The 224 Valkyrie gives an AR-15 owner a way to shoot long, heavy .22-caliber bullets at long range. That is the core of 224 Valkyrie ballistics: high-BC bullets in the 75 to 90 grain range, moving fast enough to stay supersonic far out. The Federal Gold Medal 80.5 grain Berger lists 2,925 fps and 1,529 ft-lbs.
Here is the published muzzle data for the Valkyrie loads we stock, how to read it, and which bullet suits steel, coyotes and practice.
What Is a 224 Valkyrie?
Federal introduced the 224 Valkyrie in 2017. It is the 6.8 SPC case necked down to hold a .224-inch bullet. It runs in an AR-15 lower with its own upper parts.
Will 224 Valkyrie work in a 223 magazine?
No. The Valkyrie case is wider than a .223, so it needs 6.8 SPC style magazines. It also needs a bolt with the 6.8 SPC bolt face, such as the Faxon 6.8 SPC / 224 Valkyrie bolt carrier group. A Valkyrie barrel with a fast twist is a must for the heavy bullets.
Is 224 Valkyrie dead?
Not in our shop. Federal, Hornady, Barnes and Underwood loads are all in our catalog. It is true that fewer new rifles come out in this round than in the 6.5 Grendel or 6.5 Creedmoor. If you own one, buy ammo in larger lots when you find a load you like.
224 Valkyrie Ballistics Table
Maker data for our 224 Valkyrie ammo, sorted by bullet weight:
| Load | Bullet | Grain | Muzzle velocity (fps) | Muzzle energy (ft-lbs) | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady 224 Valkyrie 60 Grain V-Max Varmint Express | V-Max polymer tip | 60 | 3,300 | 1,451 | 20-round box |
| Federal 224 Valkyrie 60 Grain V-Max Varmint and Predator | Hornady V-Max polymer tip | 60 | 3,300 | 1,451 | 20-round box |
| Underwood 224 Valkyrie 72 Grain Lehigh Controlled Chaos | Lehigh Controlled Chaos fragmenting hollow point, lead-free | 72 | 3,100 | 1,536 | 20-round box |
| American Eagle 224 Valkyrie 75 Grain FMJ | Full metal jacket (FMJ) | 75 | 3,000 | 1,499 | 200-round case (10 x 20) |
| Hornady Black 224 Valkyrie 75 Grain JHP | Jacketed hollow point (JHP) | 75 | 3,000 | 1,499 | 20-round box |
| Barnes VOR-TX 224 Valkyrie 77 Grain LRX Lead-Free | Long Range X (LRX) polymer tip, lead-free | 77 | n/a | n/a | 20-round box |
| Federal 224 Valkyrie 78 Grain TSX Lead-Free | Barnes Triple-Shock X (TSX) solid copper hollow point, lead-free | 78 | 2,850 | 1,407 | 20-round box |
| Federal Gold Medal 224 Valkyrie 80.5 Grain Berger | Berger Target jacketed hollow point | 80.5 | 2,925 | 1,529 | 20-round box |
| Hornady 224 Valkyrie 88 Grain ELD Match | ELD Match polymer tip | 88 | 2,700 | 1,424 | 20-round box |
| Federal Gold Medal 224 Valkyrie 90 Grain Sierra MatchKing | Sierra MatchKing jacketed hollow point | 90 | 2,700 | 1,457 | 20-round box |
| Federal Fusion 224 Valkyrie 90 Grain MSR | Bonded round nose | 90 | 2,700 | 1,457 | 200-round case (10 x 20) |
How to Read the Numbers
Velocity is speed at the muzzle, in feet per second. Energy is foot-pounds, figured from speed and bullet weight. Both come from the maker’s test barrel. AR barrels of 16 to 18 inches will often read lower than the box. Longer barrels may read higher.
The light 60 grain V-Max loads, like the Hornady Varmint Express 60 grain, list 3,300 fps and 1,451 ft-lbs. The heavy 90 grain match loads list 2,700 fps and 1,457 ft-lbs. That is slower at the muzzle, but heavy match bullets have a much higher ballistic coefficient. They hold speed and fight wind better far out. That is the whole idea behind the round.
Picking a Valkyrie Load
Long-range steel and paper
The Federal Gold Medal 90 grain Sierra MatchKing, Gold Medal 80.5 grain Berger and Hornady 88 grain ELD Match are made for this. Your barrel twist must be fast enough to stabilize them. Check your rifle’s spec.
Coyotes and varmints
The 60 grain V-Max loads break up fast. The Underwood 72 grain Lehigh Controlled Chaos lists 3,100 fps and 1,536 ft-lbs and is lead-free.
Practice
The American Eagle 75 grain FMJ 200-round case is the low-cost training load.
Deer and hogs
Some hunters use the Federal 78 grain Barnes TSX or the Fusion MSR 90 grain on deer and hogs where .22 centerfire rounds are legal. Many states restrict that, so check your state and local rules first.
Altitude and Conditions
Air density changes 224 Valkyrie ballistics at long range. Thin, warm air gives flatter flight. Cold, dense air adds drop and drift. Light .22 bullets feel wind more than heavy rifle bullets do. Chronograph your load and use a ballistic app with your own numbers.
Comparing AR-15 long-range rounds? See our 6.5 Grendel ballistic data guide.
Shop 224 Valkyrie Ammo
Browse match, varmint and bulk FMJ loads in our 224 Valkyrie ammo section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will 224 Valkyrie work in a 223 magazine?
No. The Valkyrie case is wider than the .223, so it does not feed well from standard AR-15 magazines. Use 6.8 SPC style magazines made for the Valkyrie. The rifle also needs a bolt with the 6.8 SPC bolt face and a Valkyrie barrel.
What is a 224 Valkyrie?
It is a .22-caliber AR-15 cartridge that Federal introduced in 2017. It is the 6.8 SPC case necked down to a .224-inch bullet. It was built to push long, heavy match bullets fast enough for long-range shooting from an AR-15 size rifle.
Is 224 Valkyrie dead?
No. Federal, Hornady, Barnes and Underwood still load it, and we carry several options. Fewer new rifles come out for it than for some rivals, so stock can be thin at times. Buy a good supply of the load your rifle likes.
What is 224 Valkyrie good for?
Long-range steel and paper with heavy match bullets, coyotes and varmints with light bullets, and low-recoil practice. Some hunters use it on deer and hogs where .22 centerfire is legal. Check your state and local rules before you hunt with it.
