Cartridges are often unfairly compared because shooters tend to look at things from a generalized perspective. If your needs are generalized, this makes sense. However, if you’re looking for specialization, it’s in that venue the comparison should take place. Shooters are also guilty of neophobia, which is an extreme or irrational fear or dislike of anything new, novel or unfamiliar. They’re often afraid a new cartridge will do something better than their favorite, or the one they’re tooled up to support.The 224 Valkyrie is a perfect example.
This novel design from Federal Premium is a fast-stepping .224-caliber cartridge designed for the AR-15, capable of pushing a 75-grain bullet to 3,000 fps. Those who live in the generalized world will be quick to point out the 22 Nosler already does this. That’s very true, but the 22 Nosler is a generalized cartridge. The 224 Valkyrie was engineered to do a specific thing better than any commercially available AR-15 cartridge, and that thing is not general in nature.
