looking to build a new gas gun. Cant decide on 24" 224v or 6.5gr. Mostly shooting out to 600 with further available at a later time. I reload if that helps. I mostly shoot 308 but just sold my 24" 223 wylde so another gas gun is needed.
New gas gun build
- Thread starter FrozenMinnesotan
- Start date
Both are great rounds in a small block AR, IMO. I went with the Valkyrie and my Dad went with the Grendel. He went with the Grendel because he has a Howa mini in 6.5 that he loves. I went with 224V because I was already set up to shoot it, 6.8 bolts, mags, brass, etc.
It depends what your going to use it for. I went Valkyrie because it was going to be cheaper for me to reload and shoot. I use it for target shooting and coyotes. Both cartridges require a change of bolt, barrel and magazine to run in an AR. 224V is based on the 6.8spc, the Grendel on the 7.62x39.
If your going to be starting from scratch, just read up on both and see which one fits your budget and intended use. The 6.5 is an amazing round, its established and it shoots. The 224V is still kinda new on the scene, I love mine. I dont regret going Valkyrie. It's a 20", 1:6.5 twist, stabilizes 88ELDs and 90SMK.
If you go Grendel, I recommend the: "6.5 Grendel II" chamber. It's an updated chamber spec from the original so if you go that route, keep an eye out on the specs of the upper/barrel you buy and get the Grendel II chamber. If you go Valkyrie, I would shoot for a 1:6.5 or 1:6 twist if you want to run 90gr plus bullets. I had a 1:7 twist CMMG 24" barrel first. It did ok with the 88ELDs but just didnt like any 90gr or 95gr I loaded for it. I went to a 20", 1:6.5 twist, I love it. It handles better and shoots the 90s... finally.
It depends what your going to use it for. I went Valkyrie because it was going to be cheaper for me to reload and shoot. I use it for target shooting and coyotes. Both cartridges require a change of bolt, barrel and magazine to run in an AR. 224V is based on the 6.8spc, the Grendel on the 7.62x39.
If your going to be starting from scratch, just read up on both and see which one fits your budget and intended use. The 6.5 is an amazing round, its established and it shoots. The 224V is still kinda new on the scene, I love mine. I dont regret going Valkyrie. It's a 20", 1:6.5 twist, stabilizes 88ELDs and 90SMK.
If you go Grendel, I recommend the: "6.5 Grendel II" chamber. It's an updated chamber spec from the original so if you go that route, keep an eye out on the specs of the upper/barrel you buy and get the Grendel II chamber. If you go Valkyrie, I would shoot for a 1:6.5 or 1:6 twist if you want to run 90gr plus bullets. I had a 1:7 twist CMMG 24" barrel first. It did ok with the 88ELDs but just didnt like any 90gr or 95gr I loaded for it. I went to a 20", 1:6.5 twist, I love it. It handles better and shoots the 90s... finally.
@ShooterwithNoName Why the move to a shorter barrel with the Valkyrie? I too have a 20” .224V (Craddock Bartlein 1/7 twist) and I wonder if I should have went longer.
I like both. Grendel sacrifices trajectory for energy. Depends on what you need. I have a 22" 224 valkyrie with a craddock precision barrel. Couldnt be more happy with it.
Basically boils down to handling. The 24" did shoot good with 88eld and 77smk. Barnes 69gr match burners did really good too. But it was too unwieldy and heavy for what I use it for. So I went down to a 20", standard profile barrel. It's also a 1:6.5 twist, which is handling the 90smk and Fusion 90gr factory ammo great so far. I'm still breaking it in though, but it shoots great so far. The scope is just an old 2-10x hunting scope.
Pardon the crappy cell phone pic. This set up is perfect for coyote hunting and if I want I can throw on a bipod and it punches paper just fine. It just handles much better than the heavy 24" barrel, it was a bit of a pig. Would have been fine for a dedicated bench/match rifle though.
This for me as well... the chamber reamer issue, real or not,... makes me bias, that the bugs aren't fully worked out for the .224V
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