Light bullets
Many varmint-oriented loads use light bullets designed for rapid expansion. Their high muzzle velocity should not be confused with the behavior of a heavier match or hunting bullet.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · SMALL-BORE CENTERFIRE
.224 Valkyrie
A .22-caliber centerfire designed around longer bullets within a compact rifle cartridge. Its case geometry differs from .223 Remington.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 2.000–2.260 in
50.800–57.404 mm - Case length · max
- 1.600 in
40.640 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.2245 in
5.702 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.422 in
10.719 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Small-bore centerfire
- Bullet specification
- 0.2245 in / 5.702 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 9 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 60–90 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.224 Valkyrie is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 224 Valkyrie. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
Bullet length and rifling twist can matter as much as grain weight. Use the exact ammunition maker's recommendations.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
Federal developed the .224 Valkyrie to extend the useful reach of a cartridge that could still operate in the small-frame AR-15 platform. Rather than move to the larger AR-10-size rifle, its designers used the 6.8 SPC case family and a .22-caliber bullet. The design was especially associated with the ability to accommodate longer, heavier projectiles than the traditional light-bullet image of the .223.
That goal placed the Valkyrie in a continuing series of attempts to obtain more long-range capability from the AR-15’s size envelope. Factory rifle and ammunition support helped it move beyond an experiment available only to custom-rifle owners. Its identity also extended to bolt-action rifles, although the small-frame self-loader was fundamental to its original appeal. The Valkyrie is therefore best understood through its design constraint: retaining a familiar compact rifle platform while changing the cartridge and projectile package around it.
Historical sources: Sierra: .224 Valkyrie cartridge history ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Longer bullets
Streamlined match bullets can retain velocity differently downrange. Bullet length, construction, rifling twist, and magazine constraints are product-specific; grain weight alone does not describe them.
Specialty construction
Monolithic, bonded, tipped, and subsonic products are distinct load types when offered. A match label describes a target role and does not automatically establish a hunting application.
In the cited .224 Valkyrie examples, bullet weights are 60, 62, 75, 78, 88, 90 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
60 grains
3,300 fps
HORNADY V-MAX
75 grains
3,000 fps
TMJ
88 grains
2,675 fps
ELD® Match
Compare all 9 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FederalV224VLKM60 | 60 gr 3.89 g | HORNADY V-MAX | 3,300 fps 1,006 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 56–57 ↗ |
| Hornady81531 | 60 gr 3.89 g | V-MAX® | 3,300 fps 1,006 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 183 ↗ |
| Hornady81533 | 62 gr 4.02 g | ELD-VT® | 3,300 fps 1,006 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 183 ↗ |
| FederalAE224VLK1 | 75 gr 4.86 g | TMJ | 3,000 fps 914 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗ |
| Hornady81532 | 75 gr 4.86 g | BTHP | 3,000 fps 914 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 183 ↗ |
| FederalP224VLKBTSX1 | 78 gr 5.05 g | BARNES TRIPLE-SHOCK | 2,850 fps 869 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 52–53 ↗ |
| Hornady81534 | 88 gr 5.70 g | ELD® Match | 2,675 fps 815 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 183 ↗ |
| FederalF224VLKMSR1 | 90 gr 5.83 g | FUSION | 2,700 fps 823 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗ |
| FederalGM224VLK1 | 90 gr 5.83 g | SIERRA MATCHKING BTHP | 2,700 fps 823 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
.224 Valkyrie: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 60 gr Federal HORNADY V-MAX | Federal | 0: 3300; 100: 2923; 200: 2577; 300: 2255; 400: 1958; 500: 1687 |
| 62 gr Hornady ELD-VT® | Hornady | 0: 3300; 100: 3039; 200: 2793; 300: 2561; 400: 2341; 500: 2132 |
| 75 gr Federal TMJ | Federal | 0: 3000; 100: 2763; 200: 2539; 300: 2325; 400: 2122; 500: 1929 |
| 78 gr Federal BARNES TRIPLE-SHOCK | Federal | 0: 2850; 100: 2611; 200: 2385; 300: 2170; 400: 1966; 500: 1774 |
| 88 gr Hornady ELD® Match | Hornady | 0: 2675; 100: 2513; 200: 2356; 300: 2205; 400: 2060; 500: 1920 |
| 90 gr Federal FUSION | Federal | 0: 2700; 100: 2491; 200: 2291; 300: 2101; 400: 1919; 500: 1749 |
| 60 gr Hornady V-MAX® | Hornady | 0: 3300; 100: 2924; 200: 2578; 300: 2258; 400: 1961; 500: 1690 |
| 75 gr Hornady BTHP | Hornady | 0: 3000; 100: 2761; 200: 2534; 300: 2319; 400: 2114; 500: 1920 |
| 90 gr Federal SIERRA MATCHKING BTHP | Federal | 0: 2700; 100: 2542; 200: 2388; 300: 2241; 400: 2098; 500: 1961 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .224 Valkyrie?
A .22-caliber centerfire designed around longer bullets within a compact rifle cartridge. Its case geometry differs from .223 Remington.
What diameter does .224 Valkyrie use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.2245 inches (5.702 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
Bullet length and rifling twist can matter as much as grain weight. Use the exact ammunition maker's recommendations.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 86 ↗
- Sierra: .224 Valkyrie cartridge background ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 56–57 ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 183 ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 52–53 ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.