Jimster716's .224 Valkyrie Build Thread

[jimster716]

Complete Build in Post #8

Getting on the .224 Valkyrie bandwagon. I had a blemished BCM stripped upper I got last November and was deciding on what to do with it.

I will be updating this thread as more of the build parts come in. Sorry, perhaps a bit premature but I hope to have this build done by end of March or early April but thought others may want to know standard pricing in choosing between build vs buy.

So far I have in hand or have on order the following:

1. JD Machine Stripped Lower $139.99
2. Bravo Company Stripped Upper $59.95
3. CMMG 24" .224 Valkyrie Barrel $259.95
4. Aero Precision Rifle Length Gas Tube and .750 Low Profile Gas Block $45.98
5. Toolcraft .224 Valkyrie Bolt Carrier Group $92.99
6. Midwest Industries AR-15 SP-Series 18" M-LOK Handguard Black MI-SP18M $194.95
7. American Trigger Corp AR Gold Trigger - Flat $254.99
8. CMMG Gun Builders Lower Parts Kit $39.95
9. Bravo Company BCMGUNFIGHTER Ambidextrous Charging Handle (5.56mm/.223) Mod 3X3 $79.95
10. Bravo Company BCMGUNFIGHTER™ Trigger Guard - Black $6.95
11. Luth-AR MBA-3 CARBINE BUTTSTOCK W/223 MIL-SPEC BUFFER ASSEMBLY $141.26
12. VG6 Precision Gamma 556 Muzzle Brake $61.01
13. Magpul MIAD 1.1 Grip $28.99

The grand total is $1,406.91. What I thought would be a budget build isn't so budget as I add up the costs but I'm building it my way. The new CMMG Mk4 rifle in 224 Valkyrie with the same barrel I ordered, Magpul furniture including the PRS stock, and Geissele SSA trigger seems very competitively priced at $1,700.

For glass, I have on order the Primary Arms Platinum Series 6-30X56 FFP Scope with ACSS HUD DMR Reticle mounted with an American Defense 20moa scope mount. Thought about using my Gen 1 Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 but it sits on my XLR chassis'd R700 .308 and figured can't have any of my precision rifles glassless.

Update 4/4/18:
Build as current

[sigstroker]

Seems like you paid top price for a lot of that stuff. I'm a cheapskate, and would buy the generic stuff on sale. Like $140 for a lower?? And $210 for that stock? I got a Magpul PRS Gen 3 for $180 on sale. Wouldn't pay 80 bucks for a charging handle either.

Nothing wrong with doing that, but you said you were doing a budget build. which can be done, it just takes some bargain hunting.

[jimster716]

In the week or so since I started this thread, I have completed the upper and lower builds. I just got charged today for the barrel I ordered at the beginning of February so it should be shipping soon.

I did make a couple changes, instead of the Geissele SSA-E, went with AR Gold. I hate the side to side slop of the trigger (not the actual drop-in cartridge body but the trigger itself) but that break is addicting in another AR I have and it hasn't affected accuracy. I also went with the Magpul MIAD 1.1 grips instead of the Hexmag Tactical adjustable grip.

All that's left is the barrel install, mount the scope and sight her in.

The .224 Valkyrie in the middle between an R700 Tactical AAC-SD .308 in an XLR chassis (top) and 18" 5.56 "SPR" (bottom)






Primary Arms Platinum 6-30x56 FFP ACSS

[flyer898]

Plus one for going with the 24” bbl. I think that at shorter lengths you deprive the cartridge of its potential and the result is not enough to make it worthwhile. I have asked Stag Arms about getting a 24” LH upper and so far, they have no plans to build any bbl. length other than 18”.

[jimster716]

I was reading an interesting article on the .224 and barrel length.

https://rifleshooter.com/2018/02/224-valkyrie-effect-of-barrel-length-on-velocity/

I figure most rifle and barrel mfr's take the position that 18" firing the 90gr SMK has sufficient muzzle velocity and acceptable drop and drift to longer barrels without having to lug around a 24"+ barrel in an AR pattern. I have other AR's so just went with the longer barrel just to eek out some more velocity for 1,300yds+ though I realistically have no idea when I'll have the opportunity to shoot that far.

[jimster716]

Seems like you paid top price for a lot of that stuff. I'm a cheapskate, and would buy the generic stuff on sale. Like $140 for a lower?? And $210 for that stock? I got a Magpul PRS Gen 3 for $180 on sale. Wouldn't pay 80 bucks for a charging handle either.

Nothing wrong with doing that, but you said you were doing a budget build. which can be done, it just takes some bargain hunting.

What you say is truth. I originally started with a budget build in mind but considering the parts I put in my other rifles, I found I wasn't straying from my habits and preferences. I did find the stock on sale for $140 so saved some money there and got the trigger with a coupon code.

[sigstroker]

I'll be interested in the results. The barrel actually has a reasonable price, so I hope to duplicate it's performance for a lot less money, being the cheap bastid I am.

[jimster716]

Build is done

Barrel arrived yesterday. Even though I was fighting a fever, I just had to finish it and I did late last night. Sorry for the crappy pics.

[sigstroker]

How do you like that MI handguard? I have one of their round ones on a PSA .308.

Do you have access to long ranges to really give it a workout?

[deckhandmike]

Sweet build! I would of saved and splurged on some higher end glass.

[kriller134]

Nice build. Is this built off of a standard ar15 lower and bcg?

[sigstroker]

Sweet build! I would of saved and splurged on some higher end glass.

Platinum Series ain't chopped liver.

[deckhandmike]

Platinum Series ain't chopped liver.

Yeah, just looked that up. That should do, lol.

[jimster716]

How do you like that MI handguard? I have one of their round ones on a PSA .308.

Do you have access to long ranges to really give it a workout?

I didn't realize it until I got it but it's the suppressor size so its inner diameter is a bit bigger to accommodate a can. It's 18" long and I can't think of any reason why anyone should need 18" of picatinny rail (would've been a smart way to save weight by having rails at each end only). I have another Midwest handguard on a 5.56 and I have no complaints about their products. Well made and affordable.

Angeles Shooting Range goes up to 600yds. I do want to check out the 1,000 yd public range at California Tactical Academy in Piru.

Nice build. Is this built off of a standard ar15 lower and bcg?

Yes, the only things that are different are the .224 barrel, 6.8 SPC BCG and 6.8 mags.

[jimster716]

Yeah, just looked that up. That should do, lol.

Platinum Series HD glass comes out of the same factory as NightForce in Japan from what I've researched. That doesn't mean that the specs are the same between PA and NF but the reviews have been favorable on the PA. It wasn't cheap but it wasn't NF coin either. The scope is built like a tank, 34mm tube, big solid turrets, positive adjustments, really looking forward to testing it out.