20" 556 vs 224v

[FrozenMinnesotan]

I'm looking to build a cheapish long range ar. I'm torn between a 20" 224v or 556. Both psa uppers. I plan to potentially rebarrel either with a x caliber barrel in future if accuracy isn't great. But my question is which would you choose? Ammo supply isn't an issue and I have a yhm t3 can id like to use so that's why I'm sticking with those calibers. I can go 22arc but I'd have to rebarrel right away and I don't want to. Going out to 750 yards at local informal gas gun matches. I already have a 16" 8t ar but I'm leaving that set up with a dot for now.

 

[Trigger Monkey]

For informal gas gun matches I'd go with 5.56. It's cheaper, there's a wider ammo selection, and options are coming out now that start to close the capability gap.

 

[FrozenMinnesotan]

That is true. I can get 224v 88eld for 25 and 77gr 223 for same price though. 75gr 224 for 15. That change your opinion?

 

[Trigger Monkey]

No, I'd still go with a 5.56 gun.

 

[Kickin45]

223 and AI it.
Can still shoot off the shelf ammo, but now you produce brass that equals or even betters the 224V

 

[FrozenMinnesotan]

This is for a ar. Plus I'm buying factory upper for now

 

[TonyTheTiger]

Every time I play the ballistics game and think I need a new hot AR caliber, I come back to the nearly free brass for 5.56, the wide range of great loads, parts and magazine availability, and then weigh that against the fact that the overwhelming majority of my shooting is below or at its max effective range, very little is beyond. Then I think about tooling up for loading another caliber, digging through grass to find that last piece of brass, building up load data and keeping track of it. Then I buy another 5.56.
I do have a 6mm, and it's great, but also overkill for my situation most of the time. 5.56 does the same thing for me at most of the distances I shoot.

 

[Bravo6niner]

I like my 224v for shooting heavies, 80-90gr. Anything less just go 223

 

[Jsp556]

That is true. I can get 224v 88eld for 25 and 77gr 223 for same price though. 75gr 224 for 15. That change your opinion?

The AAC 77gr hpbt is usually $11.99 a box and goes on sale for $9.99. It shoots good enough for blasting steel at distance. You’ll get better barrel life out of the 5.56 gun. White oak service rifle barrels start at $245, and shoot.

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[shooter545]

Every time I play the ballistics game and think I need a new hot AR caliber, I come back to the nearly free brass for 5.56, the wide range of great loads, parts and magazine availability, and then weigh that against the fact that the overwhelming majority of my shooting is below or at its max effective range, very little is beyond. Then I think about tooling up for loading another caliber, digging through grass to find that last piece of brass, building up load data and keeping track of it. Then I buy another 5.56.
I do have a 6mm, and it's great, but also overkill for my situation most of the time. 5.56 does the same thing for me at most of the distances I shoot.

Well said! I have found myself in the same place on a number of occasions. I too have a couple of 6mm and 6.5 for small frame ARs and they are fun but like you a bit overkill for my shooting situations here in eastern NC. Anyway, great assessment.

 

[reelserious]

I have both. I shoot 75 grain ar 15 at 2750 and the valkarie shoots the same bullet at 3000 fps. Both 20 inch barrels. The ar is a 800 yard gun and the valkarie is a 1000 yard gun for me. The problem with the 223 is that there is no energy left at longer ranges. You hit a gong at 700 or 800 and it hardly moves and hard to hear the hit The valkarie is slightly better. All depends what you want to do with the gun.

 

[Rider47]

Like some other who have responded, I shoot both 223 and 224V.
224V - use for heavy bullets only (88-90gr.) - might be tricky to get a good tuned load
If you just want to shoot matches, a 22cal. is OK. If you want to win, for longer range/higher BC I recommend a 6 or 6.5 caliber.

 

[FrozenMinnesotan]

I'm only leaning 22 cal since I have a can I can use until I buy my polonium 30. I've entertained a 6.5gr since I have a cz 527 in 6.5. I also don't reload at moment too

 

[AR shooter]

I would go Valkyrie. I shoot both with 75 & 80 gr. ELDM's. You gotta bury them in a 223 so it's harder on the primer pockets and you get a little more velocity with the Valkyrie.