I’m about to give up on the Valkyrie

STXdevilsquid · Mar 30, 2020

224 Valk, can’t get it to group and it blows through brass because of pressure.

I got almost 1” groups at 100 yards on hand loads, in the 55 grain range. When I go up to 80s it opens up. Store bought, I’ve tried them all, do way worse. 75 grains are 4” groups.

I have a 6.5 twist 20” barrel PSA, and my friends is 7, both similar issues and groups.

Here’s my questions.
1. Should I give up and convert rifle to something else?
2. Something else I should try?
3. Anyone have success?
4. Unable to reload brass kind of sucks but isn’t a deal breaker if i can get it to group.
5. If converting it, which caliber to go to?

Thank you for the time.

FireInTheWire · Mar 30, 2020

Sub'd

I got nothing, but gonna learn with ya.

cvgunman · Mar 30, 2020

Just out of curiosity what are you doing??? Target shooting....hunting?

STXdevilsquid · Mar 30, 2020

cvgunman said:
Just out of curiosity what are you doing??? Target shooting....hunting?

Both, but no hunting with no confidence. Would have just been varmint hunting anyways due to caliber, but would have been nice.

robertc1024 · Mar 30, 2020

Paging Dawico. I'm not sure he had the reloading problems, but he sure had the grouping problems. Not the first time I've heard this.

Dawico · Mar 30, 2020

Yep, my Savage Recon wouldn't group for shit. Maybe an inch with the Federal/ AE cheap stuff. Everything else was worse.

Broke the tips on the Hornady Match rounds during feeding. The Black, Fusion, and GMM were all a disappointment.

Tried handloading but found out at the range it had a short throat (Savage is known for this on occasion) and wouldn't chamber any of my book length rounds. I should have checked before loading but assumed they would chamber since factory ammo did. Old stock 75gr Hornady HPBT Match bullets btw.

I was frustrated and figured if I had to load short I'd lose powder capacity and it would end up being a fancy 223.

Took it to the gun show either to trade/ sell it or rebarrel it. Got a good enough offer and left it there.

Very nice rifle but I lost interest quickly. Regretted impulse buying it but at least I got a good deal on it used/ unfired.

I am hoping to hear good things from the guy that bought my reloading stuff but I don't think he has tried yet.

I know some guys are loving the round but I think it's dying personally. My rifle (new) prices dropped drastically while I owned mine.

If you want something in a bolt gun to fill the gap between 223 and 22-250 maybe there is a niche market.

Inaccurate rifles are boring.

jrbfishn · Mar 30, 2020

I have an upper I bought from Delta Team Tactical. At first I had the same grouping problem but after about 200 rounds it seems to have smoothed out. It is definitely picky about ammo though. As long as I stay with American Eagle 75gr it shoots under right at or under MOA and easily hits a 10" plate at 475 yds.
I also have a .223 Wylde upper I bought from them. It also is extremely picky about ammo. Some of the reloads I did with it would not hit a 8 1/2x11 target at 100yds. One does well under MOA out to 300yds.
Both barrels seem to want a good break in period.
I have not started reloading for the Valkyrie yet.

Sent by an idjit coffeeholic from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

oldscot3 · Mar 30, 2020

+1 on allowing for suffcient break in. Also don't give up on looking at other load combos too quick; I had a problem child 6mm Rem that wouldn't shoot well no matter what I did. Then all of a sudden I found two combos that it shoots very well. Deadly accurate and fast but, to date, only with those two loads.
All that said, you can go to 6.8 SPC with only a barrel change.

cvgunman · Mar 30, 2020

oldscot3 said:
+1 on allowing for suffcient break in. Also don't give up on looking at other load combos too quick; I had a problem child 6mm Rem that wouldn't shoot well no matter what I did. Then all of a sudden I found two combos that it shoots very well. Deadly accurate and fast but, to date, only with those two loads.
All that said, you can go to 6.8 SPC with only a barrel change.

+1 on the 6.8spc

robertc1024 · Mar 30, 2020

6.5 Grendel to get out there.

oldscot3 · Mar 30, 2020

Grendel will require a barrel and a bolt... mags might still work but you will likely have to change the followers.

Axxe55 · Mar 30, 2020

Subbed as well. Mildly curious about this cartridge.

STXdevilsquid · Mar 30, 2020

oldscot3 said:
Grendel will require a barrel and a bolt... mags might still work but you will likely have to change the followers.

I think the bolt is 6.8 spc bit mags are 6.5 gren.

STXdevilsquid · Mar 30, 2020

jrbfishn said:
I have an upper I bought from Delta Team Tactical. At first I had the same grouping problem but after about 200 rounds it seems to have smoothed out. It is definitely picky about ammo though. As long as I stay with American Eagle 75gr it shoots under right at or under MOA and easily hits a 10" plate at 475 yds.
I also have a .223 Wylde upper I bought from them. It also is extremely picky about ammo. Some of the reloads I did with it would not hit a 8 1/2x11 target at 100yds. One does well under MOA out to 300yds.
Both barrels seem to want a good break in period.
I have not started reloading for the Valkyrie yet.

Sent by an idjit coffeeholic from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

I think I might try this, once Ammo prices come back down....

BMF500 · Mar 30, 2020

STXdevilsquid said:
I think the bolt is 6.8 spc bit mags are 6.5 gren.

.224 and 6.8 definitely share the same bolt, but not sure about the magazine; it should as the 6.8 is the parent case.
I have a .224 upper I bought on impulse from DTT about a year ago, I have yet to fire it. The break in info here might prove very useful once I get off my a$$ and put optics on my upper give it a run.

diesel1959 · Mar 30, 2020

I've yet to fire my .224Valk. upper, but I'll get around to it. Mine was built by me on a spare LWRC Six8 upper as a direct-impingement rifle. I used an ARP barrel and I have heard excellent results coming from folks using the ARP barrels. The advantage of using the LWRC upper (and lower) is that you get to use the excellent Six8 Pmags, which were specifically designed around the 6.8SPC cartridge and thus, will specifically work for the .224Valk.

As has been stated, the OP can merely change the barrel and he can have a 6.8SPC upper with no problem.

cvgunman · Mar 31, 2020

diesel1959 said:
I've yet to fire my .224Valk. upper, but I'll get around to it. Mine was built by me on a spare LWRC Six8 upper as a direct-impingement rifle. I used an ARP barrel and I have heard excellent results coming from folks using the ARP barrels. The advantage of using the LWRC upper (and lower) is that you get to use the excellent Six8 Pmags, which were specifically designed around the 6.8SPC cartridge and thus, will specifically work for the .224Valk.

As has been stated, the OP can merely change the barrel and he can have a 6.8SPC upper with no problem.

I have one of the ARP barrels and bolt in one of my builds. It is a great shooter. Have only had it in the field a couple of times, but easily made quick work of the 2 hogs each about 275#. Both shot with 120gr SST Hornady. One went about 10yds and piled up, the other DRT. I have the ACOG 6.8 on it for fast acquisition on hogs at closer distances...used to hunt in orange groves. Would have liked to get LWRC to use the Magpul mags, but the Barrett mags work just fine.

TheMailMan · Mar 31, 2020

I remember a report that the first batch of 224 Valkyrie reamers weren't cut to spec.

Could it be possible your barrel was cut with one of those reamers? You might try having a good smith shave the barrel and rechamber it. I'd suggest Shilen Rifles in Ennis.

oldscot3 · Mar 31, 2020

STXdevilsquid said:
I think the bolt is 6.8 spc bit mags are 6.5 gren.

Nope, 6.5 Grendel has a larger diameter rim width than 6.8 SPC. It requires a larger bolt face. 6.8 and 224 V are the same.

FireInTheWire · Mar 31, 2020

TheMailMan said:
I remember a report that the first batch of 224 Valkyrie reamers weren't cut to spec.

Could it be possible your barrel was cut with one of those reamers? You might try having a good smith shave the barrel and rechamber it. I'd suggest Shilen Rifles in Ennis.

Good point. I forgot about that......

I’m about to give up on the Valkyrie

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