Caliber change 223 to 224 Valkyrie

[Highbrass]

I am always looking for the next project...Something to build, something to experiment with..and be differenter.
I am always on the lookout for older abused guns. I refer to them as orphans.
the subject of this little story started life as a model 111, interestingly a long action 223 with a spacer in the blind magazine.
The former owner was selling CHEEEP because of some issues which he disclosed up front
The barrel looked as though someone had cleaned the chamber and barrel with a steel brush of some kind and a drill.
For the price I didn't care as I planned to rebarrel.
Being that guy that does things ... because you can I settled on 224 Valkyrie. it fit the current rifle setup and only needed a barrel and bolt head.
I had never torn down a savage bolt action but it didn't seem hard so I got all the necessary tools and got busy

[Highbrass]

I ordered a new 1-7 6 groove 5R barrel from Crown Ridge barrel works. I also ordered a new larger bolt head for 224v. The new barrel took just over a week to arrive. The bolt head and headspace gauges I think came from Midway.
The re-assembly was actually easier than expected and I had the barreled action ready to go in an evening. while the barreled action was out I also tuned the trigger to just over 2 Lbs.
I was again shocked at how easy the trigger was to tune and how good it turned out.

[Dave Hoback]

Nice. Good luck

[Fuj']

I ordered a new 1-7 6 groove 5R barrel

Typo ?? One too many grooves for a 5R ??

[Highbrass]

Yep I think you're right Fuj.

[762-4-U]

I ordered a new 1-7 6 groove 5R barrel from Crown Ridge barrel works. I also ordered a new larger bolt head for 224v. The new barrel took just over a week to arrive. The bolt head and headspace gauges I think came from Midway.
The re-assembly was actually easier than expected and I had the barreled action ready to go in an evening. while the barreled action was out I also tuned the trigger to just over 2 Lbs.
I was again shocked at how easy the trigger was to tune and how good it turned out.

Just curious, I am doing the exact same thing. where did you get the bolt head? the rim diameter is .422. I cannot seem to find one

thanks in advance,
H

[Rocketvapor]

Oh darn, you could have gone with the Valkyrie's big brother, the 22 Nosler :)

The Midway 6.8/Valk bolt head is from PTG, for about $100.
Wife's 22N Savage @ 600yd last Saturday.

[762-4-U]

already have the valkyrie in ar platform. thought it would be a nice duo

[Tparrish]

Just curious, I am doing the exact same thing. where did you get the bolt head? the rim diameter is .422. I cannot seem to find one

thanks in advance,
H

Grizzly Industrial sells the PTG boltheads.

[762-4-U]

Grizzly Industrial sells the PTG boltheads.

yea thanks, I found it ordered it yesterday.... seems its better steel also.

[sharpshooter]

Better steel?

[Highbrass]

Next on the to do list was to do something with the flimsy plastic stock.
I was tempted to just get something from Boyds. I also wanted to keep this as much of a homebuilt as possible.
I thought I might just bed the stock hoping to make it a bit better, and see how that worked out.
So ...thats what I did


I also did a texture job adding epoxy to the checkering panels.


I figured a nice camo job would cover all the imperfections well.


The camo was done in KG Gunkote with a desert tan base then green, black and gray were "sponged on with a paper towel. This is a baked on finish and should be very tough.
I finished it off with a black webbing job. I like the way it turned out. I call it "urban decay camo"

[Highbrass]

I topped it with a set of DNZ rings and an Athlon Ares 4.5x27 and headed to the range with some handloads. I wanted to try the Hornady 88 Gr ELD bullet.
After zeroing and shooting about 20 rounds I was actually very disappointed in the accuracy. I still had 6 rounds left and put a new target @ 100 yds and let the rifle cool for about 20 minutes.
My first shot actually got me excited as it dropped almost dead center. Then the next shot went about an inch right and my disappointment came back. I figured I would finish off my remaining ammo.
To my surprise the remaining shots all fell in to almost the same hole as the second shot.
I thought to myself...barrel break in...


I have had it back to the range several times now and it is still shooting nice little groups. I think with a better stock it would likely do even better. I'm only a decent shot...eyes are starting to go a bit. I think a younger shooter might shoot better groups than me.
I am very impressed with the Valkyrie cartridge with the Hornady bullets. I'm getting about 2800 Fps with my handload and I would like to take it out farther than the 100 yds at the range.
Pretty sure it will still be impressive.