What is 6.5 Creedmoor Best For?

You've probably already heard people talking about it and seen the online chatter, so what is so great about 6.5 Creedmoor ammo? Like any gun, that depends on what you're looking to do with it. The 6.5 Creedmoor ballistics make it an excellent round for both target shooting and hunting. Are you wondering what can you hunt with a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle? We'll also cover that in its own section below, so keep on reading!

We're not going to wade into the debate of whether or not the 6.5 Creedmoor is the overall best caliber; there's plenty of that on the internet already. There are as many detractors as enthusiasts for the caliber, and there's been a fair amount of hype around it. Anyone with a rifle has their opinions on which one is the best, and 99% of the time it's the one resting in their gun safe. Instead, we'll try to answer the question "What is 6.5 Creedmoor best for?"

A (Very) Brief History of 6.5 Creedmoor

Originally, the 6.5 Creedmoor (aka 6.5 CM, or incorrectly as 6.5 Creedmore) was a specialty cartridge tuned for long-range shooting. Competitors were handloading wildcat cartridges in 6mm but seeing a loss in velocity at longer ranges (the whole point of the sport). They needed something with a higher ballistic coefficient for shooting at targets 1,000 yards and further. To add extra stability, Hornady engineers Dave Emary and Joe Thielen, in collaboration with renowned competitor Dennis DeMille, worked on getting a 6.5mm 140-grain bullet into a short-action back in 2007. In 2008, it was introduced to the commercial market.

Around 2014, the caliber took off in popularity due to the increasing interest in long-range shooting. Shortly thereafter, hunters began to adopt it for varmints, hogs, and deer. Once specialized hunting 6.5 Creedmoor ammo became easy to find and relatively inexpensive, nearly every rifle maker got in on the game with everything from traditional bolt-actions to AR platforms. Even in these times of fluctuating supply, 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition can often still be found in stock because the sheer demand makes it a higher priority for manufacturers.

6.5 Creedmoor Ballistics

Although different bullet weights, designs, and powder charges will obviously change the performance of any round, 6.5 Creedmoor ballistics based on SAAMI, Hornady, and various independent tests offer the following when tested out of a 28-inch barrel with a 1:8-inch twist rate:

A 6.5 Creedmoor round exceeds supersonic speeds out to about 1,100 yards, greatly improving accuracy over similar competitive calibers. Retaining roughly 1,600 foot-pounds at 300 yards, this makes them a game-changer for a variety of applications.

Target Shooting

The excellent performance of 6.5 CM initially made it a hit with target shooters and competitors, especially in long-range conditions. Many have reported consistent sub-MOA groups at 1,000 yards with factory ammo. The incredible meteoric rise of the caliber, partly fueled by internet fact and fiction, is nearly unheard of in the shooting world. In less than 20 years, it's gone from a relatively obscure niche load to a ubiquitous go-to on ranges around the world.

If you're looking for target ammo, look for bullets in FMJ (Full Metal Jacket), OTM (Open Tip Match), or similar. A lot of the ammo billed as "tactical" performs quite well in semi-auto target-shooting applications, purpose-built for running through AR platforms. In that kind of combo, some are touting the defensive capabilities of the 6.5mm Creedmoor, too.

What Can You Hunt with a 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle?

• Varmints: As previously mentioned, once hunters started trying the 6.5 Creedmoor out in the field, popularity really took off in the commercial market. The same ballistics that makes it an excellent target round also extend to hunting. Varmint hunters appreciate the flat trajectory at long distances, allowing them the reach needed for skittish and wary targets. Many coyote hunters report neat, clean entrance and exit wounds, leaving a higher-quality pelt in the process.
• Mid-to-Large Game: For hunters going after mid-sized to large game, it's been hailed as a perfect new round by those who have tried it. Hog hunters, black bear hunters, and deer hunters have all been thrilled by the long-range, one-shot performance of the new caliber. It isn't too overpowered for whitetails, but it carries enough oomph for mule deer. Depending on the ammo you're using and the distances you're taking shots from, most report good expansion and pass-through with a 6.5mm Creedmoor.
• Elk: There's been some debate about elk hunting with them, but with proper shot placement and within a reasonable range of 300-500 yards, they definitely have one-shot dropping power and still fall within ethical boundaries. However, this will require practice to ensure the most accurate placement. If you're not sure, try it with mule deer first, or just stick to the caliber you've already had success with. Unless you're very comfortable with your marksmanship skills, hunting big game like moose is best avoided, as the 6.5 is considered underpowered and wouldn't result in an ethical, single-shot kill.

There are a lot of loads for hunting these days, primarily focusing on a variety of soft-nose and ballistic-tipped bullets like the vast majority of big-game cartridges for improved penetration and expansion. Looking for these when selecting big game hunting ammo will ensure the highest degree of success. Going for a target load when varminting will get you those smaller holes in the hide if you're confident in your shot placement.

No Sunset In Sight

It's unlikely that the 6.5 Creedmoor is going to fade off into obscurity any time soon, if at all. It's even being adopted for certain military applications, both long-range and machinegun alike. With this kind of versatility and rapid adoption, it's coming to rival the .30-06 Springfield in a relatively short period of time, and that's no easy feat. The recoil is much lower than a .30-06, making it popular as a first-time hunting rifle for all ages. As target loads are continually refined, it's unlikely that it will ever fall off the benchrest market, either. Shop all of our 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, and check out our frequently updated In-Stock Ammo page to see what's available to ship today!