Uppers, build or buy complete, .224 Valkyrie

[Mosinitis]

Yup. That Aero offers the little cut from the factory from those of us that are all thumbs is a big plus. Also the PDQ catch has been difficult to fund in the past.

CLE (Compass Lake Engineering) should have it, they were first to offer it. Again, this is for the right handed shooters, left handed shooter has it on the preferred side already.

They changed it a little, it used to look more like a lever, now it is more like a button. Less chances for accidental release, it requires the same modification as before.
Right Hand Bolt Release Installation - $70.00 : Compass Lake Engineering, Best choice of weapons and accessories

 

[Podmonkey]

CLE (Compass Lake Engineering) should have it, they were first to offer it. Again, this is for the right handed shooters, left handed shooter has it on the preferred side already.

They changed it a little, it used to look more like a lever, now it is more like a button. Less chances for accidental release, it requires the same modification as before.
Right Hand Bolt Release Installation - $70.00 : Compass Lake Engineering, Best choice of weapons and accessories

Thanks much for that link. Someday I want to do a max precision heavyweight AR with all the bells and whistles. Like the ambi bolt catch.

 

[Robin]

Got my .224 Valkyrie all together and hit the range, did the barrel break in protocol, took it home and did a thorough cleaning made sure all scope and mounts are secure. Went back this morning with my son, the one that had formal training as a sniper, he has given me so many tips on this kind of shooting that have made me so much better at this. I was using American Eagle ball ammo so wasn't expecting one hole at one hundred yards, but by the time we finished up I was wishing we had a lot more yards to this range. With a better trigger I believe one hole at one hundred yards would have been easy and a high quality trigger is my next purchase, as it was we both were able to keep sub MOA groups with no problem. Of course I brought a bunch of water filled milk jugs and it blows them up nicely, heck towards the end we were shooting the caps off the jugs before we would geyser them.
After I amass some brass and start hand loading, install a good trigger I'll be looking for a range with some legs to it. Great morning!!!!
Thanks dsdmmat for the help and suggestions.

Robin

 

[Podmonkey]

Cool beans!

 

[redtail]

How’s it stack up to your 6.8?

 

[Robin]

Hmmmm, I'm not sure how to compare Redtail. My 6.8 is also very accurate. But I don't want to bring both uppers to the range at the same time. Fixed magazine lower takes both cartridges and I don't want a mishap like the one shown recently where the 300BO was loaded into a .556 and blew it up.
Robin

 

[dsdmmat]

Got my .224 Valkyrie all together and hit the range, did the barrel break in protocol, took it home and did a thorough cleaning made sure all scope and mounts are secure. Went back this morning with my son, the one that had formal training as a sniper, he has given me so many tips on this kind of shooting that have made me so much better at this. I was using American Eagle ball ammo so wasn't expecting one hole at one hundred yards, but by the time we finished up I was wishing we had a lot more yards to this range. With a better trigger I believe one hole at one hundred yards would have been easy and a high quality trigger is my next purchase, as it was we both were able to keep sub MOA groups with no problem. Of course I brought a bunch of water filled milk jugs and it blows them up nicely, heck towards the end we were shooting the caps off the jugs before we would geyser them.
After I amass some brass and start hand loading, install a good trigger I'll be looking for a range with some legs to it. Great morning!!!!
Thanks dsdmmat for the help and suggestions.

Robin

Robin,
Glad to hear your happy with the Valkyrie. It is quite the impressive little cartridge. Try some Hornady match 88 grain factory ammo. By far the most accurate factory ammunition I have shot to date.

 

[Robin]

When I got the AE ammo I bought a couple boxes of the Federal Fusion. I haven't tried it yet and want to wait for my trigger conversion, haven't decided which one yet. My next order I'll get some of those Hornady's, always have good results with their stuff.
I also have to get a set of dies, I'm pretty anxious to reload for this cartridge.
I also have to find a longer range in the Rochester area, Hah!
Robin

 

[Calculon]

@Robin Which barrel did you go with? Final build list would be great.

 

[Robin]

Calculus, I went with a left handed side charger upper receiver from Bear Creek arsenal so most of what I did is probably not of much use to anyone, but the barrel, heart and soul of the gun, doesn't care if you are left or right handed and I went with this one.
Faxon Firearms 224 Valkyrie Heavy Fluted 5R, 416R, Nitride Barrel - 24\
I can't find my receipt and can't remember the name of the device I put on the muzzle but it is pretty much a can with no baffles that does nothing but push the sound and fury down range away from the shooter and anyone to his sides. I love it!!!!! It really makes the gun a pleasure to shoot compared to regular compensators where you can feel the concussion and the noise is amplified.
Hope this helps. Anything else, let me know.
Robin

 

[Calculon]

Thanks Robin. I was mostly interested in the barrel - as you said heart and soul.

 

[Calculon]

A good barrel for a similar build only $200
https://www.primaryarms.com/ballistic-advantage-22in-224-valkyrie-ar-15-premium-grade-heavy-barrel

 

[Robin]

Looking for a good set of .224 Valkyrie reloading dies and ran across some Sierra reloading data which I down loaded. For the 90gr. bullet they say you need a 6.5 twist rate, all other weights they say 8.5 is a go. Now I bought my 7.5 twist barrel because it was suppose to stabilize all bullet weights for this caliber, up to and including the 90 gr. Anyone have experience with this caliber and reloading same that can clarify this contradiction would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to buy reloading supplies that won't work in what I have, and the 90gr. bullet was a targeted load when I started out on this project.
Robin

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

If it's anything like the .556 it seems you would want the in between twist rate (1:8). So I would think you did well to choose the 1:7.5. That's all I got.

 

[dsdmmat]

Looking for a good set of .224 Valkyrie reloading dies and ran across some Sierra reloading data which I down loaded. For the 90gr. bullet they say you need a 6.5 twist rate, all other weights they say 8.5 is a go. Now I bought my 7.5 twist barrel because it was suppose to stabilize all bullet weights for this caliber, up to and including the 90 gr. Anyone have experience with this caliber and reloading same that can clarify this contradiction would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to buy reloading supplies that won't work in what I have, and the 90gr. bullet was a targeted load when I started out on this project.
Robin

1-7 for 90 grain bullets. The Valkyrie seems to shoot the 80-88 Hornady red tips the best. I would look at grabbing some of the 80 grain Bullets to load up.

All of my ar 224 Valkyries are 1-7 twist my bolt gun is a 1-6.5 twist.

 

[Robin]

I just double checked and my barrel is a 1-7. Thanks ds, I'm putting them on my list!!!!
Robin