224 Valkyrie vs 6mm ARC: Which Cartridge Wins?

When the 224 Valkyrie was launched in 2018 by Federal Premium Ammunition, it was to create a better long-range cartridge for AR-15 rifles. The 6mm ARC, which Hornady designed, had what might be considered a soft launch in 2020 before production began truly ramping up in 2021. Both cartridges were created for the AR-15 platform, and both were designed to produce a flatter trajectory and greater accuracy, but which one is better? 224 Valkyrie vs 6mm ARC — let’s break it down.

What is 224 Valkyrie?

224 Valkyrie is an intermediate, centerfire rifle cartridge that is rimless and bottlenecked. Federal designed it in 2017 and officially released it to the public in 2018. Its purpose was to be a better long-distance cartridge than most offerings available for the AR-15 platform by delivering supersonic speed and a flatter trajectory.

When Federal launched the 224 Valkyrie, Mike Holm, director of Federal Premium Centerfire Ammunition Global Product Lane, released the following statement about it:

The .224 Valkyrie is based on a .30 Rem./6.8 SPC case necked down to a .224 caliber. It beats the ballistics of all other MSR 15 cartridges, including the .22 Nosler, .223 Rem. and 6.5 Grendel. It offers comparable performance to larger rounds like the 6.5 Creedmoor, with roughly half the felt recoil — and at a more economical price. The easiest way for shooters to capitalize on the new cartridge is to purchase a firearm from one of the many gun makers jumping on the .224 Valkyrie bandwagon. You can also buy a new upper and use it with your existing lower. A gunsmith or other person trained in building MSRs can also make the necessary modifications.

What’s 6mm ARC?

6mm ARC was designed by Hornady around 2019 and released to the general public in 2020. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic and its related restrictions, that ended up being a soft launch, but by 2021 the ammunition production was in full swing. It is also an intermediate, centerfire, rimless, bottleneck cartridge.

When Hornady launched 6mm ARC, Hornady Ballistician Jayden Quinlan made this statement:

The 6mm ARC began with a simple question: What can we do with today’s technology to maximize the performance of the AR-15 platform? We subsequently modeled and tested various designs in different calibers until we were able to produce the most flexible cartridge possible within the limits of the AR-15 system. As a result, the 6mm ARC does much of what larger cartridges can and everything that smaller cartridges can’t.

It’s worth mentioning the cartridge’s military roots were referenced in the initial press release as well:

Recently tested, selected, and fielded by a specialized group within the U.S. Department of Defense for its multipurpose combat rifle program, the 6mm ARC is a truly versatile cartridge that maximizes the potential of the AR-15 platform. The consumer offerings will feature bullets selected to deliver ideal performance for hunting, match shooting, and personal protection applications.

224 Valkyrie vs 6mm ARC

It tends to be the easiest to compare two cartridges if you line up their specifications and ballistics for comparison. For example, the chart below shows the specs of both 224 Valkyrie vs 6mm ARC.

224 Valkyrie vs 6mm ARC — Summarized

• 224 Valkyrie and 6mm ARC have an identical overall length
• The case length of the 224 Valkyrie is slightly longer than the case of the 6mm ARC
• The case capacity of the 224 Valkyrie is one-half grain more than 6mm ARC
• The maximum loading pressure, according to SAAMI, is 3,000 psi higher for 224 Valkyrie than 6mm ARC
• The 224 Valkyrie has a bullet diameter slightly smaller than that of 6mm ARC
• In addition, it’s worth noting both cartridges can stay supersonic beyond 1,000 yards’

Ballistics are where the differences between the two cartridges truly stand out. The comparison chart below covers both cartridges under the Hornady ELD Match line.

The ballistics chart breaks down accordingly:

• 224 Valkyrie and 6mm ARC have similar velocity
• 224 Valkyrie produces significantly less energy than 6mm ARC
• 224 Valkyrie loses around 700 foot-pounds of energy over 500 yards; 6mm ARC loses around 1000 foot-pounds over 500 yards but remains higher overall
• 224 Valkyrie performs noticeably differently than 6mm ARC even though the 6mm ARC has a bullet weight 20 grains higher than the 224 Valkyrie (88 grain versus 108 grain)

Of course, there’s more to ballistics than energy and velocity; there’s trajectory. Rather than consider this in 100-yard increments, let’s consider the 1,000-yard drop of both cartridges. With a 90-grain bullet, 224 Valkyrie drops approximately 381 inches at 1,000 yards with a 200-yard zero. Loaded with a 108-grain bullet, 6mm ARC drops around 378 inches at 1,00 yards and a 200-yard zero.

Appearances can be deceiving. Taken by drop only, 224 Valkyrie and 6mm ARC might be nearly identical. However, the 6mm ARC is pushing a bullet 18 grains heavier than the 224 Valkyrie’s.

What Were 224 Valkyrie and 6mm ARC Designed For?

It’s essential to hit the pause button and acknowledge that 224 Valkyrie and 6mm ARC were ultimately designed for different purposes. Federal created 224 Valkyrie, so AR-15 lovers who wanted a better long-range option had one. Hornady invented 6mm ARC to fulfill a request by the U.S. military and also shared it with the public.

One cartridge was designed for long-range shooting on steel, and the other was initially made for combat. So they are not going to be the same. They have different purposes.

Which Cartridge is Better, 224 Valkyrie or 6mm ARC?

When it comes to which one is better—224 Valkyrie vs 6mm ARC—it comes down to use and availability. If you’re shooting steel at 1,000 yards and require broader availability of ammunition, 224 Valkyrie is going to be your preferred cartridge. And if you’re long-range shooting and want a cartridge capable of being used for hunting at longer distances, 6mm ARC works. At this time, Hornady is the only manufacturer loading 6mm ARC—it’s their invention, after all—but hopefully, that changes down the road, so there are more options.

From a precision standpoint, 6mm ARC does tend to beat 224 Valkyrie. It depends on numerous factors, including ammunition used, barrel used, and the shooter’s skill, but in general, 6mm ARC is a more precise cartridge. Both can produce sub-MOA groups, but 224 Valkyrie seems to spread out faster than 6mm ARC.

In the end, it’s up to you to examine the specifications and ballistics of each cartridge and decide which is best suited to your needs. Even then, it’s wise to do your testing to find out what your specific gun and ammunition can do. There’s no replacement for real-life, hands-on experience.

Which cartridge do you prefer? 224 Valkyrie or 6mm ARC? Let us know your favorite in the comments below and why it’s your favorite.