What dies are everyone using and how do you like them?
I need to order some to load for my two rifles.
I need to order some to load for my two rifles.
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.224 Valkyrie
- Thread starter Niles Coyote
- Start date
I am using foster br dies. The full length sizer leaves about .0015-.002" neck tension and the seater will occasionally leave a slight seating stem ring on the bullets when loading newer brass. They are good but I'll probably buy redding competition dies when ever they get around to making them... just my personal preference.
***update on 90 grain .224 sierra matchking***
They have arrived. Bullet length is between 1.3-1.305" for those wanting to calculate stability and barrel twist. I loaded up ten for velocity testing tomorrow with Reloder 17
I started seeing differences in seating depth with regard to powder compression at 26 grains. I've seated them to an COAL of 2.290ish.
***update on 90 grain .224 sierra matchking***
They have arrived. Bullet length is between 1.3-1.305" for those wanting to calculate stability and barrel twist. I loaded up ten for velocity testing tomorrow with Reloder 17
I started seeing differences in seating depth with regard to powder compression at 26 grains. I've seated them to an COAL of 2.290ish.
Velocity testing, 95gr SMK loaded to an overall length of 2.290 with RL-17 in new starline brass and CCI #41 primers.
two shots each charge weight over a magnetospeed from my 22" Bartlein barrel with rifle +2" gas system smithed by Craddock Precision.
25.4gr= 2557, 2554
25.7gr= 2583, 2589
26.0gr= 2605, 2608
26.3gr= 2670, 2693
I stopped right there as that is a huge jump in velocity. 26 and 26.3 had ever so slight ejector polishing on the case head. One thing to note I was running my gen 1 JP SCS buffer system with the lightest spring weight so switching to the gen2 H2 SCS and or a heavier spring may delay the opening enough to get rid of the slight ejector marks.
Next up will be group testing and I think I'll start around 25.0 and go up to 26.0
Yes, they worked fine in my mags. I am using PRI 15 round mags.
two shots each charge weight over a magnetospeed from my 22" Bartlein barrel with rifle +2" gas system smithed by Craddock Precision.
25.4gr= 2557, 2554
25.7gr= 2583, 2589
26.0gr= 2605, 2608
26.3gr= 2670, 2693
I stopped right there as that is a huge jump in velocity. 26 and 26.3 had ever so slight ejector polishing on the case head. One thing to note I was running my gen 1 JP SCS buffer system with the lightest spring weight so switching to the gen2 H2 SCS and or a heavier spring may delay the opening enough to get rid of the slight ejector marks.
Next up will be group testing and I think I'll start around 25.0 and go up to 26.0
Yes, they worked fine in my mags. I am using PRI 15 round mags.
i just loaded up some rounds with 2 different powders, 3 different charge weights each. i plan to test fire 2 shots strictly for velocity, (but might load up 5 per charge if i have time before i install the barrel and hit the range) there are 5 rounds per charge that i loaded. I followed sierra load data with varget powder and cfe223. the barrel I chose to get is a fluted rock creek 24" 1:6.7 twist (gain twist)
90gr smk, federal brass, cci #450 overall length 2.260"
varget (sierra estimated velocities)
- 22.9 (2500)
-23.4 (2550)
-23.9 (2600)
cfe223
-23.9 (2500)
-24.5 (2550)
-25.1 (2600)
once all these were loaded, i did a shake test and could not hear or feel any powder moving inside the cartridge with varget 23.4 & 23.9. all other loads have some space inside the case when shaken.
still waiting on my barrel from craddock precision, I talked with them yesterday and it should be ready to ship by monday or tuesday next week...fingers crossed. i will post finding here as well as a video on youtube if you search my channel "isaacspoon" or just seach for the valkyrie videos with yellow title boxes you will find the videos.
I think my next powder i will try after i find a solid load in these 2 previously mentioned will be RL 17.
90gr smk, federal brass, cci #450 overall length 2.260"
varget (sierra estimated velocities)
- 22.9 (2500)
-23.4 (2550)
-23.9 (2600)
cfe223
-23.9 (2500)
-24.5 (2550)
-25.1 (2600)
once all these were loaded, i did a shake test and could not hear or feel any powder moving inside the cartridge with varget 23.4 & 23.9. all other loads have some space inside the case when shaken.
still waiting on my barrel from craddock precision, I talked with them yesterday and it should be ready to ship by monday or tuesday next week...fingers crossed. i will post finding here as well as a video on youtube if you search my channel "isaacspoon" or just seach for the valkyrie videos with yellow title boxes you will find the videos.
I think my next powder i will try after i find a solid load in these 2 previously mentioned will be RL 17.
RL-17 & 95 gr SMK @2.290... going to give 25.6,25.7 and 25.8 another try to confirm.
Shot a ladder this weekend.
22" Criterion barrel. 200 shots through it already. H2 JP buffer.
224 Valkyrie- federal unfired brass full sized, Varget, Hornady ELD-M 80gr, CCI Small Rifle Magnum Primers #450, COAL to SAAMI spec 2.260
Series 24.3 Shots: 6
Min 2694 Max 2730
Avg 2713 S-D 13.2
ES 36
Shot Speed
1 2724 ft/s
2 2730 ft/s
3 2706 ft/s
4 2717 ft/s
5 2707 ft/s
6 2694 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 24.5 Shots: 6
Min 2706 Max 2750
Avg 2721 S-D 15.4
ES 44
Shot Speed
1 2716 ft/s
2 2711 ft/s
3 2750 ft/s
4 2721 ft/s
5 2706 ft/s
6 2722 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 24.7 Shots: 5
Min 2708 Max 2735
Avg 2720 S-D 11.1
ES 27
Shot Speed
1 2715 ft/s
2 2708 ft/s
3 2729 ft/s
4 2715 ft/s
5 2735 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 24.9 BOOK MAX Shots: 5
Min 2741 Max 2772
Avg 2757 S-D 12.9
ES 31
Shot Speed
1 2741 ft/s
2 2752 ft/s
3 2769 ft/s
4 2753 ft/s
5 2772 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 25.1 MAX+ Shots: 5
Min 2749 Max 2818
Avg 2795 S-D 27.3
ES 69
Shot Speed
1 2811 ft/s
2 2818 ft/s
3 2795 ft/s
4 2805 ft/s
5 2749 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 25.3 MAX++ Shots: 5
Notes: ejector swipes
Min 2783 Max 2843
Avg 2817.8 S-D 21.8
ES 60
Shot Speed
1 2843 ft/s
2 2804 ft/s
3 2818 ft/s
4 2812 ft/s
5 2812 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 25.5 Max+++ Shots: 5
Notes: ejector impression mark acceptable try *line brass
Min 2834 Max 2841
Avg 2828.6 S-D 14.65605677
ES 37
Shot Speed
1 2838 ft/s
2 2841 ft/s
3 2828 ft/s
4 2832 ft/s
5 2804* ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
22" Criterion barrel. 200 shots through it already. H2 JP buffer.
224 Valkyrie- federal unfired brass full sized, Varget, Hornady ELD-M 80gr, CCI Small Rifle Magnum Primers #450, COAL to SAAMI spec 2.260
Series 24.3 Shots: 6
Min 2694 Max 2730
Avg 2713 S-D 13.2
ES 36
Shot Speed
1 2724 ft/s
2 2730 ft/s
3 2706 ft/s
4 2717 ft/s
5 2707 ft/s
6 2694 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 24.5 Shots: 6
Min 2706 Max 2750
Avg 2721 S-D 15.4
ES 44
Shot Speed
1 2716 ft/s
2 2711 ft/s
3 2750 ft/s
4 2721 ft/s
5 2706 ft/s
6 2722 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 24.7 Shots: 5
Min 2708 Max 2735
Avg 2720 S-D 11.1
ES 27
Shot Speed
1 2715 ft/s
2 2708 ft/s
3 2729 ft/s
4 2715 ft/s
5 2735 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 24.9 BOOK MAX Shots: 5
Min 2741 Max 2772
Avg 2757 S-D 12.9
ES 31
Shot Speed
1 2741 ft/s
2 2752 ft/s
3 2769 ft/s
4 2753 ft/s
5 2772 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 25.1 MAX+ Shots: 5
Min 2749 Max 2818
Avg 2795 S-D 27.3
ES 69
Shot Speed
1 2811 ft/s
2 2818 ft/s
3 2795 ft/s
4 2805 ft/s
5 2749 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 25.3 MAX++ Shots: 5
Notes: ejector swipes
Min 2783 Max 2843
Avg 2817.8 S-D 21.8
ES 60
Shot Speed
1 2843 ft/s
2 2804 ft/s
3 2818 ft/s
4 2812 ft/s
5 2812 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 25.5 Max+++ Shots: 5
Notes: ejector impression mark acceptable try *line brass
Min 2834 Max 2841
Avg 2828.6 S-D 14.65605677
ES 37
Shot Speed
1 2838 ft/s
2 2841 ft/s
3 2828 ft/s
4 2832 ft/s
5 2804* ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
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Berger 90gr VLDs were also tested at .3gr intervals and determined too slow vs 80gr ELD-M's BC and velocity.
Used Redding VLD Bullet Seating Micrometer #9183 to seat to SAAMI max length.
224 Valkyrie- federal unfired brass full sized, Varget, Berger VLD 90gr, CCI Small Rifle Magnum Primers #450, 2.260"
Series 23.4 Shots: 4
Min 2488 Max 2516
Avg 2501 S-D 11.9
ES 28
Shot Speed
1 2505 ft/s
2 2488 ft/s
3 2516 ft/s
4 2497 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 23.7 Shots: 4
Min 2496 Max 2538
Avg 2516 S-D 17.2
ES 42
Shot Speed
1 2538 ft/s
2 2518 ft/s
3 2496 ft/s
4 2515 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 24 BOOK MAX Shots: 5
Min 2536 Max 2581
Avg 2566 S-D 18.9
ES 45
Shot Speed
1 2560 ft/s
2 2575 ft/s
3 2580 ft/s
4 2581 ft/s
5 2536 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 24.3 BOOK MAX+ Shots: 5
Notes: no pressure signs
Min 2583 Max 2617
Avg 2602 S-D 12.6
ES 34
Shot Speed
1 2583 ft/s
2 2605 ft/s
3 2607 ft/s
4 2598 ft/s
5 2617 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Used Redding VLD Bullet Seating Micrometer #9183 to seat to SAAMI max length.
224 Valkyrie- federal unfired brass full sized, Varget, Berger VLD 90gr, CCI Small Rifle Magnum Primers #450, 2.260"
Series 23.4 Shots: 4
Min 2488 Max 2516
Avg 2501 S-D 11.9
ES 28
Shot Speed
1 2505 ft/s
2 2488 ft/s
3 2516 ft/s
4 2497 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 23.7 Shots: 4
Min 2496 Max 2538
Avg 2516 S-D 17.2
ES 42
Shot Speed
1 2538 ft/s
2 2518 ft/s
3 2496 ft/s
4 2515 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 24 BOOK MAX Shots: 5
Min 2536 Max 2581
Avg 2566 S-D 18.9
ES 45
Shot Speed
1 2560 ft/s
2 2575 ft/s
3 2580 ft/s
4 2581 ft/s
5 2536 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
Series 24.3 BOOK MAX+ Shots: 5
Notes: no pressure signs
Min 2583 Max 2617
Avg 2602 S-D 12.6
ES 34
Shot Speed
1 2583 ft/s
2 2605 ft/s
3 2607 ft/s
4 2598 ft/s
5 2617 ft/s
---- ---- ---- ----
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Overall, I am not excited about any of these ES' although most groups were pretty darn good for a gas gun.
Next, I am going to try RL17 in the 28-29.4gr range to chase another 100 fps, use Starline brass and pay more attention to neck tension, and tweak the seating depth in the 25.5gr Varget in the 80gr ELD-M since 3 of the 5 were in the same hole.
The Hornady ELM-Ds are half the price of the Bergers and at these velocities, significantly less elevation and windage at distance.
Next, I am going to try RL17 in the 28-29.4gr range to chase another 100 fps, use Starline brass and pay more attention to neck tension, and tweak the seating depth in the 25.5gr Varget in the 80gr ELD-M since 3 of the 5 were in the same hole.
The Hornady ELM-Ds are half the price of the Bergers and at these velocities, significantly less elevation and windage at distance.
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I have been playing with the 90 smk and 80 eld and once I moved away from the 2.260 OAL I started seeing a big improvement in accuracy
i talked with paul at craddock precision and he said that while he did not see fantastic groups at 100 yards, he had a 4 inch group at 800 with a 1:7 twist on the 90gr projectiles. not sure how it wont group good at 100 but better at 800... however he was very confident in stating that. he does a whole lot more shooting than i do im sure. figured id pass that along to everyone. Maybe if you arent grouping fantastic at 100, reach out a little bit and see what happens.
I agree they like a longer OAL. I had a bad lot of federal ammo that would maybe group 3 MOA on a good day and tried a new lot that grouped at .75 MOA and the COAL was .020 longer in the good lot.
barrel is in the mail! will post results as soon as i am able to make it to the range once installed. (i dont foresee that taking too long once i have my hands on the barrel)
Chrono results with 5 shots of 2 different lots of factory FGM 90 SMK'S.
another side note to all, there is a valkyrie forum website. i will try and post on both forums as to help any future interested users find information. yall might be interested in signing up over there as well.
http://www.224valkyrieforum.com/
http://www.224valkyrieforum.com/
wow that's a pretty nice ES, especially from two lots. you mind saying the lot numbers. heard there were some not so good lots out there.
haven't shot any yet, but i have two lots, s33e043 and 041. 043 varies from 2.249 to 2.253. 041 from 2.241 to 2.247. so .012 spread between the two lots. big deal? zero issue? never measured factory ammo before so don't know if this is normal or acceptable, or a problem?
yea same here... and i live in the dfw area where it should easily be attainable. granted i havent gone out of my way to look for it at some of the local shops, but i still havent been able to find it at the main cabelas and bass pro shops i frequent.
johnny's reloading posted another video on youtube... link below... also my barrel was supposed to be delivered 2 days ago, yet when the fedex guy comes to drop it off and get a "mandatory signature", he doesnt even ring the freaking doorbell or knock (i have a doorbell camera) so in the morning, im going to the fedex location to pick it up and get my gun put together. will update once its finished
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I finally found some rl 17 and did some testing. At 27 grains velocity was really good around 2720 but just like in that Johnny's reloading video groups were terrible. I backed down to 26.5 and 26.3 and groups were still over an inch. We're my expectations to high. Then I went and tried cfe because I had it laying around and groups were way better but velocity isn't there. I tried 25.5grains and it was 2630. I'm going to keep playing with it.
All my loads were with the 90smk at 2.280oal out of a 22 inch rock creek 6.7 twister.
Yea it is pretty discouraging.
Finally got my barrel in this morning. Plan to do some shooting at least out to 300yd in the next 7 days.
Finally got my barrel in this morning. Plan to do some shooting at least out to 300yd in the next 7 days.
Load testing 95smk and RL15 at 100, 23.2 looks promising. My magnetospeed was attached for the first two groups but wasn't picking up velocity for some reason. Took it off for the rest groups got progressively larger to 24 grains which measured 1.1" ctc, 23.2 is right at .5" and if I had to guess 23.2 would be mid to low 2500's as yesterday 24.4 was clocking 2630.
Also attached is 90smk with 24.4gr RL15 at 500 (mis-marked 400) on fired starline brass and 600 on new starline, both are 7 shot groups.
Also attached is 90smk with 24.4gr RL15 at 500 (mis-marked 400) on fired starline brass and 600 on new starline, both are 7 shot groups.
Attachments
That's the same barrel I ordered. I thought that earlier, people posted that the 90s did better using longer OALs?
Curious if any of you guys have some 60gr factory ammo to measure coal. I’m testing some 52gr eldms and going off Sierras spec of 2.180. They’re sticking out quite a bit. I’m trying AA2520, Varget, and RL15 to see how fast I can get them.
It's nice to see that they don't really seem to mind a jump. Have you tried any other seating depths to see if they are jump tolerant or if this is just a sweet spot?
I've got a couple thousand sitting here but haven't played with them in anything yet. I just finally got my Valkyrie dies ordered as I was waiting for the Starline brass to come around.
BTW, for anyone waiting on crimp dies, Lee now has the crimp die in stock and available to order through there website on the custom die page. I ordered mine on Friday.
i plan to test 60 and 90 factory ammo at 100yds in the morning along with my 90 and 77 hand loads.
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