6.5 Grendel vs .224 Valkyrie: The Differences That Matter Most

224 Valkyrie vs 6.5 Grendel
Alfred Mendoza

The 224 Valkyrie vs 6.5 Grendel isn’t a threadbare case for target shooting fanboys. Being almost at par with the 6.5 Creedmoor, the hype for these new ammo seems to be staying for a while. High-caliber hunters want more speed and more range from high-caliber rounds. 

Are you one of the AR-15 lovers who find it hard to choose between the two ammo types? Let’s discuss everything that you should know about the powerful rounds.

Based on our research, the primary difference between the 224 Valkyrie and the 6.5 Grendel is the 224 Valkyrie had less bullet drop over a 1,000-yard shot from our AR-15. Aside from that, Alexander Arms eventually released and developed the 6.5 Grendel in 2004 by setting a 6.5 mm bullet into a casing of 7.62×39 designed for medium game out to 400 yards with a ppc bolt face. 

Unveiled at the Big 3 East Conference in 2017, a new ammo, the 224 Valkyrie, emerged from a 6.8 spc case narrowed down to receive .224 caliber ammo in 2017 by the Federal Premium Ammunition.

Aside from years of existence, they differ in accuracy, size and weight, bullet design, velocity, rounds, hunting capacity, and price.

224 Valkyrie

  • Flat trajectory and smaller projectile
  • Weights from 60gr to 90gr 
  • Gun powder sits in a shorter, fatter column
  • Supersonic flight up to 1,300 yards 
  • Lesser wind drift and flat shots

6.5 Grendel

  • Heavier projectiles
  • Supersonic flight for over 1,200 yards
  • Uses a heavier, longer, and fatter .264” round
  • Rounds are steel-cased 100gr fmj’s
  • Grain weights ranging from 100gr to 140gr
 
 

Do They Have Similarities?

The spot on similarities of both good rounds are also apparent. Because of this, Valkyrie and Grendel became rivals in becoming the best budget-friendly, and most efficient round at this time. Accuracy-wise, these rifles are down to the wire when it comes to being savage partners in the field.

  • Extends the AR-15 range for more than 1,000 yards
  • For precision rifle shooting
  • Accurate rounds 
  • Recoils are minimal and only slightly stiffer than the 5.56/.223
  • Ammo diversity of both rounds

Head to Head Features

Pricing

It’s not astonishing to know that good quality match grade AR-15 ammo is way more expensive than surplus 5.56 NATO or mil-spec.

But you’ll be surprised to discover that either caliber is quite comparable to .308 Winchester or the 6.5 Creedmoor. And although the Valkyrie is a new version, when it comes to match-grade ammunition, you’ll see that 224 Valkyrie is not measurably more expensive than Grendel, as it’s based on the 6.8 spc case.

The range grade and plinking ammunition for both calibers are almost at par with each other when you use them, so it is quite tough to see which is economically right between the two.

Pricing

Design & Ergonomics

Design

Right after it was first launched by the Federal Premium, 224 Valkyrie became an instant hit. And quite frankly, our interest in the new 224 Valkyrie was also immediate because of its sound design and overall look. Coupled with a good case, we can say that the 224 Valkyrie exhibits ample space for a slender projectile, like many other successful high-performance, long-range rifle rounds, including 6.5 Creedmoor, another big name in the industry.

It has an excellent relative capacity, plenty of ogive space, with a .22 caliber projectile in a format that works in the AR-15. Although the cartridge styles and their brass differ slightly, both include short and shallow reinforcing ribs and modified followers. The Grendel offers a cartridge design refinement that is already reliable, durable, and affordable. The 224 Valkyrie is definitely on the lighter end of the scale for AR-15 rounds, using 6.8 spc magazines.

Related post: 6.8 SPC and 6.5 Grendel comparison

Ballistics

Ballistic Coefficient, performance, terminal energy, and round drop are essential factors in identifying which round will work better. The Grendel is pretty marginal as a long-range cartridge, for it doesn’t have the muzzle velocity to run with an accurate round out past 600 meters drop and drift.

But with similar ballistics, the new 224 Valkyrie has a bit of an edge in outperforming the Grendel or almost even as good as the 6.5 Creedmoor on bullet drops and wind drift performance. With this, the Valkyrie seems to be a bit accurate based on every ballistics chart during our last test.

224 valkyrie

Accessories

With 6.5 Grendel’s head start of up to 14 years on the market, 224 Valkyrie may have a slight disadvantage in terms of configurations and accessories when we asked around. Both Valkyrie and Grendel factory ammo requires a different gun bolt, barrels, and mags. Most firearms enthusiasts still choose to assemble and build a uniquely complete AR upper in just one caliber for faster change and installation of an AR lower.

With this, the 6.5 Grendel could be an advantage to gas-gunners and competition shooters today because it is designed to offer more available accessories, parts, or almost everything that comes with it in the market than the 224 Valkyrie. But take into consideration the added complication of picking 6.5 Grendel because you cannot mix then match different types without any risk of injury or damage.

Do you need new scopes? We highly recommend Nickon Buckmaster and ProStaff.

Recoil

For shooters who aim to gain a well and steady long-range precision when out in the field, recoil is an essential factor if you’re going to acquire hunting guns because it affects their varmints experience quality, as specified in the data we gathered.

The 224 Valkyrie rifle exhibits lesser recoil than the 6.5 Grendel or Creedmoor, when we tested it a few days ago—even half of it actually, depending on your loading. But for those who prefer a proven system, desire to hunt medium to large game, and if you don’t mind much of the recoil, you’ll make a better choice with the 6.5 Grendel.

Gun Recoil

Range

The 224 Valkyrie and 6.5 Grendel’s range slightly differ because of their size and weight. The chance of having accuracy for ammo becomes a little slimmer when they slow from supersonic to subsonic speed, so one must always consider this. 

Because the 6.5 Grendel uses a heavier, longer, and fatter bullet, its supersonic flight can only shoot past 1,200 yards. In comparison, the Valkyrie uses a smaller and lighter shot, so its supersonic flight can shoot as far as 1,300 yards. If a long range and flight matters to you, acquiring a 224 Valkyrie shouldn’t be a problem.

Also Read: Best Places to Hit a Deer

Size & Weight

Even in any gas gun or firearm, the ammunition’s size and weight matter, affecting the flight, wind drift, and precision. Compared to Valkyrie, the 6.5 Grendel has more than doubled the heavy kinetic energy of a 30-30 cartridge, and almost 4x the point of 75-grain other hunting loads at 300 yards, it makes for a lightweight hunting rifle that may be carried on hand all day long.

 The dimensions of 224 Valkyrie would allow it to fit in standard 5.56 AR-15 magazine cartridges. However, if you want to convert a classic AR-15 to 224 Valkyrie, you’ll need a new barrel, bolt, and magazine.

Hunting Capacity

Even after a side by side comparison between these class bullets, the choice still relies on your preferences. How do you want to use Grendel and Valkyrie cartridges? Will you really get enough load with either? Due to its larger and heavier case and size, the 6.5 Grendel aims to hunt large animals. 

We think the .224 Valkyrie is also an excellent varmint and predator hunting cartridge because it is relatively smaller and lightweight. Its load is ideal for shooters who want a high-speed and long-range expanding bullets that rapidly come in a tremendous amount of energy in varmint hunting.

Are you checking out other ammo for hunting? Read 6.5 Grendel vs. 5.56 NATO here.

Target shooting

Pros

224 Valkyrie

6.5 Grendel

Cons

244 Valkyrie

6.5 Grendel

Our Pick Between 224 Valkyrie or 6.5 Grendel is…

Our pick between 6.5 Grendel vs 224 Valkyrie is the newest ammo, the 224 Valkyrie, because it offers lesser recoil, a flatter trajectory, and smaller projectile that boasts supersonic flight beyond 1,300 yards.

Although most hunters didn’t know much about the Valkyrie until the SHOT Show and Federal Premium showcased it in 2017, it is now widely known. So, if you want to hunt coyotes, foxes, raccoons, bobcats, groundhogs, and the likes, this ammunition is best for you. However, if you love to hunt medium to large game and are more of a varmint caliber, the Grendel is a better fit for you in the AR15 platform.

If you’re looking for carry pistols, read Glock 42 vs Glock 43 comparison here.

Our #1 Recommendation

224 Valkyrie

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