I'm interested in a new upper in .224 Valkyrie. Primary use will be steel and varmints at long range but it may get used for hogs and possibly deer (at responsible distances). I will not initially handload for it so I will likely start with the 90gr Fed Fusion. Is the Federal brass decent for reloading down the road? Can I go shorter than 20" on the barrel without neutering the cartridge? TIA for your input.

Less than 20" and you basically have a 5.56 that's expensive to shoot. 22+ inch is the preferred length to get the most out of 224V though a lot of people run 20".

Thanks, 303. I may build it long on purpose, then.

Will 1/7 be good enough or should I look for a 1/6.5?

Federal brass can be reloaded. But it is often the softest brass out there. Primer pockets may stop holding primers pretty early. I would get better brass to start with. It will be safer in the long run.

If 1:6.5 is available, get it. If all you can find is 1:7, it historically is the right twist for 90's in bolt action rifles.

Jason, how much velocity is lost going from 20" to 16"? , it still would be better than .223 with the 90 gr bullet?

.224V 31.5 gr H2O capacity

.223 Rem 28.8 gr H2O capacity

So, the .224V has to make more velocity.

Barrel length loss is usually 20-25 fps per inch.

thats what I thinking, another post commented that it would not be any better than .223, I am trying to figure a bolt n the .224 val. I have a have bolt in 22-250, get a barrel 1-7 twist (or the 6.1 if can find) then figure out the bolt face, could I just get another bolt for the .224? then i could switch out barrels (have every thing I need, have done before) advice?

I think the bolt with the proper face for the .224V is going to be tricky to find. Start there. After that, you're plan is solid.

Wasnt this a Buzz dream two years ago? A bolt Valkerie.

Mossberg has them, (bolt 224) on a military type

Does Mossberg use metric threads in the action?

If yes, not all gunsmiths cut metric threads on barrel tenons. Just FYI

Mossberg actually offers a 224 Valkyrie bolt action rifle if you don’t want to build one.

All you need is a action for a 6.8 spc, or something with a ppc bolt face even a 7.62x39 bolt gun could be made into the Valkyrie nothing is hard to do these days. You just have to be willing to pay the price.

If it were me using a cheap donor action, I would re cut the tennon threads after indicating it in on the center bore of the action then fit the barrel blank to the action.. but that’s a little work.

Jason, I thought the Valkyrie was ~34gr H2O?

Depends on where you search. I have not tested it, personally.

Bottom line, it holds more than .223 Rem...

I am building one tomorrow if I can find the right upper in FW at the show in the morning. Otherwise getting one with a Shaw bull barrel off the web. 22" is what I had before on the first one I built. Wish I had never sold it, hence the second build.

If doing a bolt gun maybe a 308 bolt face gun would be easier. 22 Creedmoor or similar will sling heavies out of a short barrel without issue. 22BR would be my choice if you are a handloader. 224 makes sense in an AR to me.

.22-250
.22X47 Lapua
.22 Creedmoor

Drop down to .384" bolt face
.223 Rem
.223 A.I.

^^All fairly easy to create.

I'm building a 224Val bolt gun on a Savage 111 action.
It was previously a .223 which helps.
I ordered a prefit barrel in a 1:7 rate
Waiting on a new bolt head from PTG.
Was going to use this on my Pdog shoot but it looks like I wont have everything together and sighted in

No uppers for .224 in FW today s I ordered one from AR-15Parts.com. Shaw 24" bull barrel upper with target crown, 15" handguard and the nitride BCG ran $625 + tax. $676.56 total.

They have one that's 20" and a medium heavy barrel with a flash hider for less if you are building one.