Ammo Reports Team
Federal Premium’s 224 Valkyrie 80.5 Grain Berger Open Tip Match is a brass-cased, boxer-primed match load intended for precision rifle competition and long-range target shooting. Priced around $2.00 per round, it is positioned as a competition-grade option rather than a general practice load.
Federal identifies this as an 80.5 gr Berger BT Target match load and publishes 2925 fps, G1 BC 0.441 and G7 BC 0.226. Its intended use is target shooting; the open tip does not establish controlled hunting expansion.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Long-range target / match shooting |
| Bullet Type | Berger BT Target (Open Tip Match) |
| Bullet Weight | 80.5 grains |
| Case Material | Brass |
| Primer Type | Boxer (Small Rifle Match Primer, Federal GM205M) |
| Packaging | 20 rounds per box |
| Typical Price | $39.99/box — $2.00/round |
| Closest Competitors | Federal Gold Medal 224 Valkyrie 90 gr Sierra MatchKing; Hornady Match 224 Valkyrie 88 gr ELD Match; Remington Premier Match 224 Valkyrie 90 gr MatchKing BTHP |
Official Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Federal | Federal |
| Cartridge | 224 Valkyrie | Federal |
| Product | Federal Gold Medal 224 Valkyrie 80.5 gr Berger BT Target | Federal |
| Muzzle Velocity (fps) | 2925 | Federal product data |
| Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) | 1529 | Federal ballistics |
| Bullet Weight | 80.5 gr | Federal |
| Bullet Type | Berger BT Target (Open Tip Match) | Federal |
| BC G1 | 0.441 | Federal product data |
| BC G7 | 0.226 | Federal product data |
| Manufacturer SKU | GM224VLKBH2 | Federal |
| UPC | 604544651768 | Federal product metadata |
| Case Material | – | Not found in verified official manufacturer sources |
| Reloadable | – | Not found in verified official manufacturer sources |
| Primer | GM205M Small Rifle Match | Federal 2026 LE catalog |
Source note: Verified Federal product data and manufacturer ballistics for this exact load. Missing official fields remain unfilled. The current product page gives 961 ft-lbs at 300 yards, while the 2026 LE catalog prints 976. The table below consistently follows the current product page. Manufacturer: Federal.
Ballistics Table
Official manufacturer data: Federal, GM224VLKBH2; 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 | 2925 | 1529 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2713 | 1316 | 1.6 |
| 200 | 2512 | 1127 | 0.0 |
| 300 | 2318 | 961 | -7.1 |
| 400 | 2134 | 814 | -20.8 |
| 500 | 1958 | 685 | -42.0 |
Calculated comparison – not manufacturer data: Muzzle to 700 yards in 100-yard steps. Inputs: 2925 fps, 80.5 gr, G1 BC 0.441; 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 | 2925 | 1529 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2710 | 1313 | 1.6 |
| 200 | 2505 | 1122 | -0.0 |
| 300 | 2309 | 953 | -7.2 |
| 400 | 2122 | 805 | -20.9 |
| 500 | 1944 | 675 | -42.3 |
| 600 | 1775 | 563 | -73.0 |
| 700 | 1618 | 468 | -114.7 |
Key takeaway: The manufacturer lists 2,925 fps at the muzzle and 1,958 fps at 500 yards. Its 200-yard-zero trajectory is -42.0 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 Berger Open Tip Match Bullet in 224 Valkyrie
The Berger OTM design is worth understanding because it differs meaningfully from conventional hollow point bullets. The open tip in a match bullet is a manufacturing artifact of the jacket-drawing process, not a designed expansion feature. The jacket is drawn from the tip downward, leaving a small open cavity at the nose, while the base is formed with tight tolerances to ensure concentricity. This construction prioritizes ballistic consistency over terminal expansion — the goal is uniform flight, not controlled deformation.
The 224 Valkyrie was developed for heavy, efficient bullets in the AR-15 platform. Stability depends on bullet geometry, barrel twist, velocity and atmospheric density, not case capacity alone. A load-specific minimum twist was not verified in the manufacturer sources checked.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- Centerfire precision rifle competitions at distances from 100 to 500 yards
- Precision rifle practice where consistent group size matters more than terminal effect
- Shooters running dedicated 224 Valkyrie AR-15 builds with 1:7 twist barrels
- Varmint shooting at extended range where high BC and flat trajectory are prioritized over rapid expansion
- Load development baseline for competitors evaluating Berger OTM performance against heavier alternatives
Not the right tool for:
- Deer or medium-game hunting — the OTM bullet is not designed for controlled expansion on game animals, and its terminal performance on medium game is unpredictable
- Defensive or duty use — match-grade OTM ammunition is optimized for accuracy, not terminal ballistics in self-defense contexts
- Rifles whose barrel twist is unsuitable for this bullet; a load-specific minimum twist was not verified in the official sources checked.
- Budget-conscious practice sessions — at $2.00/round, this is a competition or precision practice load, not a volume training round
- Hunters in states or regions where expanding bullets are legally required for big game
Reliability Notes
No structured submissions yet.
Based on manufacturer claims and open sources, not structured data: Federal Premium’s match-grade production standards include case-by-case primer seating and powder charge consistency controls intended to reduce extreme spread in muzzle velocity. The Federal match primer used in this line is designed for consistent ignition across a range of temperatures, which is relevant for competitors shooting in variable outdoor conditions. The Berger OTM bullet is manufactured to tight dimensional tolerances, and Berger’s reputation in the precision shooting community for concentricity and consistent jacket thickness is well-established. No lot-specific accuracy data or velocity extreme spread figures are available from the manufacturer for this load. No reliability complaints or failure patterns have been identified in available open-source references at the time of publication.
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | BC G1 | Adv. 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 | ~$32–$38 | Verified factory load; target / match design |
| Federal Gold Medal 224 Valkyrie 90 gr Sierra MatchKing | 90 gr | Sierra MatchKing HPBT | 0.563 | 2,700 fps | ~$38–$44 | Verified factory load; target / match design |
| Black Hills 224 Valkyrie 85 gr Berger OTM | 85 gr | Berger OTM | – | – | ~$40–$46 | Exact factory-load identity not verified; excluded from factual performance comparison |
| Nosler Match Grade 224 Valkyrie 77 gr Custom Competition | 77 gr | Nosler HPBT | – | – | ~$34–$40 | Exact factory-load identity not verified; excluded from factual performance comparison |
| Winchester USA Ready 224 Valkyrie 75 gr Open Tip | 75 gr | Open Tip | – | – | ~$26–$32 | Exact factory-load identity not verified; excluded from factual performance comparison |
Price Reality
- Typical retail range: $37–$44 per 20-round box depending on retailer and market conditions
- Per-round cost: approximately $1.85–$2.20 per round at typical pricing; $39.99 box works out to $2.00/round
- Case pricing: case-quantity pricing (typically 10 boxes / 200 rounds) is not widely advertised for this load; expect $370–$430 per case where available
- Compared to Hornady 88 gr ELD Match: Hornady typically runs $3–$8 less per box, making it the more accessible competition alternative at similar performance levels
- Compared to Federal Gold Medal 90 gr SMK: pricing is nearly identical, making the choice between the two a matter of bullet preference rather than cost
- 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: $7, $12.
- Fair price benchmark: $39–$42 per box is reasonable for this load. Prices above $46 per box should be treated as a premium or scarcity markup, and comparison shopping is warranted.
Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.
Where to Buy
Federal Premium 224 Valkyrie 80.5 Grain Berger Open Tip Match (Box)
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FAQ
Is the bullet in this load actually a Berger or a Sierra MatchKing? The listing description is contradictory.
Federal identifies GM224VLKBH2 as Gold Medal Berger with an 80.5 gr Berger BT Target bullet. Its SKU and UPC 604544651768 establish the identity; a retailer title alone is not authoritative. The 90 gr Sierra MatchKing load is GM224VLK1, a different product.
What twist rate does my 224 Valkyrie barrel need to stabilize the 80.5 grain Berger OTM reliably?
Bullet stability depends on the specific bullet, velocity, barrel twist and atmospheric density. A universal minimum twist for this exact factory load was not verified in the manufacturer sources checked. Follow the rifle and ammunition manufacturers’ guidance; bullet weight alone does not establish compatibility.
How does the 80.5 grain Berger OTM compare to the Federal Gold Medal 90 grain Sierra MatchKing in 224 Valkyrie for 500-yard competition?
Both loads are purpose-built for precision rifle competition, but they represent slightly different trade-offs. The 90 grain Sierra MatchKing carries a higher BC and is better suited to resisting wind drift at 500 yards and beyond. The 80.5 grain Berger OTM launches at a higher velocity, which partially offsets the BC difference at mid-range distances. For stages out to 400 yards, the performance gap is small. For dedicated 500-yard and beyond shooting, the heavier 90 grain load generally has the edge in wind resistance, while the 80.5 grain load may offer a slightly flatter trajectory at shorter stages.
Can this ammunition be used for varmint hunting, and does the Berger OTM bullet expand on impact?
The Berger Open Tip Match bullet is not a hunting bullet in the conventional sense. The open tip is a precision manufacturing feature, not an expansion initiator, and terminal performance on varmints is inconsistent compared to purpose-designed varmint bullets like V-MAX or Ballistic Tip designs. At high velocity, some fragmentation may occur, but it is not reliable or predictable. For dedicated varmint hunting where rapid, consistent terminal performance matters — particularly on prairie dogs or ground squirrels — a purpose-designed varmint load in 224 Valkyrie would be a more appropriate choice.
Is this load suitable for AR-15 platforms, and are there any feeding or function concerns?
224 Valkyrie was designed from the ground up for AR-15 platform rifles using a modified bolt and barrel assembly. This load functions in any correctly configured 224 Valkyrie AR-15 with appropriate magazines — typically modified 6.8 SPC magazines. There are no known feeding or function issues specific to this load. The brass case and boxer primer construction are standard for semi-automatic use, and the overall cartridge dimensions conform to SAAMI specifications for the caliber. Shooters should ensure their rifle is chambered specifically in 224 Valkyrie and not a similar but incompatible cartridge before use.
