Hey guys. I’m really wanting to build a precision ar on a small frame. I’m probably going to go with a aero precision upper, lower, and atlas one 15” rail. This will be my first precision AR and I need some help deciding on what caliber. I’ve been looking at .224 Valkyrie, 6.5 Grendel, and 22 nosler. This gun would probably be mostly for target shooting and maybe shooting the occasional Whitetail. Any input would be really helpful on deciding this. Other things I’m not really set on are barrel make, length and twist. Any additional info on this would be helpful too.  Thanks guys. I’ll also throw a poll up too.

Well, definitely not the .22 Nosler...

220 thunderbolt

As a VA resident, the whitetail part is the decision maker. We .224 Valkyrie is not legal for use where 6.5 Grendel is. If it is really just for popping rounds off on a flat range, what distances are you thinking? If it’s 600 and in, I personally would just do a .223 Wylde chamber and pocket the ammo savings. If you going farther, then it seems you couldn’t really go wrong with either. Pick the one that causes a twinkle in your eye and go have fun.

I haven't seen a single Valk on the range shoot very well at all; probably like 0 for 8-9 at this point.

Of those options, I'd shoot a 6.5 Grendel, although I think a 6mm offering is probably what you're looking for.

Edit: As far as barrels, don't buy a barrel from some AR centric maker. Get a barrel spun up from a legitimate barrel company (such as a Krieger/Bartlein etc.) There are companies that turn their blanks such as Craddock Precision, Keystone, or White Oak Armory. Get your barrel from them.

I would built a 6 Grendel or 6.5 Grendel.

I have a 6 Grendel which is almost a 6 PPC.  It is an absolute hammer.  2750 fps out of a 22 inch barrel with Berger 105s do this at 600 yards.

What barrel are you running?

Its either a Kreiger or a Lilja.  Cant remember.

It is all in the barrel.  Spend your money there.

My CLE Chambered 556 gun seems to do ok when I'm doing my part.

Well Grendel has been around way longer, of course it gets more votes.

I have a couple of each, and get similar results out of each.  I shoot my Rainier Ultramatch barreled Valkyrie more than any though, it's just more enjoyable after a couple hundred rounds.  With handloads I have no problem getting one ragged hole groups.

6mm/.223 (6x45)  Simple barrel swap.  No magazine or bolt issues.

80 grain .243 bullets at mag length 2800+
85 grain at 2700

6.5G all day for a small frame precision AR.

6mm Fat Rat, which I own, would be my first choice.
Second choice would be a 224V, although it seems like people are have lots of problems with them.

How far do you want to shoot? 300 or 400 yards is fine for just 223. 6.5G requires lots of barrel length or it is slow. I didnt want a long small frame and I shoot suppressed so no barrels over 16" for me. No experience with 22 Nosler or Valkyrie.

I agree with the others to put all the money in the barrel. Get a Bartlein or other high end blank and have it turned by a precision barrel maker. I have two Bartleins turned by Compass Lake Engineering on small frame builds. One is a 16" .223 the other an 11.5" 300 BLK. Both are sub MOA but the .223 does .5-.8 MOA at 300+ yards. If I want to shoot further, that is what 6.5 Creedmoor is for.

I dig the pink grip

Definitely the 6.5 Grendel.  I recently finished building my precision-ish rifle.  I chose a 20" Faxon barrel because it was what I could afford and they have a good reputation for AR barrels.  Hopefully it'll give the accuracy I want.  If not, I'll have to save my pennies for another year or two and get a Lilja or something.

 

Hard to go wrong with those choices.

There is a lot of match ammo available for the 223/5.56, and lots of great affordable barrels. White Oak, Rainier Match/Ultramatch and potentially ballistic advantage for the more affordable options. If you step up to a Compass Lake, Craddock or White Oak Bartlein or Krieger barrels, you’re almost guaranteed a phenomenal shooter.

6.5 Grendel also has lots of good ammo choices, and meets the caliber requirements for most states better for whitetail/medium game than a .22cal. They tend to have a slightly sharper recoil impulse than a 223/5.56 or 224VALKYRIE, which can make precision a bit harder for a newer precision shooter imo.

224Valkyrie, the new cartridge in town. The ballistics are great and there is no more recoil than a 223/5.56. There aren’t as many factory offerings yet, but the FGMM 90 (new production) has been shown to perform well in several barrels. To really get the advantage of better ballistics, you really need a 22-24” barrel with this cartridge. Handloading with 80 eld’s has proven to be a popular route for maximizing performance. Don’t skimp on the barrel with this cartridge. Many of the bad reports that I’ve seen have been with some of the cheaper barrel options, or ppl trying to run the heavies from sub 20” barrels which didn’t allow for the bullet to stabilize due to sub 2650fps velocity. A 1:7 will work with the 90’s, but a 1:6.5twist increases your chances of stability. White Oak, CMT, Dtech and Craddock barrels should be good options and have chambers cut with the correct reamer. My 22” WOA is sub moa with FGMM 90’s and is the reason I’ve got a 24” on order.

I have a 224 Valkyrie and a 6.5 Grendel and both are great.
Have you looked at the POF Revolution 6.5 Creedmoor?

I;ve got a fatrat too.   While I love the round, forming brass is a PITA.  I don't think the 6 grendel. / 6mmar give up much to the fatrat, and only requires sizing the neck down.

I think any of the 6mm's will knock down a whitetail, and they appear to beat the snot out of 223 with maglength ammo at 4-500+

I have had a lot of fun with 77gr bullets out of an AR out to 600 yards. When the wind comes out the Grendel comes out. It is far superior in less than perfect conditions.

If you want to hunt with it the Grendel is the answer.

There is a difference between precision and long range.  While higher BC bullets at faster MV may reach out farther and make wind doping easier on out there,  if you are shooting at 300 yards and in at paper targets for groups, a match .223 Wylde barrel from Kreiger, Lilja or Bartlein will deliver near benchrest accuracy.

6mm ARC from Hornady looks promising...