marksman13
Member
Will do. I don’t plan on running the heavy bullets. I’m gonna run 60-75 grain bullets and treat it like a semi auto 22-250 with heavy-ish bullets. It’s going to be a coyote rifle.
Varmint/ predator black rifle builds
- Thread starter crestoncowboy
- Start date
It'll be great for that, IMHO it really works better with 80gr VLDs at mag length with a gasser anyway.
45/30-06OKIE
Member
How do you like 224V vs 223/5.56 out of a long barrel? I've not really heard much either way so idk how to honestly evaluate it. I know we haven't really had anyone ask for 224V ammo or guns or barrels at the gun shows that dad and I do so idk if demand is low for it cause I remember when it came out everyone and their mom was talking about it as the next best caliber and acted like it was going to kill off the 223 Remington or something lol. I think Federal even had a 90gr soft point Fusion load planned for it but never got to bring it to market?
MarshallDodge
Member
Just comparing my 223 to my 223AI, that extra 100-150 FPS really improves the performance of that little bullet.
marksman13
Member
They really stubbed their toe with the Valkyrie release. The original 1/7 twist rate was marginal for the 90 grain SMK load that was supposed to push the 224 Valk to the forefront. The 1/6.5 twist barrels have improved that issue, but I’m afraid it was too little, too late and the 224 Valk is doomed to the same slow death as my favorite AR-15 cartridge, the 6.8 SPC.
45/30-06OKIE
Member
Ahh, interesting... Yeah the 6.8 SPC is another good idea, executed poorly... I actually had one for a short time but I sold it for basically nothing as I wanted to stick with 223/5.56 as the 6.8 ammo was/is significantly more expensive... And I could get 308 for basically the same price as 6.8.
marksman13
Member
Not arguing with you, but in what way do you think the 6.8 SPC was executed poorly? I’m genuinely curious. The only improvement that I could see would be to follow a path closer to the 277 Wolverine in which the bolt and mags would be the same as 223/5.56. In my mind, that was the 6.8 SPC’s undoing.
Edit to add: I did forget about the whole 6.8 SPC vs 6.8 SPC II debacle…
troy fairweather
Member
lack of bullets is what killed the 6.8
marksman13
Member
I don’t know if it was bullets. I think the fact that the 300 BLK came along and didn’t require new mags and bolt really drove the nail in its coffin. The 120 grain SST, 90 Speer Gold Dot and several others have been available for a long time and they do 99% of what most hunters and shooters want to do.
Add to that the debacle of some early reamers having too long a throat
45/30-06OKIE
Member
Yeah I never really understood the SPC vs SPC II issue, it was like the chambers were both completely different or something? But the ammo is somewhat interchangeable? But I just think it never got enough attention from ammo manufacturers is why it hasn't really gotten more popular... Seems like it's hard to even get brass let alone ammo for it... Not saying it's a bad cartridge, just that other calibers like 300blk took over since you can use the same mags and such. Troy said it pretty well, especially since I see 300blk ammo everywhere and rarely see 6.8 SPC.
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marksman13
Member
Well, the Valk is ready for a range day. Hopefully I can get to the range Wednesday or Thursday and see how she shoots. I’ve got a good bit of the 60 grain Hornady V-Max to put through it and I’m going to go put my hands on several boxes of the 75 grain American Eagle stuff tomorrow to break it in.
Wilson Combat 20” fluted, SS barrel (1/6.5 twist), LWRC BCG, CMC flat trigger, B5 Systems grip and butt stock, Diamondhead 17” handguard and KE Arms lower. Pretty sure the upper is a Spikes Tactical. Burris P.E.P.R. mount and Vortex Razor HD LT 2-10x40 on top.
Wilson Combat 20” fluted, SS barrel (1/6.5 twist), LWRC BCG, CMC flat trigger, B5 Systems grip and butt stock, Diamondhead 17” handguard and KE Arms lower. Pretty sure the upper is a Spikes Tactical. Burris P.E.P.R. mount and Vortex Razor HD LT 2-10x40 on top.
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MarshallDodge
Member
What scope is that?
troy fairweather
Member
Nice looks like you got one of the last diamond head handguards, wish mine were the mlok. What gas block you using.
marksman13
Member
marksman13
Member
Yeah, I’ve had that hand guard forever. I honestly don’t remember what brand that gas block is, but it’s a no -adjustable low profile of some sort. Hopefully I won’t need to go with an adjustable, but if I do, I’ll order one.
troy fairweather
Member
I hope one day to find those handguard at a big discount somewhere since dh is closed up now, there super Comfortable but heavy.
45/30-06OKIE
Member
I like my Midwest Industries SP15M handguard on my 223 DMR. It's very high quality! Of course it's $195 from Midway USA so idk if you want to spend that much money on it lol. I'm glad I did cause I'm impressed with the quality.
troy fairweather
Member
Those diamond heads have a feel like no other hand guard I know of made, wish someone would make a similar copy but light weight.
45/30-06OKIE
Member
Hmm, interesting. Ive never seen one so I couldn't tell ya the difference first hand.
troy fairweather
Member
It's one of those things I don't think it would be so nice until you handled one, they made a round but the triangular ones are very nice.
My ride with the Valkyrie has been an Apocalyptic learning experience (silly movie soundtrack reference fully intended).
IMHO it really doesn't offer much over a 5.56 if you're not shooting past 600.
It does offer that versatility though, I had an early 22" long throat barrel it would shoot the 75gr American Eagle ok but was crap with the long 80+ VLD ,ELD and SMK.
While I was looking for a new barrel I ran across AR Performance and followed the owner down a rabbit hole he had some 20" 1 in 7.7" 3R rifled blanks he cut specifically for 80gr ELD-M with the idea that from a 20" the Valk just doesn't have the powder capacity to run 88 n 90s fast enough to take advantage of the BC over the added velocity you can get with 80s.
About that time Federal dropped the 80.5 Berger load on the marked and it's an absolute dart to 1000 the range near me only goes to 960 so I am very happy with my set up.
It's definitely past it's peak for popularity.
I've seen several yotes hammered with 75gr ELD-Ms in FB groups.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
As promised. PSA lower and upper bought on separate occasions. Upper came with an 18-inch 6.5 Grendel barrel, that I swapped out for a 24-inch EABCO "Accuracy Barrel" in 6mm ARC. Replaced the stock with a Magpul PRS-Lite. Trigger is a Lantac E-CT1. Vortex Viper HST 6-24x50 VMR-1 (MOA) in a Warne 20 MOA mount.
