NATO standard since 1980. Will 5.56 reign supreme, or can it be overthrown by.224 Valkyrie?
In 2008, there was much debate over two competing AR cartridges. Each was supposed to solve the problems that the 5.56mm NATO faced in battle. These rounds were the 6.8 SPC and 6.5 Grendel, and many writers and users flocked towards them… at least for that time. Fast forward to 2022 and neither round holds a significant market share in the AR-15 world. Each failed to replace the 5.56 NATO in combat service. They each failed to replace the 5.56 NATO in military service.
In Norse mythology, the Valkyrie was supposed to be a monitor of the battlefield. They would carry a fallen warrior to Valhalla where they would feast with the heroes for eternity. It’s not to say that the round was a failure. Designs change and sometimes it’s easier just to improve on what you already have (in this case, the 5.56mm) than to start from scratch. Convenience was what killed the 6.8SPC on the commercial market. It wasn’t lack of power or accuracy that killed it. The 6.8SPC introduced a set of magazines and internals that were compatible with the AR platform. This allowed for a new range of rounds to be designed around the larger case head and tapered bodies. Federal wisely selected the 6.8 SPC to be the parent case. The.224 Valkyrie offers significant advantages over 5.56mm. It’s also a low-recoil option to 6.5 and 6 Creedmoor for long-range events.
The.224 Valkyrie is a popular product that has been around for some time now. However, the current troubles have definitely slowed its growth. I wanted to know what other writers thought about this round. What surprised me was that few writers have actually delved into the engineering marvel that this round is. This round is capable of almost everything. There are better rounds for specific tasks, but the.224 Valkyrie is capable of almost everything. The smallest bullets weigh as little as 35 grains, while the largest bullets weigh as much as 90 grains. This is almost three times the minimum value. This is why a prairie dog hunter friend of mine who uses a custom bolt-action decided to use the.224. He can reach speeds of around 3,800 fps with 30-grain special copper alloy bullets. For reference, I used my 22-inch rifle to measure the factory loaded 60-grain Federal Predator & Varmint chronographs at 3:321 fps. This bullet weight is almost double! He can still use factory-loaded 90-grain bullets in the rifle for antelope. This rifle is extremely versatile due to the bullet selection. The Faxon barrel can hold almost all.22-inch caliber bullets with a quick 1:6.5 twist. Recoil is another important factor in the.224 Valkyrie that isn’t often mentioned. Even with 90-grain bullets this round has virtually no recoil. It’s almost the same as shooting 5.56mm. This may seem like a trivial point, but it’s a huge advantage for young hunters, those with shoulder injuries, and anyone who doesn’t like recoil. This round could be the best learning cartridge for long-range modern sports. With its high energy and focus on target, it could even win silhouette matches and offhand competition. It is a pleasure to shoot the Valkyrie with a suppressor. I can spot every impact and make corrective adjustments immediately. The gun is very quiet and barely moves. I also find the ballistic matter fascinating. Federal claims that the Valkyrie has a better drop and drift at 1,000 yards than any other AR cartridge. I have tested the Valkyrie at distances of 600 yards and further, and can confirm that it shoots like a 6.5 Creedmoor. If you are used to 5.56, it will be most effective at 600 yards. It can also be shot at 800 with Black Hills 77-grain MK262.Vortex has new optics that are perfect for use with the.224 Valkyrie. 4.5-22X is the ideal magnification range for this versatile cartridge. The Valkyrie is supersonic at 1,200 to 1,1400 yards and offers greater hit probability at all ranges. This is a great product. I was astonished when I first read them.
The Valkyrie is not a good choice for hunting. This round has been used on varmints, and I have also been coyote hunting using it. However, this round is not recommended for deer hunting. I would shoot a shot less that 200 yards with a 90-grain Fusion loads, but I am not a fan of the.22 inch bore. The.224 Valkyrie uses 6.8 SPC magazines, here from PRI. Although the capacity is smaller than 5.56mm, larger mags are readily available. This round is a good choice for any game under 100 pounds at normal hunting distances. Most whitetails are much heavier than that. I must be honest and humble about this…because I’ve made more mistakes than most hunters in my lifetime. My biggest mistakes have been in underestimating my game and overestimating the bullet. I am a big fan of heavy bullets with calibers starting at.45 inches and ending at.45 inches. I like Keith bullets, even in rifle rounds such as 450 Bushmaster. A 255-grain bullet traveling at 900 fps has always put down a deer for me. However, I have had trouble with small-bores at any speed including the 5.56 NATO (left), and the 6.5 Creedmoor. The.224 Valkyrie is a remarkable round. It has a trajectory similar to the 6.5 and recoil like that of the 5.56 NATO. Federal has confirmed everything I have read about the round, right down to how close their listed speeds are to my chronograph readings. I am certain that it would perform well.
In all honesty, I won’t take it out for deer. I have never had a positive experience using small-bore rifles on these incredibly tough and proud animals. The.224 Valkyrie is a formidable target pack from Storm Tactical that contains 62 printable targets for rifle and handgun range usage. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be downloaded in MOA. Get Free Targets
