Announced earlier this fall, Federal Premium‘s new cartridge, the .224 Valkyrie, starts shipping this month. Supersonic to 1,300 yards, this AR-15-compatible round stretches the capabilities of the platform beyond the 6.5 Grendel and other options. How does it stack up? Read the following article — written by Federal — for all sorts of comparison points of the .224 Valkyrie vs. the competition. Ready to go? Rifles and uppers are already being manufactured by Savage Arms, JP Enterprises, Masterpiece Arms, Seekins Precision, LWRCI, LaRue Tactical, LMT, Q LLC, Mossberg, C&H Precision Weapons, Barrett, Accurate Mag, Precision Firearms, CMMG, and more.
224 Valkyrie Versus the World
How the newest MSR 15 round outpaces all of its competition
Federal Premium’s new 224 Valkyrie cartridge transforms the MSR 15 platform into a 1,000-yard tack driver, unleashes shooters’ full downrange potential and shatters the boundaries of ballistic performance.
Initially available in a 90-grain Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing, 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint, 90-grain Fusion MSR and 75-grain American Eagle TMJ, the lineup offers a bullet for everything from casual target shooting to serious competition and hunting everything from varmints to medium-size game like deer and hogs.
But how does the cartridge’s ballistics stack up to similar and even larger competition?
Coming In Hot
The 224 Valkyrie is fast. A round loaded with the 90-grain Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing produces a muzzle velocity of 2,700 feet per second; it maintains a blistering 1,950 fps pace at 500 yards and 1,359 fps when crossing the 1,000-yard line. In fact, it remains supersonic (faster than the speed of sound) past 1,300 yards. Velocities are based on 24-inch test barrels with a 1:7 twist.
Sustaining bullet speeds faster than the 1,125 fps speed of sound during long-range flight is critical to maximum accuracy. For starters, a projectile is more efficient and easier to put on target at higher speeds. But the transition from super- to subsonic flight (slower than the speed of sound) can also destabilize the bullet, causing it to tumble like a poorly thrown football instead of spinning in a perfect spiral like it does at supersonic speeds. Such destabilization wreaks havoc on accuracy, causing downrange performance to plummet.
“The longer you can fly faster than the speed of sound, the more you can maximize the accuracy and ballistics the bullet is designed to provide,” says elite long-range shooter and Federal Premium Brand Ambassador Jim Gilliland. “Once a bullet falls into subsonic flight, it’s much harder to hit your target.”
For its part, the 224 Valkyrie 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint yields a muzzle velocity of 3,300 fps, maintains supersonic flight to 780 yards and still cruises along at 934 fps at 1,000 yards. The 75-grain American Eagle TMJ leaves the barrel at 3,000 fps and zips by at 1,779 fps at 500 yards, while the 90-grain Fusion has an estimated 2,700 fps muzzle velocity remaining supersonic out to 975 yards. Again, all velocities are based on 24-inch test barrels with a 1:7 twist.
Compelling Comparisons
To put the Valkyrie’s performance into perspective against other match loads, a 223 Rem. 69-grain Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing produces a respectable 2,950 fps muzzle velocity, but slips into subsonic flight just 775 yards downrange—more than 500 yards less than the supersonic range of the 90-grain Sierra MatchKing 224 Valkyrie. Likewise, the 77-grain Custom Competition 22 Nosler rips from the muzzle at 2,950 fps, but quickly loses momentum before dropping below the sound barrier at 875 yards.
Still on the MSR 15 platform and in the 6.5mm class, a 130-grain Gold Medal Berger AR Hybrid 6.5 Grendel offers a 2,400 fps muzzle velocity and supersonic range of 1,100 yards, which also falls short compared to 224 Valkyrie.
The 224 Valkyrie also holds its own against popular 6mm rounds built for larger MSR 10 rifles. For example, a 108-grain Berger BT Target in 6mm Dasher produces a 2,950 fps muzzle velocity and 1,350-yard supersonic range, while the 115-grain DTAC in 6XC has a 2,950 fps muzzle velocity and stays supersonic out to 1,380 yards. While these numbers slightly surpass those of 224 Valkyrie, neither of these cartridges were designed to shoot in the MSR 15 platform.
Valkyrie even stacks up favorably against much larger, harder-kicking MSR 10 cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor. The 130-grain Gold Medal Berger AR Hybrid 6.5 Creedmoor has a 2,875 fps muzzle velocity and remains supersonic out to 1,400 yards; its 140-grain American Eagle open-tip match counterpart in 6.5 Creedmoor yields a 2,700 fps muzzle velocity and 1,280-yard supersonic range.
Max BCs
The 224 Valkyrie is designed around bullets featuring incredibly aerodynamic designs, which is reflected by their ability to score the kind of sky-high ballistic coefficient (BC) ratings typically produced only by larger caliber bullets. BC refers to a characteristic value that describes how well a bullet flies through the air. The higher the number, the better it flies.
The 90-grain Sierra MatchKing leads the 224 Valkyrie lineup with a G1 ballistic coefficient of .563, which is noteworthy for virtually any bullet and exceptional for short-action rounds. In comparison, the 223 Rem. 69-grain Sierra MatchKing scores a G1 BC of .301 and even the 22 Nosler 77-grain Custom Competition round tops out in .340 BC territory. In the 6.5mm arena, BCs range from .421 to .564.
Other 224 Valkyrie offerings also offer admirable aerodynamics. The 75-grain American Eagle TMJ achieves a .400 BC and the Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint, while lower, still registers a solid BC of .270. Such efficient flight produces higher downrange velocities and greater energy on impact, with less bullet drop.
In practical terms, elevated BCs help the bullet shoot flatter, buck the wind better and hit harder when it reaches the target. For example, at 1,000 yards the 224 Valkyrie 90-grain Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing experiences just 92.8 inches of drift with a 10 mph crosswind and drops 350 inches en route to the target. In comparison, the American Eagle 120-grain open-tip match 6.5 Grendel drifts 120 inches and drops 410 inches at the same range, under the same conditions.
The story is much the same with other small-caliber cartridges, meaning the only way to experience ballistics similar to those of the 224 Valkyrie is upsize to a heavier, more expensive MSR 10 platform paired with a larger-caliber round such as the 140-grain American Eagle 6.5 Creedmoor—which drifts 92.7 inches and drops 352 inches.
More Punch, Less Kick
The 224 Valkyrie also packs plenty of punch. For example, the 90-grain Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing packs 1,457 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle and retains 369 foot-pounds of that force at 1,000 yards.
The 224 Valkyrie 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint delivers 1,451 foot-pounds of force at the muzzle, 377 foot-pounds at 500 yards and 116 pounds at 1,000 yards; the 75-grain American Eagle TMJ has 1,499 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle, 619 foot-pounds at 500 yards and 232 at 1,000 yards. Of most importance to hunters targeting medium game like deer and hogs, the 90-grain Fusion produces 1,457 foot-pounds at the muzzle, retains 605 foot-pounds at 500 yards, and 250 foot-pounds as it falls below supersonic at 975 yards.
On the recoil front, 224 Valkyrie provides comparable ballistics as larger counterparts like the 6.5 Creedmoor—but with as little as half the felt recoil.
For example, Federal Premium’s free-recoil calculations—based on firearm weight, bullet weight, charge weight and muzzle velocity—reveal that when shot from a scoped Savage MSR 15 Recon rifle weighing 9.64 pounds, the 90-grain 224 Valkyrie Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing generates just 4.35 foot-pounds of felt recoil. Other 224 Valkyrie rounds produce similar amounts. The 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint produces 4.25 foot-pounds of recoil, while the 90-grain Fusion MSR generates 4.35 foot-pounds and the 75-grain American Eagle TMJ moves the needle just 4.51.
In comparison, a 6.5 Creedmoor 130-grain Berger AR Hybrid OTM cartridge shot from a similar platform produces more than 10 pounds of recoil. Even the 6.5 Grendel loaded with the same bullet yields nearly 7 pounds of force.
The 224 Valkyrie’s mild recoil isn’t just easy on the shoulder. “Lower recoil allows you to see where your shots are going through the scope and make follow-up shots as needed, rather than having to reset your sight picture like you might have to with a heavier recoiling round,” explains Federal Premium development engineer Jacob Burns.
“It’s just another example of how Federal Premium’s new 224 Valkyrie is going to help shooters get more from their MSR 15,” he adds. “More long-range accuracy, more consistent performance—and more fun.”
Flight of the Valkyrie
A look at the 90-grain Sierra MatchKing 224 Valkyrie’s dope card provides more insight into the cartridge’s performance. With baseline factors including 29.92 barometric pressure, 0 percent humidity, an air temperature of 59 degrees Fahrenheit and 10 mph average crosswind, the round racks up consistent ballistics throughout its 1,300-yard journey.
The bullet covers 100 yards in 0.11 seconds. It arrives traveling 2,539 feet per second with 1,288 foot-pounds of energy. Windage is virtually a non-factor at 0.67 inches. At 500 yards, flight time is 0.65 seconds and velocity is 1,950 fps. The bullet packs 760 foot-pounds of energy and drops 57 inches (with a 100-yard zero), while windage rises slightly to 19.32 inches. The 224 Valkyrie crosses the 1,300-yard line in 2.31 seconds (Mach 1.005), with a velocity of 1,122 fps and 252 foot-pounds of energy. Drop is 733 inches and windage is 173.47 inches.
The 224 Valkyrie is based on a 6.8 SPC case (necked down to .22 caliber), but comparing the two cartridges is an apples-to-oranges proposition. Designed by Special Forces personnel to increase the firepower of an M4 carbine, the 6.8 SPC uses a 0.277-inch diameter bullet and is based on a shortened version of the now-obsolete 30 Rem. case.
“The 6.8 SPC does not lend itself to using high-BC bullets for extended long-range shooting,” Burns explains. “With the 6.8 SPC, you’re launching a short .277 or 6.8mm caliber, 90-grain projectile with a lower BC at 2,850 fps. The 224 Valkyrie has a long .224 or 5.56mm caliber, 90-grain projectile with a very high BC that leaves the muzzle at 2,700 fps. When designing the Valkyrie, Federal Premium engineers didn’t consider the 6.8 SPC a comparable load. Instead, we aimed to beat the long-range ballistics of the 223 Rem., 22 Nosler and 6.5 Grendel.”
More Benefits
Besides stellar ballistics, the 224 Valkyrie packs an economical punch as well, significantly reducing the cost of 1,000-yard precision shooting for fun and competition. Suggested retails for a box of 20 224 Valkyrie rounds run from $31.95 for the 90-grain Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing down to just $13.95 for the 75-grain American Eagle TMJ. In comparison, 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition within the Federal Premium family costs from $51.95 per box for 140-grain Nosler AccuBond to $26.95 for 120-grain American Eagle open-tip match.
MSR 15 platforms also cost less than their larger MSR 10 counterparts. For example, in the Savage Arms lineup, an MSR 15 Patrol in 223 Wylde carries a suggested retail of $868 and the MSR 15 Recon costs $999. In comparison, a Savage MSR 10 Hunter chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor retails for $1,481 and an MSR 10 Long Range runs $2,284.
In the end, the advantages 224 Valkyrie offers in ballistics, recoil, accuracy and economy don’t just make this hotshot new cartridge different for the sake of different. They make it hands-down the best performing MSR 15 cartridge ever conceived—perfect for anyone who wants to shoot farther, more accurately and more effectively than ever before.
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Thanks for every other great article. Where else may anybody get that type of
info in such an ideal way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am at the search for such information.
Out of curiousity, if you are wondering how much power it has; at 1000yds the 90gr .224 Valkyrie going 1359fps has 67% MORE power than a CorBon 90gr JHP .380acp at the muzzle.
Pretty useless and underwhelming in a bolt action. But intriguing for the gas guns.
By giving away guns to winners of your shooting contests, in my opinion, all you are doing is ringing the dinner bell for the sharpshooters to show up.
Or is that the crowd TTAG wants to swarm the place?
Not your loyal TTAG readers who click the links but can’t afford to practice shoot 1,000 rounds a month?
Perhaps a drawing for the big-dollar items?
Meh, if you’re taking 1000 meters shots with an AR15 platform, you made a poor choice somewhere along the way. That’s .308 or 6.5 territory. Honestly, past 1000 meters, I’d want a .338 in a bolt action. The “acceptable” 1 MOA deviation from a gas gun turns into a piza sized group at 1000 meters. With “precision” like that, you better have a big bullet carrying a lot of energy, because you sure as hell aren’t guaranteed to hit anything important.
I would be happy if i could shoot 1 MOA at 1000 yards personally. That’s nothing to turn your nose up at for you average shooter.
So you’re telling me the Peltor eyewear Dan sent me (just got it today, thanx Dan!) was a vendor representative freebie?
S’okay, I kinda figured that…
🤠
We need to stop publicizing the name of the shooter and why he did it. These idiots want to go down in history. If we ignore them, do not give their name out or the reason they did what they did, maybe no one will follow in thier footsteps.
Have they attached the fix part of the nics background check to National reciprocity?? I’ve been kind of trying to figure this out if somebody could drop me a note in here and let me know because that fix nics background check bill is absolutely horrible and I hope they didn’t combine those two bills just to get that horrible anti-gun rhetoric passed along with the good bill the HR 38 I believe if somebody could just leave me some information whether or not they combined it or if they sent it through without it that would be a great help thank you.
I wonder if she borrowed that shirt from James Reeves?
WOW! Alan Gottlieb’s letter to the editor is worth the read. It provides very strong responses to many of the typical memes and talking points from the gun control folks. That letter should be sent to every newspaper in America.
Actually reminds me of a former co-worker who would always start her discussions with, “Don’t you agree….” It drove me nuts, but was a good ploy to move conversation in the direction she desired. the premise being, If you don’t agree with me, then clearly you are just being disagreeable.
12 pregnant marines with m14’s could handle that.
Wowweee 6.5c!!!!! Can you saY forgiven
Ill take two and a bag of silver please!!!
Cussing ghetto dwellers because they commit crime is ridiculous. They started with nothing, was offered no REAL help, and continue to be chastised because, they’re black, poor, uneducated, and criminals. Build rehabs not prisons. Skin color does not make a person, environment does. …. Them guys working for the city, should have kept their peckers in their pants and this thread would not be here.
What a lying jackwagon.
There’s a monster on the loose, he’s got our heads in a noose, and he just sits there ,, ,watching….. America we need you now, don’t you care about your son’s and daughters, America we need you now, don’t you know we can’t fight alone against this Monster … The smoke screen gun, good for any subversive law they choose.
Newsom and his Frisco-fried brain – where to begin? Read about him and his lefty, feel-good politics on Wiki. I guess he makes the periodic anti-gun/anti-NRA posting on Facebook (and wherever else he can get publicity) just to keep his credentials valid with the Brady Bunch, Bloomburg and whomever else underwrites him. I don’t think even he knows exactly what it all means, but tyranny by any other name still stinks.
Cartoon on the facebook page (this article) makes me sick.
https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_63,_Background_Checks_for_Ammunition_Purchases_and_Large-Capacity_Ammunition_Magazine_Ban_(2016)
I have been waiting for this….it is about time.
Wish they had made it look more like the original PC carbine.
I will still buy one to use my SR magazines.
Thanks for listening Ruger even if yiu did take your sweet time.
Such a masterful tome! I’ll take 8!!
If this was an anti hunting activists , the way to honor the hunters life is to sell a license to hunt the murderer.
———————————
August 23, 2017
Dear Mr. President,
My name is Ava Rose Olsen. I am seven years old. I am in second grade. Last year, I went to Townville Elementary School and I was in the first grade. I lived through the school shooting that happened. My little brother, Cameron, also lived through it. I heard and saw it all happen and I was very scared. My best friend, Jacob, was shot and died. That made me very sad. I loved him and was going to marry him one day I hate guns, One ruined my life and took my best friend. I don’t want that to ever happen again. Are you going to keep kids safe? How can you keep us safe? Please don’t let any more bad people get guns and hurt kids. My brother goes to school and I don’t want anything bad like that to happen to him again. Please keep kids safe from guns
Thank you,
Ava Rose Olsen
——————————-
This was written by hand, letters difficult to read and words run together, completely appropriate from a seven year old child. However, the spelling and content make it sound as if it was carefully coached. It’s one thing to foolishly believe in the disarmament agenda. It’s another to teach it to children at this age. If the parents want to express opinion to the president, they can send a better written letter rather than using the child to get an emotional response from the public. Yes, we know that this experience was terrible and traumatizing to children. We don’t need a child’s letter to make the news in order to tell us this.
The fact that there was a part 2 of this infomercial is making me seriously reconsider even visiting this site. That was a fast way to lose a lot of credibility. If sponsored content is being openly pushed you might as well read gun magazines and listen to James Yeager for reviews. There are plenty of credible sources out there, this is a stain on a site that I considered (past tense) to have a good reputation.
I notice that in the beginning of the article you mention the round is capable of maintaining super sonic speeds up to 1300 yards, however the rounds tested didnt come near to that
As stated from the article:
“For its part, the 224 Valkyrie 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint yields a muzzle velocity of 3,300 fps, maintains supersonic flight to 780 yards and still cruises along at 934 fps at 1,000 yards. The 75-grain American Eagle TMJ leaves the barrel at 3,000 fps and zips by at 1,779 fps at 500 yards, while the 90-grain Fusion has an estimated 2,700 fps muzzle velocity remaining supersonic out to 975 yards. Again, all velocities are based on 24-inch test barrels with a 1:7 twist.”
Is this because of the test conditions or from the performance of more superior ammunition?
Sorry for the question, new to shooting and was just wondering.
Cheers
Jade
As a match round and for taking raccoons at long distances Valkyrie looks interesting … 20% less drop than e.g. Grendel at 1000 yds. But, terminal energy is also important. I’ll stick with Grendel as a proven low-recoil hunting round for light-weight firearms … from varmints to elk.
After reading all this, I have a few factual comments to be made. First off the 224V sounds like fun but is limited. To What? A paper punch maybe? Thats where it shines, if you don’t have the ability to compensate for drop and drift. Also BC, its has great numbers at 90 grains. BUT when compaired to the data for the popular Grendel… wait a minute. the 224V has no real world data for bolts or AR’s. What we already know is that practical use for a hunting medium game rifle, 300 yards is the optimal, practical distance limit. For that the Grendel is better with it’s larger diameter and heavier projectile @ 123 gr. It’s easy to make a new booolit look when you only compare it with it’s strengths. Already with what is known and factual, if I’m going 90 grain for hunting, I am going 243 win. If I’m goin flat and long, I’m goin 204 ruger at 4000 feet per second. I( do realize those the 243 win requires a AR10 platform). So no interest to me at all.Don’t sell your 6.5 grendel yet. I personally don’t shoot targets and metal plates out past 500 yards. Unless you have done that, you don’t know how far that really is. Do I know what shooting accurately out to 1000 yards is like. Sorry, my experience is limited to my 204 Ruger and my 243 win out in thwe open here in the vast and flat lands at water filled milk jugs. If I hit one of those, I’m grinnin. If you have never fired a 204 Ruger, you have no idea what fast and flat is all about. This is why I have no interest in the ‘new” 224V. Get a 6.5 Creedmoore and it will blow the 224V away
After reading all this, I have a few factual comments to be made. First off the 224V sounds like fun but is limited. To What? A paper punch maybe? Thats where it shines, if you don’t have the ability to compensate for drop and drift. Also BC, its has great numbers at 90 grains. BUT when compaired to the data for the popular Grendel… wait a minute. the 224V has no real world data for bolts or AR’s. What we already know is that practical use for a hunting medium game rifle, 300 yards is the optimal, practical distance limit. For that the Grendel is better with it’s larger diameter and heavier projectile @ 123 gr. It’s easy to make a new boolit look when you only compare it with it’s strengths. Already with what is known and factual, if I’m going 90 grain for hunting, I am going 243 win. If I’m goin flat and long, I’m goin 204 ruger at 4000 feet per second. I( do realize those the 243 win requires a AR10 platform). So no interest to me at all.Don’t sell your 6.5 grendel yet. I personally don’t shoot targets and metal plates out past 500 yards. Unless you have done that, you don’t know how far that really is. Do I know what shooting accurately out to 1000 yards is like. Sorry, my experience is limited to my 204 Ruger and my 243 win out in the open here in the vast and flat lands here in Florida at water filled milk jugs. If I hit one of those, I’m grinnin. If you have never fired a 204 Ruger, you have no idea what fast and flat is all about. This is why I have no interest in the ‘new” 224V. Get a 6.5 Creedmoore and it will blow the 224V away
Compare the same bullets noob! You can’t compare a million different bullets and say ones better than the other! Horrible read!