The AR-15 platform in its standard caliber, the 5.56mm NATO, is an excellent rifle, but at 500 yards or so, the round’s limitations become pretty apparent. It was, after all, intended as a multi-role combat rifle and not a long-range tack driver.
That’s why, in recent years, people have been going with bigger pills and, for instance, giving the rifle a 6.5mm twist with other long-range rounds like the 6.5 Grendel or 6.5 Creedmoor. Another quality option for those interested in extending their AR range is the .224 Valkyrie.
With just the swap of an AR-15 upper, this caliber can add some serious range to your rifle with better ballistics, a flatter trajectory and less drift than the traditional AR chambering. In this article, we’re going to list six of the best .224 Valk uppers available then walk you through our reasoning behind recommending a .224 Valkyrie rifle. This article is part of our ongoing Guide to Everything AR.