Ammo Reports Team
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Deer / hog hunting; lead-free bullet |
| Bullet Type | Barnes TSX (all-copper hollow point) |
| Bullet Weight | 78 grain |
| Case Material | Nickel-plated brass (older lots may be unplated) |
| Primer Type | Boxer; exact factory primer specification not verified |
| Packaging | 20 rounds per box |
| Typical Price | $45.59/box — $2.28/round |
| Closest Competitors | Federal Fusion MSR 224 Valkyrie 90 gr Soft Point; Barnes VOR-TX 224 Valkyrie 77 gr LRX BT |
Official Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Federal | Federal |
| Cartridge | 224 Valkyrie | Federal |
| Product | Federal Premium 224 Valkyrie 78 gr Barnes TSX | Federal |
| Muzzle Velocity (fps) | 2850 | Federal product data |
| Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) | 1407 | Federal ballistics |
| Bullet Weight | 78 gr | Federal |
| Bullet Type | Barnes TSX (all-copper hollow point) | Federal |
| BC G1 | 0.383 | Federal product data |
| BC G7 | – | Not found in verified official manufacturer sources |
| Manufacturer SKU | P224VLKBTSX1 | Federal |
| UPC | 604544647785 | Federal product metadata |
| Case Material | Nickel-plated brass; older lots unplated | Federal FAQ |
| Reloadable | Yes | Federal FAQ |
| Primer | – | Not found in verified official manufacturer sources |
Source note: Verified Federal product data and manufacturer ballistics for this exact load. Missing official fields remain unfilled. Manufacturer: Federal.
Ballistics Table
Official manufacturer data: Federal, P224VLKBTSX1; 200-yard zero; 1.5-inch sight height. 24-inch test barrel. Federal’s 2026 catalog specifies 59°F, 29.53 inHg and sea level for its nominal trajectories. The factory table ends at 500 yards. Values below are reproduced without extending the manufacturer data.
| Yards | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzle | 2850 | 1407 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2611 | 1181 | 1.8 |
| 200 | 2385 | 985 | 0.0 |
| 300 | 2170 | 815 | -8.0 |
| 400 | 1966 | 669 | -23.3 |
| 500 | 1774 | 545 | -47.7 |
Calculated comparison – not manufacturer data: Muzzle to 700 yards in 100-yard steps. Inputs: 2850 fps, 78 gr, G1 BC 0.383; 200-yard zero; 1.5-inch sight height. Assumed atmosphere: 59°F, 29.92 inHg station pressure, sea level, 0% humidity; level fire, no wind. Point-mass G1 model, py-ballisticcalc 2.3.1; spin drift and Coriolis excluded. Factory and calculated rows may differ because their models and conditions differ.
| Yards | Calculated velocity (fps) | Calculated energy (ft-lbs) | Calculated trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzle | 2850 | 1407 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2607 | 1177 | 1.8 |
| 200 | 2377 | 979 | -0.0 |
| 300 | 2159 | 807 | -8.0 |
| 400 | 1953 | 660 | -23.5 |
| 500 | 1759 | 536 | -48.1 |
| 600 | 1580 | 432 | -84.0 |
| 700 | 1418 | 348 | -133.8 |
Key takeaway: The manufacturer lists 2,850 fps at the muzzle and 1,774 fps at 500 yards. Its 200-yard-zero trajectory is -47.7 inches at 500 yards. The separate 700-yard calculation is an illustrative model, not a measured result or a guarantee of hunting performance. Actual velocity and point of impact depend on the rifle, ammunition lot and conditions.
The Barnes TSX Bullet in 224 Valkyrie
Barnes TSX is a lead-free, all-copper hunting bullet. Lead-free construction is relevant where nonlead ammunition is required, but the exact product and applicable hunting requirements must be checked separately.
The TSX design uses a hollow point cavity that initiates expansion reliably across a wide velocity range. Three relief grooves cut into the shank reduce bore friction and pressure compared to earlier all-copper designs, which historically ran high. The monolithic construction means the bullet does not shed a jacket — weight retention is typically cited near 100%, which translates to deep, straight wound channels even through heavy bone.
In the 224 Valkyrie specifically, the 78 grain weight is notable. The cartridge was designed around heavier, high-BC projectiles to extend effective range beyond what .223 Remington can achieve from a standard AR-15 platform. A 78 grain all-copper bullet is longer than a comparable lead-core bullet of the same weight, which can affect magazine seating and twist rate requirements. Federal’s use of this bullet in the Valkyrie platform reflects the cartridge’s purpose: extended-range performance with terminal authority beyond 300 yards.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- Deer-class hunting where regulations, shot placement and demonstrated bullet performance support the application; no fixed effective range is established here
- Hunting in states or regions with lead-free ammunition mandates, where all-copper construction is a legal requirement rather than a preference
- Hunters running AR-platform rifles in 224 Valkyrie who want a single load capable of both acceptable accuracy and reliable terminal performance on medium game
- Situations where pass-through performance is preferred, such as angled shots on deer where the bullet must penetrate heavy shoulder material before reaching vitals
Not the right tool for:
- Varmint or predator hunting where rapid fragmentation and minimal pelt damage are priorities — the TSX is built to hold together, not blow up
- Target shooting or competition use, where match-grade hollow points offer better BC and cost efficiency
- Hunters on a tight per-round budget — at $2.28/round this is a premium hunting load, and practice with it at volume becomes expensive
- Rifles whose barrel twist is unsuitable for this bullet; a load-specific minimum twist was not verified in the official sources checked.
Reliability Notes
No structured submissions yet.
Based on manufacturer claims and open-source reporting, the Barnes TSX platform has a long field record of consistent expansion at moderate impact velocities, which is relevant given the 224 Valkyrie’s velocity at extended ranges. Federal Premium’s brass cases are generally regarded in open-source forums as being of consistent quality and suitable for single reloading, though this page covers factory ammunition only. The monolithic construction eliminates core-jacket separation as a failure mode. No lot-specific failure reports for this load were identified in open sources at the time of writing. All notes here reflect manufacturer claims or publicly available user reporting — not structured test data.
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | BC G1 | Muzzle Velocity | Price/Box | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady Match 224 Valkyrie 88 gr ELD Match | 88 gr | ELD Match (lead core, Heat Shield polymer tip) | 0.545 | 2,675 fps | ~$28–$34 | Verified factory load; target / match design |
| Winchester Copper Impact 224 Valkyrie 72 gr | 72 gr | Extreme Point Copper | – | – | ~$38–$44 | Exact factory-load identity not verified; excluded from factual performance comparison |
| Hornady Varmint Express 224 Valkyrie 60 gr V-MAX | 60 gr | V-MAX (polymer tip, fragmenting lead core) | 0.265 | 3,300 fps | ~$25–$30 | Verified factory load; different bullet construction and intended use |
| Federal American Eagle 224 Valkyrie 75 gr TMJ | 75 gr | Total Metal Jacket | 0.400 | 3,000 fps | ~$18–$22 | AE224VLK1; 75 gr TMJ in Federal catalog, FMJ on current product page |
| Nosler Trophy Grade 224 Valkyrie 70 gr RDF | 70 gr | RDF (match) | – | – | ~$40–$48 | Exact factory-load identity not verified; excluded from factual performance comparison |
| Barnes VOR-TX 224 Valkyrie 62 gr TSX | 62 gr | TSX (same bullet family) | – | – | ~$42–$48 | Exact factory-load identity not verified; excluded from factual performance comparison |
Comparison data are shown only for verified factory loads. Rows without a verified exact product retain their original labels for transparency; their performance claims are withdrawn. A component bullet does not establish the existence of a factory load.
Price Reality
- Typical retail price: $45.59 per box of 20 rounds
- Per-round cost: $2.28/round
- Case pricing (200 rounds / 10 boxes): not commonly listed as a case option at major retailers; buyers typically purchase individual boxes
- The Hornady Match 88 gr ELD Match runs $28–$34/box — roughly $0.60–$0.80 less per round, but is a match bullet with no hunting application
- Unverified comparison: The earlier comparison named a factory load whose exact 224 Valkyrie identity was not verified. Its performance/value conclusion is withdrawn. Original price references, not reverified: $38, $44/box, $0.08, $0.38.
- The Federal American Eagle 75 gr TMJ runs $18–$22/box — less than half the cost per round, but serves only as a training round with no terminal expansion
- Fair price benchmark: $42–$50/box is consistent with premium lead-free hunting ammunition in this caliber. Prices above $52/box for a single box of 20 should prompt comparison shopping. This load does not commonly appear in significant discount windows.
Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.
Where to Buy
Federal Premium 224 Valkyrie 78 Grain TSX (Box)
Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.
FAQ
Does the 78 grain TSX expand reliably at extended 224 Valkyrie velocities?
The manufacturer describes the bullet’s intended hunting behavior, but a minimum expansion velocity specific to this factory load was not verified in the official sources checked. The ballistics table describes flight and does not guarantee terminal performance at a particular distance.
Is this load legal for hunting in California and other lead-free states?
This load uses a lead-free copper bullet. Bullet material alone does not establish legal approval for a particular hunt; check the exact product against current certification and hunting requirements.
How does this load compare with Barnes VOR-TX 224 Valkyrie 77 gr LRX BT?
The verified Barnes factory load is 77 gr LRX BT, item 32161, at 2900 fps and G1 BC 0.404. Federal’s 78 gr TSX load is 2850 fps and G1 BC 0.383. Both use copper bullets, but LRX is polymer-tipped and TSX uses a hollow point. A Barnes VOR-TX 224 Valkyrie 62 gr TSX factory load was not verified.
Will this load cycle reliably in an AR-15 platform chambered in 224 Valkyrie?
The 224 Valkyrie was designed for the AR-15 platform, and factory loads from Federal Premium are spec’d to function in properly headspaced Valkyrie chambers. However, the 78 grain all-copper bullet is longer than a lead-core bullet of equivalent weight, which can affect magazine seating depth and feed angle in some configurations. Hunters should confirm function-testing with their specific upper receiver and magazine before fielding this load. No widespread cycling issues with this load have been identified in open-source reporting, but individual rifle fit should always be verified.
Is this load appropriate for coyote or predator hunting?
The TSX bullet is not designed for rapid fragmentation on impact — it is built to expand, penetrate deeply, and retain nearly all of its weight. For coyote hunting where pelt preservation matters, this is a poor choice, as the through-and-through wound channel the TSX creates tends to leave large exit wounds. For pest control where pelt condition is irrelevant, the load will be effective but is significantly overpriced relative to varmint-specific options. Varmint hunters would be better served by a fragmenting bullet such as the V-MAX or Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint in 224 Valkyrie at a lower per-round cost.
