224 Valkyrie Review

Long-range shooting has quite a following—and for good reason—and that means ammunition manufacturers regularly come out with new cartridges for that use. 224 Valkyrie is one of those cartridges, one that was launched with significant fanfare. So, is the 224 Valkyrie a good cartridge? Is it worth adding to your long-range collection—or any collection? I ran the 224 Valkyrie in a few different guns with a focus on a Palmetto State Armory AR-15, and I’m here to report back with the results.

Specifications of the Palmetto State Armory AR-15 in 224 Valkyrie

224 Valkyrie Background

The 224 Valkyrie was created by Federal Ammunition in 2017 for the purpose of becoming the frontrunner long-range cartridge in the AR-15 platform. After all, the AR-15 isn’t exactly known for being the gun you reach for to shoot 1,000 yards, not without the right cartridge. Federal decided they could solve that issue with 224 Valkyrie. By 2018, rifles were coming out chambered in the new cartridge with Palmetto State Armory being among the first. 

As with any new cartridge like this, in the beginning the available ammo was strictly manufactured by Federal alone. Today there are a few other loads available from manufacturers like Hornady, Underwood, and Sierra. The Federal loads include a 90 grain MatchKing Hollow Point, 80.5 grain Berger Open Tip, 90 grain Bonded Soft Point, and a 78 grain Barnes TSX Hollow Point. Yes, this is one of the lighter bullets as long-range rounds go, but it was specifically fine-tuned for this purpose.

To properly review this cartridge, we’re going to consider its performance in the PSA 20-inch AR-15. It’s worth mentioning that at a time when some manufacturers had barrel blanks with incorrect tolerances, PSA had the correct tolerances, making their rifle one of the best—if not the best—for a 224 Valkyrie review when the cartridge was new.

Features of the PSA 20-inch AR-15 in 224 Valkyrie

Palmetto specifically designed this AR-15 for superior performance with the 224 Valkyrie, but they also didn’t want to get carried away. The rifle needed to remain accessible to the average shooter while showcasing what the cartridge could do. Features of the rifle in this chambering include:

1 20-inch 416R stainless steel barrel with A2 profile and 1 in 7 twist rate to maximize ballistics of the 224 Valkyrie.

2 Picatinny rail for the addition of long-range optics.

3 6-position adjustable stock to more precisely fit the shooter.

4 M-LOK compatible handguard for quick mounting of aftermarket accessories as needed.

5 Two-stage trigger for optimal control and improved results on target during precision shooting at greater distances.

6 Ships with 30-round magazine but lower-capacity mags can be acquired to better fit a shooting bench.

PSA 20-inch AR-15 in 224 Valkyrie—Our Take

As a dedicated fan of long-range shooting who’s happy to take any and all opportunities for a longer shot, whether that’s 1,000 yards or 1 mile, I was excited to get my hands on the 224 Valkyrie. After all, bolt-actions certainly lend an edge to long-range shooting, but an AR-15 that can hold its own is a thing of beauty in its own right. The PSA 20-inch AR-15 in 224 Valkyrie is a bit hefty but that really doesn’t matter since the vast majority of the shooting focus is from the bench. Fitment on the gun is good and tolerances are tight which is vital to get the best possible results from the 224 Valkyrie.

Shootability

Getting set up for shooting from the bench involved two methods: using a bipod for support and removing it to try out sandbags. I also spent time shooting it offhand which is doable but a bit awkward given the overall length of the rifle. Even so, this is a nice shooter using both methods. It’s a pleasant surprise to find out it’s comfortable to get on this rifle and stay on it for extremely long lengths of time for long-range work. It makes it a great entry-level option for long-range, and one chambered in a cartridge meant for ringing steel at 1,000 yards and beyond.

Accuracy

Of all the loads available from Federal, the 90 grain MatchKing performs best at greater distances. The 224 Valkyrie was easy to zero and adjust running from 100 yards out to about 750 yards, at which point the high winds and drift and drop got trickier. Even so, I can consistently ring steel at 1,250 yards with this 224 Valkyrie. Running it alongside a 6.5 Grendel proved it far outdoes anything the Grendel can manage. It’s an accurate gun and cartridge if not incredibly precise.

Ergonomics

The adjustable stock on the rifle makes getting into a comfortable and effective position easier, and it fits well against my shoulder. Trigger distance is good and the overall design of the rifle makes it a pleasant shooter for whatever distance you choose to shoot from. If you’re shooting offhand or want to brace with your support hand on the handguard, that works fine, too. Ergonomically it’s as expected from a quality AR-15 with the stock taking custom fit up a notch—and that’s something that matters if you want to stretch 224 Valkyrie out to greater distances.

Value

For this one, let’s consider the value of both the rifle and the cartridge. The PSA rifle is a great value considering it is a good quality rifle. It’s among the best made, if not the best made, PSAs I’ve run (and I’ve run quite a few). As for the 224 Valkyrie, the cost of the ammo has gone down a bit over time although not by a lot. Do some shopping around and you’ll get more ammo at a decent cost, but it is definitely one of the higher-priced AR-15 cartridges.

Pros and Cons of 224 Valkyrie

Gun Deals

Preferred Ammo

Upgrade and Accessory Options

224 Valkyrie Upgrades and Accessories

1. Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 M1C3 FFP Illuminated Gunwerks RH1 MOA riflescope		Check Price
2. Caldwell Dead Shot Shooting Bags, Front and Rear Combo		Check Price
3. Kestrel 5700 Ballistics Weather Meter with Hornady 4DOF		Check Price