remember they were having a lot of problems with getting any type of good accuracy out of their high BC bullets due to twist rates and it seemed like everyone forgot about it overnight... I kind of like the idea of the valkyrie but wouldnt want to get stuck with a dead cartridge especially if I was centralizing like OP.
I never doubted they would get those issues resolved and that its accurate now... I just dont know how damaging that was to the cartridges reputation early on and if it recovered or not to continue to gain in popularity or it just lost all its steam and never really recovered
I think the issue was that a lot of the chambers were cut with too long of a throat. That made for a huge jump to the lands and made it more picky with ammo than it should have been.
I’d say that mixed with the fact that a lot of people don’t have nearly good enough fundamentals to shoot a gas gun well left an impression that it was not an accurate cartridge. We put one together and it is pretty impressive. 1/2 Moa at 100, 13 mils and still (barely)supersonic at 1200yds AT SEA LEVEL, is pretty ok for a 22 cal gas gun.
@Precision Underground - are you running handholds or factory ammo? bullets?
Im not in the market, but am curious. Always love learning.
Im not in the market, but am curious. Always love learning.
I used the Valkyrie twice in competition and did well in both
Came in 12th I believe it was at the Guardian, fun fact on this, I shot the 88s the same week they came out. no prep, I had to dope the ammo at the match the day before using 3 targets they provided.
The misfire on the ammo did put a big dent in the adoption, everyone was blaming everything but the cause which was two fold a bullet and reamer. The Federal stuff has a big misfire, but the Hornady has been solid
With the bolt action I am shooting, accuracy is fantastic,
Inside 600 yards the valkyrie with hang with a 6.5CM all day, it's fast, flat and has no recoil at all. The barrel does not even get hot
Others have shot locally at Pawnee Sportmans and won the match with a Valkyrie, Mike, Brian, Adam have all shot it and won in competition with it.
The round kicks ass, the misfire definitely hurt it, but I don't care I enjoy it a ton. Cheap, accurate, range, it's got everything I need.
Came in 12th I believe it was at the Guardian, fun fact on this, I shot the 88s the same week they came out. no prep, I had to dope the ammo at the match the day before using 3 targets they provided.
The misfire on the ammo did put a big dent in the adoption, everyone was blaming everything but the cause which was two fold a bullet and reamer. The Federal stuff has a big misfire, but the Hornady has been solid
With the bolt action I am shooting, accuracy is fantastic,
Inside 600 yards the valkyrie with hang with a 6.5CM all day, it's fast, flat and has no recoil at all. The barrel does not even get hot
Others have shot locally at Pawnee Sportmans and won the match with a Valkyrie, Mike, Brian, Adam have all shot it and won in competition with it.
The round kicks ass, the misfire definitely hurt it, but I don't care I enjoy it a ton. Cheap, accurate, range, it's got everything I need.
You can't really blame the round when most of the fuck ups were from bad reamers from a supplier known to have supply issues, and then having a whopping one source for match ammo at first launch which Federal wen't back and tweaked some. Kinda hard to make a load that will shoot in every rifle.
I got lucky with both of mine. A Craddock barrel with a 6.7T Rock Creek cut rifled blank, and a LMT 20" CL barrel both liked the factory Federal stuff, and both were extremely easy to load for. There was one factory load that the LMT didn't like as much IIRC, I believe it was the varmint load but I could be mistaken. Both shot the 90gr SMK load about 1/2moa. The Craddock shot my 95gr SMK load consistently in the .2's and is by far the most accurate and consistent gas gun I have ever had or shot.
224V is a great round, IMO it's the best thing for LR shooting that you can load mag length in an AR15. I'll take one over a Grendel any day. But until more companies come along with ammo options I still think it remains a chambering for a reloader unless it like either of the factory offerings. I think it's here to stay despite the rough launch, and I think more companies will continue to pick it up. I think once it gains some traction is will be as popular as Creedmoor.
I got lucky with both of mine. A Craddock barrel with a 6.7T Rock Creek cut rifled blank, and a LMT 20" CL barrel both liked the factory Federal stuff, and both were extremely easy to load for. There was one factory load that the LMT didn't like as much IIRC, I believe it was the varmint load but I could be mistaken. Both shot the 90gr SMK load about 1/2moa. The Craddock shot my 95gr SMK load consistently in the .2's and is by far the most accurate and consistent gas gun I have ever had or shot.
224V is a great round, IMO it's the best thing for LR shooting that you can load mag length in an AR15. I'll take one over a Grendel any day. But until more companies come along with ammo options I still think it remains a chambering for a reloader unless it like either of the factory offerings. I think it's here to stay despite the rough launch, and I think more companies will continue to pick it up. I think once it gains some traction is will be as popular as Creedmoor.
Hand loads. 90smk with a healthy dose of 2000MR. It’s a fun round and very accurate.
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