Wishing for a 224 Valkerie AX

[Long Range 338]

It occurred to my dull mind that the precision rifle community is probably the most accepting of the 224 Valkerie and its upsides. I assume that AI has no intentions of making a bolt that would work for this but what about the other guys that do barrels and bolt bushing work? I'll bet a 224 Valkerie kit for the AX would sell like hotcakes!

 

[EXSOCAL]

I put a decent bit of thought into that as well because I have a few buddies with some amazing talents when it comes to machining. We looked into making a .223 conversion for the AIAX a couple years ago and ultimately gave it up. The barrel is obviously no prob to make, machining a new bolt head is a little tricky with the extractor / ejector positioning and then getting mags to work.

I agree, it would be bitchen if AI would step up and offer a small bolt face option so we could run .223, Valkyrie, etc.

On the flip side to that, we do have the 22 Creedmoor that runs very well in the AI platform. Light recoil, cheap to reload for and very very capable out to distance.

 

[Long Range 338]

I put a decent bit of thought into that as well because I have a few buddies with some amazing talents when it comes to machining. We looked into making a .223 conversion for the AIAX a couple years ago and ultimately gave it up. The barrel is obviously no prob to make, machining a new bolt head is a little tricky with the extractor / ejector positioning and then getting mags to work.

I agree, it would be bitchen if AI would step up and offer a small bolt face option so we could run .223, Valkyrie, etc.

On the flip side to that, we do have the 22 Creedmoor that runs very well in the AI platform. Light recoil, cheap to reload for and very very capable out to distance.

Yes the 22CM is an option and saves the bolt/mag issue. With the ability to just buy barrels and replace them it is viable. If it had the factory ammo support it would be there.

 

[Kiba]

224 valkyrie might not run in an AI, but 22BR will run in an AT/AX with HRD mag kits and the standard bolt.

Get a barrel spun up with a no turn neck chamber, then all you have to do for sizing is run 6BR brass through a 22BR FL die followed by an expander mandrel.

While the factory ammo aspect of 224 valkyrie is nice, 22BR is a proven tack driver with long brass life. You could also do 22BRA or 22 Dasher if you don't mind more brass work.

I've wanted a 223 bolt for my AI's for years now, I'd love to spin up a 223AI barrel for my AT or AX... but I've given up hope for a 223 conversion.

 

[NoLegs24]

Many guys have had problems running Dasher/ BR in the AX/ AT rifles including myself. And thats with the HRD kits... I highly doubt a 223/ 224 Valkyrie will work on it as well..

@tennturk got his to work on his AT/ MPA transformer lol, but he had to also adjust the feed lips as well.

Want to run a Valkyrie or 223 on an AX..... chassis, get an impact haha

 

[Kiba]

Many guys have had problems running Dasher/ BR in the AX/ AT rifles including myself. And thats with the HRD kits... I highly doubt a 223/ 224 Valkyrie will work on it as well..

@tennturk got his to work on his AT/ MPA transformer lol, but he had to also adjust the feed lips as well.

Want to run a Valkyrie or 223 on an AX..... chassis, get an impact haha

I had problems with feeding the last 2 rounds of 6 dasher out of the mag when I was running it in my AE even after lots of feed lip tweaking, but my AT and AX run great with 6 dasher without having to adjust the feed lips. I've also tried 22br and 6br test rounds to test feeding and ejection. Running the shorter BR rounds in an AI does seem to be hit and miss, but it works for me.

 

[EXSOCAL]

Yes the 22CM is an option and saves the bolt/mag issue. With the ability to just buy barrels and replace them it is viable. If it had the factory ammo support it would be there.

Copper Creek is now offering 22CM ammo and I heard a rumor Hornady was going to push out factory ammo as well. Not sure how valid that rumor was.

 

[EXSOCAL]

I have a 6.5 twist Krieger barrel set aside for my AI... just waiting on the 22 CM reamer to show up. I have high hopes for that cartridge running the 95gr SMK... that rifle shooting the .600 BC 95gr SMK at 3250 should be amazing. Only problem is the matches with speed limits, then the 6’s and 6.5’s would have the nod. Talk about a laser.

 

[Long Range 338]

Copper Creek is now offering 22CM ammo and I heard a rumor Hornady was going to push out factory ammo as well. Not sure how valid that rumor was.

The 22CM may end up being the ticket but the current status of 224 Valkerie ammo being so prolific and cheap along with better barrel life is what puts it over the top vs other chamberings to me. If the factory loads are priced about the same and they load it down to 3000fps with the 88gr bullets it could be there.

 

[EXSOCAL]

The Valkyrie definitely took off. It gives a whole new life to the standard frame AR platform, I just haven’t seen as much popularity in bolt rifles yet.

Hopefully Hornady comes out with a decent range of hunting and target ammo for the 22CM. I plan on using mine for matches and I’m gonna push it hard, I hope to get at least 1k rounds through it but I’m hearing people have had close to 2k and beyond before pulling their tubes. We shall see.

 

[tennturk]

I had to flare out the front of the feed lips on the AW mags to get them to feed 6BR 100%. I’ve got 500 rounds on it with zero problems. Just shot the PRS finale in windy, dusty Texas and it ran perfect.

Modified AW mag left, unmodified AW mag right

 

[Dthomas3523]

The Valkyrie definitely took off. It gives a whole new life to the standard frame AR platform, I just haven’t seen as much popularity in bolt rifles yet.

Hopefully Hornady comes out with a decent range of hunting and target ammo for the 22CM. I plan on using mine for matches and I’m gonna push it hard, I hope to get at least 1k rounds through it but I’m hearing people have had close to 2k and beyond before pulling their tubes. We shall see.

What’s the point of pushing it when the velocity cap is 3200?

 

[Long Range 338]

What’s the point of pushing it when the velocity cap is 3200?

Turning varmints inside out!

 

[Dthomas3523]

Turning varmints inside out!

That’s why I might get one. But not for matches. Bye bye barrels

 

[EXSOCAL]

What’s the point of pushing it when the velocity cap is 3200?

Because not all matches have a speed limit and it would be fun to see how far you could stretch a centerfire .22 out to. Also, a .600 BC slug at 3300+ is just plain bad ass.

I’ll find out here in person soon enough but I’ve heard very positive things about the barrel life in the 22 CM when shooting the heavy bullets. If I get north of 1200 rounds I’ll be very satisfied.

 

[perttime]

There's got to be a Remington clone action out there, that will work with 224 Valkyrie. Then you can drop that into an AI chassis.

 

[blbennett1288]

Bighorn makes a bolt face for the Valkyrie

 

[mercracing]

There's got to be a Remington clone action out there, that will work with 224 Valkyrie. Then you can drop that into an AI chassis.

That’s kinda missing the point, using a clone when we’re talking about using it in the best platform on the planet.

Bighorn makes a bolt face for the Valkyrie

I actually have an Origin in my hands for this exact purpose.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Unfortunately you’re probably going to be waiting forever for AI to do a Valkyrie. I hope I’m wrong, but 223 didn’t even happen.

If you want an AIish Valkyrie then your best bet is going to be a 700 footprint action and a AI chassis as others pointed out.

 

[mercracing]

Unfortunately you’re probably going to be waiting forever for AI to do a Valkyrie. I hope I’m wrong, but 223 didn’t even happen.

If you want an AIish Valkyrie then your best bet is going to be a 700 footprint action and a AI chassis as others pointed out.

I know your right. But can you imagine how sweet it would be if AI started offering different bolts/mags for their rifles?!
We did finally get a competition trigger so maybe it will happen they’re just making sure all the kinks are worked out.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I know your right. But can you imagine how sweet it would be if AI started offering different bolts/mags for their rifles?!
We did finally get a competition trigger so maybe it will happen they’re just making sure all the kinks are worked out.

IIRC there was something about the action geometry that made 223 a no go so it wasn’t as simple as a bolt and mags. Apparently they looked into it at the very least because there was a ton of demand for 223 when the rifles got really popular with the quick change actions a few years back.

My guess is the 224V would suffer the same, but again, I’d love to be wrong about this because it would be sweet.

 

[Long Range 338]

Bump for more info or comments...

 

[Dthomas3523]

Bump for more info or comments...

On?

 

[winniethepooh]

How about a nuke in an AX? I have one on order...

 

[Servo93]

IIRC there was something about the action geometry that made 223 a no go so it wasn’t as simple as a bolt and mags. Apparently they looked into it at the very least because there was a ton of demand for 223 when the rifles got really popular with the quick change actions a few years back.

My guess is the 224V would suffer the same, but again, I’d love to be wrong about this because it would be sweet.

That’s the conclusion i came to, a .223 AI AT or AX isn’t going to happen.

Why; In the AI series of rifles after the cartridge has left the magazine, it slides though the breach ring and into the barrel. This works on 308 class cases because the diameter of the case is large enough line the bullet tip up with the .473” chamber opening.

Now with a 223 the case is smaller so the bullet tip sits lower in the breach ring and the .375” hole it needs to make it into is not low enough. If you plan on running 223 this is a major design issue that is not easily overcome.

I had a thread awhile ago that asked about the viability of the 22PPC in an AT. I felt the PPC using lighter loads would be a good replacement of .223 with the option to go much hotter. It didn’t get much traction.

Using some 7,62x39 Soviet as a temporary stand in (the parrent case for the PPC) I could get a few rounds to feed from the mag and into the breach. The case head, although smaller, can be extraced by the large AT extractor. The issue is ejection; the smaller case head coupled with the shorter case and smaller neck diameter, creates a situation where the case could slip out from under the extraxtor as it is being drawn through the breach ring.

 

[1fliride]

I had to flare out the front of the feed lips on the AW mags to get them to feed 6BR 100%. I’ve got 500 rounds on it with zero problems. Just shot the PRS finale in windy, dusty Texas and it ran perfect.

Modified AW mag left, unmodified AW mag right

View attachment 6982369

Did you modify the mag yourself ? Very nice work if you did.

 

[Dthomas3523]

This is why I am swapping my impacts for a Vector.

I want to run .223/.224 barrels and the 60deg bolt and quick change barrel is as close as I can get to an AI.

 

[Jakerz]

.224V would be awesome in an AI, but AI would have to get it working flawlessly to put there name on it and I'm with Servo93 on this one, there's probably a lot more to it than just a bolt face and a mag swap.

.22 Creed is still funny to me though, barrel life is already shit on the 6 Creed, and people want to kill it even more, lol. If the current trend keeps up people are going to be swapping barrels between stages at PRS matches pretty soon haha.

Jake

 

[Holland375]

I am sure by now you guys have read the thread about the 223 convention we have build and it is working and the 300 WSM and a 6.5 PRC.
This coming week I am finishing the valkyrie bolt head. Here is the thread anyway.

Accuracy International 223 conversion working

I needed a little bit of advice and opinions on this kit. I’ve been getting a few PM’s on the kit since Frank mentioned it. I have a working 223 conversion that we’ve made at the shop. It fed factory ammo really well with a slight stall maybe 4-8% of the time. I can’t get it replicate the issue...

www.snipershide.com