7mm Valkyrie gets bloody!

[CarJunkieLS1]

This morning I got my second deer with my 7VAR! It's a wildcat cartridge dsigned to maximize lethality in the AR-15 package. Based on the 6.5x47L case. It shoots a 120 NBT 2782fps in my 20" barrel.

It was complete luck. I had a doe come by early this morning and I had a shot, but couldn't "make the shot" I had to try to stand up and shoot because she was so far downhill to me.

I started to stand up and she saw me move. I froze and a few seconds later she white flagged me and took off. I was so mad if I didn't have a bum shoulder, my shooting side too. (surgery Sept. 27) I was 100% I could've made the shot without having to stand up.

After a few more hours of sitting myself and my hunting partner were headed out of the woods walking through a field back to the truck. Two does ran across the field in front of use and we froze. They stopped just short of a thicket and turned to look at us. To our amazement the started walking toward us!!

My partner shouldering his rifle (AR-15 in 6x45) as I fumbled with mine, bad shoulder remember, lol. He got his crosshairs on one and pulled the trigger "CLICK" He said "shoot her" as I finally got my rifle raised to my weak side I found one in my scope. At ~60 yards facing right at us I put it on her chest and BOOM!! Seemed like this whole ordeal lasted forever but it was over in less than 10 seconds. It was like time stood still...

She ran into the thicket and we lost sight of her. We went after her and found a good blood trail. 30 yards later there she was. I couldn't be happier with how my Valkyrie did. Weak side, unsupported and standing. I was able to make a good clean ethical shot

 

[entropy]

Not sure all the credit goes to the caliber, but nice job!

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

Thanks! it was Luck all I did right was left my rifle loaded and scope caps off on the walk out. lol I did make a clean shot and put her down. so there is that.

I'd rather be lucky than good sometimes

 

[1KPerDay]

why did his rifle go click?

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

It wasn't fully into battery. We haven't figured out why yet. He said after today he went outside and fired a few rounds and they all went bang.

My guess though is he pulled the charging handle and released it and may have "dragged" on his gloves slowing it down. Causing it to not go into full battery. This is why I like Forward Assists. My process is I lock the bolt back manually. put the loaded mag in the magwell and push the bolt release. Then I'll tap the Forward Assist just to be sure it fully chambered.

 

[MCgunner]

Yep, that forward assist is handier than some would make you think.

The caliber sounds interesting, somewhat superior to .300 BLK. Still no 7mm Mauser, but pretty danged peppy. I hunt deer with bolt guns in bigger calibers, but just got an AR, actually an M4 Bushmaster, for my birthday in .223. I'd thought about an upper in a better caliber, but think I'm just going to night hunt hogs with it. I just got my green light rail mount in for it and got it set up with the light, has a lighted reticle scope on it. I worked up a handload with a 62 grain Barnes TSX at 2880 fps. I won't shoot deer with it until it proves itself to me on hogs. But, heck, I have proven deer rifles. I just wanted this M4 because I thought Hillary was going to win the election. Now that I have it, I feel obligated to use it for SOMEthing.

If God had meant us to hunt with ARs, he'd made 'em in .308......but...oh, wait, he did....

 

[entropy]

It wasn't fully into battery. We haven't figured out why yet. He said after today he went outside and fired a few rounds and they all went bang.

My guess though is he pulled the charging handle and released it and may have "dragged" on his gloves slowing it down. Causing it to not go into full battery. This is why I like Forward Assists. My process is I lock the bolt back manually. put the loaded mag in the magwell and push the bolt release. Then I'll tap the Forward Assist just to be sure it fully chambered.

That's the way to do it. I have seen people try to 'quietly' charge an AR and not have it go into battery. It can be done, but you have to remember to use the forward assist. If it doesn't have a forward assist, trying to be quiet loading it might make it quiet when shooting it.....

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

Yep, that forward assist is handier than some would make you think.

The caliber sounds interesting, somewhat superior to .300 BLK. Still no 7mm Mauser, but pretty danged peppy. I hunt deer with bolt guns in bigger calibers, but just got an AR, actually an M4 Bushmaster, for my birthday in .223. I'd thought about an upper in a better caliber, but think I'm just going to night hunt hogs with it. I just got my green light rail mount in for it and got it set up with the light, has a lighted reticle scope on it. I worked up a handload with a 62 grain Barnes TSX at 2880 fps. I won't shoot deer with it until it proves itself to me on hogs. But, heck, I have proven deer rifles. I just wanted this M4 because I thought Hillary was going to win the election. Now that I have it, I feel obligated to use it for SOMEthing.

If God had meant us to hunt with ARs, he'd made 'em in .308......but...oh, wait, he did....

Those TTSX's are awesome! they will do great things on hogs and deer. Just put them in the boiler room and get your knife.

I really like the 7x57 round but I have a 7-08 and this Valkyrie so I don't need it. For the recoil side of things I don't see myself not using AR's for hunting anytime soon. I have several different calibers so I can use them for everything I need them for.

 

[MCgunner]

As to hunting with the AR platform, the main things I don't care much for are the ergos, which don't really matter for stand hunting, and the lack of appropriate caliber. I'm impressed with your numbers on the 7mm Valk. I'd never heard of it. The .300 BLK, the one I was thinkin' about, is a weak sister to the 7.62x39 with which I've taken a couple of deer and was less than totally impressed. I used a now defunct 135 grain Sierra Pro Hunter on both deer. I like 7mm bullets, the heavier ones that I shoot in my 7mm Rem Mag, but the little 120 would likely be as good BC wise as a 150 in .30 caliber just speculating without looking 'em up, not that BC matters in a short range round. SD does, though, and this is where the 7 would have another advantage on the .300 BLK. The other option are the heavies, .50 Beowolf, .458 SOCOM. They're like shooting pistol rounds with similar limitations. And, you can do what I'm doing and load magic bullets (controlled expansion) in .223.

What has really impressed me with the little M4 is the accuracy. With the 62 grain Barnes, I'm getting quarter inch groups at 35 yards. I set it up to shoot on my pistol range from my reloading room on back of the house when I was chronographing and working loads up to max. I found 4198 to work best, most consistent, near max pressure as is often the case. I've not had a chance due to weather to fire the load at 100 yards for accuracy testing, but a quarter inch perfectly round 5 shot group at 35 yards impresses the heck out of me. My bolt guns all shoot MOA or less and that's what I strive for. My SKS rifle is in the 2.5 MOA range with its best loads. Now, that's okay for woods hunting deer and hogs, have no problem with it, but the better the accuracy, the more I have confidence in it and I'm working up a lot of confidence in this little M4. The barrel isn't even floated and if you fire a 30 round mag out of it just plinking, the barrel will burn your fingers it gets so hot. My Remington M7 in .308 shoots 3/4 MOA, but the barrel is floated.

So, I have confidence in the little M4 to be able to place one behind a hog's ear at the ranges I'll be shooting at night, 50 yards or less most likely. The woods are dense around here. I like your numbers on the 7mm Valk, but if I want more power, I'll just shoot the .308, or my .257 Roberts. The 7 mag I haven't used in a while, haven't hunted the mountains or the open desert of west Texas/New Mexico in a while. But, I keep it around, never sell an accurate rifle. But, the thing is a cannon out here in these woods where 100 yards is a long ways.

Anyway, I look forward to gangstering a pig after deer season with the AR. I got the green light set up on it and have been playing with it at night, works really well. Good thing as I can't afford decent night optics.

Oh, I haven't studied the 6.5 Grendel or the 6.8 SPC. How does the 7 Valk stack up to these? If I ever get interested in another upper, I'll look into all this, but the 7 Valk impresses me.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

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Anyway, I look forward to gangstering a pig after deer season with the AR. I got the green light set up on it and have been playing with it at night, works really well. Good thing as I can't afford decent night optics.

Oh, I haven't studied the 6.5 Grendel or the 6.8 SPC. How does the 7 Valk stack up to these? If I ever get interested in another upper, I'll look into all this, but the 7 Valk impresses me.

To answer your question about the Valkyrie it STOMPS THE PANTS off of the 6.5 Grendel and the 6.8 SPC. My mentioned 120 NBT load vs factory Grendel 123 AMAX has less drop at 500 yards and more energy than the Grendel, both have 20' barrels. The one and only drawback is that it is a handloading only cartridge. The 6.5G and 6.8 SPC are available factory loaded. If you look at what velocities are for the 7-08 factory ammo you will reach 95% or more of that number. Google "7mm Valkyrie" and you'll find all the information. If factory ammo availability is important pick up a 30 Rem AR. That is handsdown the best factory loaded cartridge for deer sized game in the AR-15 platform.

This is some velocity numbers that are attainable in peoples actual barrels not in a lab with a super long barrel and minimum spec'd chamber.

Cartridge overall length 2.295 inches

Case trim to length 1.596-1.6 inches

Shoulder measurement with hornady 375 adapter 1.305 on fresh cases.

Velocity's

26” actual data

120 class 3000 130 class 3080 max
140 class 2875 150 class 2670 not max
160 class 2660
168 Berger 2675

24” actual data

110 class 3075 not max 120 class 3000
130 class 3000 140 class 2850
150 long range ab 2700 160 class 2660
168 Berger 2625

20" Actual Data
120 sierra 2860 not max 130 speer 2800
139 sst 2690 145 speer 2630 not max
160 fusion 2437 168 nosler 2416

16” Actual Data

110 TNT 2843
120 sierra 2804
130 Speer 2800
139 sst 2700
140 nosler bt 2600

 

[Acera]

. If factory ammo availability is important pick up a 30 Rem AR. That is handsdown the best factory loaded cartridge for deer sized game in the AR-15 platform..............

It is a shame that Remington failed so miserably in marketing that cartridge. It had potential. From what I understand that cartridge/project is dying.



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[CarJunkieLS1]

It is a shame that Remington failed so miserably in marketing that cartridge. It had potential. From what I understand that cartridge/project is dying.

They aren't making rifles chambered for it anymore. So yes I guess its dead they do make ammo for it still though. Rifles are still available new online and they are CHEAP compared to what they were back then. I hand load for my 30 AR and it's been accurate. I bought as much 150 Core-Lokt ammo as I could find when I got mine. The brass will last me a lifetime.



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