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Introducing the 7MM Valkyrie AR

81K views 271 replies 33 participants last post by  earlytom  
#1 · (Edited)
http://www.7mmvalkyrie.com
The 7mm Valkyrie AR is a wildcat hunting round being developed for the AR15. It is based on the 6.5x47 Lapua case with the shoulder pushed back to allow it to run in the ar15 at 2.295 oal and necked up to 7mm. Case trim length will be 1.596-1.60 and case capacity should be in the 42-43.5 grains of water.

It is designed around the 140 class of bullets which should be pushed to 2700-2800 fps from a 24" barrel. Most 150 and 160 class will also be able to run in it with the 160 sierras being able to run at 2.25 oal so they will work perfectly in 300 black out mags. Estimates are for 2600 fps from the 160's. 120 class bullets should be in the 2900-3000 range and the 110's in the 3000-3100 range
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The 7VAR With the 2.295 oal PRI 6.8 magazines work best allowing 7 rounds in a 10 round mag. The larger mags don't allow much more capacity because the magazine starts to swell.


The Valkyrie is a reloader only caliber for now. The case forming requires neck turning and reaming, neck thickness needs to be .012 - .0135. As stated 6.5x47 lapua brass is the best brass to make the cases from. It forms the easiest, lasts the longest, is small primer and handles the pressures the best. Also there is zero loss rate when forming.


6.5 creedmoor cases also work but the brass is softer and only lasts 2-4 firings on average. It also has a loss rate of 10% when forming from creases/folds in the neck/shoulder area. It does have the highest case capacity. Winchester 308 brass also works but you still have a 10% loss rate when forming. Any 308 based case can be used but case capacity suffers, work to make them increases so that is why they are not on the recommend list.


There will be 3 guys offering brass conversion for the 7 VAR, 270AR and the 257 Bobcat. Already processed brass will also be available in a limited capacity to start.

You can join in on the talks with us on our facebook group page https://www.facebook.com/groups/7mmVar/


Dies will be from Whidden gunworks with their competition micrometer seater die which is one of the best in the industry.

Some of the powders expected to work well with the Valkyrie are: CFE 223, Leverevolution, xbr 8208, H335, AA2520, Tac, Xterminator. Also r15 and arcomp might also work well also n530,n540 and n550 should be workable powders.

We are taking the community development route with this round. We have 15 founders and 10 of those are testers ready to test barrels from 16.5" to 26". Reamers will be due mid march with testing starting with a savage bolt gun 26" barrel. Then 5-8 weeks later the ar barrels should be done and come online for testing. Eisenach Arms is in on the development and will have a limited edition upper receiver with the Valkyrie logo.



7 mm Valkyrie tenetive time line

Jan 8th ordered reamers

March 10th Reamers due

March 15th Chamber first test barrel - 26" savage will also make 2 dillon trim dies and 3 forming dies before sending reamers to whidden.

March 16-19 Order dies -- payments for dies are due by april 1st 5-8 weeks to get dies from the 1st -- they make custom dies first 2 weeks of month.

April 3rd Tester's barrel payments due - tester barrel order date - (sooner if we can) or any founder that wants their barrel.

May 13th Dies will be done soon.

May 15th Tester barrels should be arriving soon

June 1st All testers should have barrels and we should be in full test mode.

June 15 - July 1 if all testing is good order rest of founder's group barrels - barrel payments due for final group.

August 1st will start taking orders for first group buy, will only be open for 2 weeks. want to place order by aug 15 so barrels can be in hands for hunting season.


Comparing the Valkyrie case to the 270AR case. I opted to push the shoulder back a little further so we could run all 140 class bullets at 2.295 and most 150 and 160 class bullets. It just gave more room to play. first is the 140 nosler bt next is the 120 nosler bt, then the 270ar case, 139sst all of them at 2.295. on the far right is a 270ar case just necked up and a 139sst seated. it has to be seated at 2.35 to keep the ogive out of the case.





I will be using the pressure trace system to collect pressure data during testing.




Here is estimated data, it should be close I used information gained with the 270AR and the 257 Bobcat to hopefully come up with some close estimations.












 
#59 ·
Thanks yes I will keep this thread updated. i slacked a little but time is rolling along.

I am very happy to have the 16.5 midgas barrel in the beginning stages of testing. that way we will see how much we loose by going short and we can dial in the gas port for midgas -- it will be the first midgas of this size case. the 270ar and the bobcats have all been rifle gas. Harrison has given me a good starting point with the port so all should be good.
 
#62 ·
This looks great! I have been hoping for a 7mm offering for an AR for a while now. Not that I don't love my 6.8, but I am an unabashed 7mm fanboy. Not quite sure I would want to spend the time forming brass however, but I will bet that the ballistics on this one are going to be awesome.
 
#63 ·
there will be a few of us converting brass for guys and selling converted brass. 2-300 cases will last for 3-4000 rounds.

basically it will be on the low end of the 7mm-08 velocity i am thinking with the 140 class. i will know in 5-6 weeks. :a01:
 
#64 ·
Well, I am stacked to the gills with 120 grain 7mm bullets as that is what I shoot out of my 7TCU, my 7BR and my 7 Mauser handguns. I also have a mess of 140 grain pills for my 7-08 bolt gun. If I get my hands on a AR chambered in something that will launch them, I would be a very happy camper.
 
#68 ·
I like it, finally a 7mm version of these cats, something I have been asking H for a while know...

I will be keeping an eye on this.
 
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#70 ·
"Good things come to those that wait" isn't what they say. well the wait is over for the first pieces of the Valkyrie puzzle.

look what showed up today the manson go/no gauges. i just checked and the reamers should ship on march 5th according to JGS won't be long now guys.

 
#74 ·
I have also done some research on dies, although i would like to get some hornady at some time in the future they are just about as much as the whidden dies for cost and you have to buy 25 set minimum with a 6+ month wait.

But i have found that hornady's #8 7mm generic seater die should work for seating on the Valkyrie so with a hornady seater 25-30 dollars and a whidden sizer die for 81 it makes the dies a bit more affordable for those that don't want the micrometer seater die in the whidden dies.

http://www.hornady.com/store/7mm-.284-Seating-Die-1-Each/
 
#78 ·
Maybe that new Unimag would do the trick? It has been used with 10 or more different rounds in the same mag.
 
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#83 ·
Great news today got an email from JGS and the reamers are being mailed out today. should have them this time next week.

so with any luck a week from sunday i will be chambering the first barrel and making some dies.
 
#84 ·
For those thinking 180 for the whidden die set is too much, you can get the whidden size die of your choice -- bushing or standard and then get the hornady generic seater die

i got 2 in today and i seated a few bullets and they work fine

 
#86 ·
they were supposed to be here today but usps didn't get it here today so they should show up tomorrow.

bad news is talked to my smith and he had a death in the family and can't get to chambering it and making my dies till next monday.
 
#90 ·
Talked with my smith yesterday and he is planning on having the barrel and die done thursday.

Eisenach Arms did some custom uppers for a group of us i think they turned out very nice, can't wait to get mine. it is the top one, i waiting for the nib carrier assy.





someone is getting excited he got his upper so he through it together with a barrel he had laying around.

 
#93 ·
That would make a nice sniper rig. Good looking rifle.
 
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#99 ·
if i stay up late enough tonight i may beable to finish it tonight and get some rounds made so i can break it in tomorrow after work.

I have to make a case for my oal gauge, measure distance to the lands with 13 or so bullets, make 50 cases, widen the channel in the stock for the bull barrel then assemble the rifle.

so a good amount to get done. fingers are crossed.
 
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