Long, sleek 6mm bullets with light recoil: that is the pitch for the 6mm Creedmoor. Precision rifle shooters like it because they can watch their own hits through the scope. Hunters like it for deer and varmints. This page lays out 6mm Creedmoor ballistics for the loads we carry, split into match and hunting groups, with plain notes on what the numbers mean.
What Is the 6mm Creedmoor?
The 6mm Creedmoor is the 6.5 Creedmoor case necked down to hold a 6mm bullet. That bullet measures .243 inch, the same as the 243 Winchester. It came out of the long-range target world, where shooters wanted less recoil and a flatter path than the 6.5.
Is the 6mm Creedmoor a short action?
Yes. Like the 6.5 Creedmoor and 308, it fits a short action. Many 6.5 Creedmoor rifles use the same bolt face, so a barrel swap is a common way into the round. Have a gunsmith handle any barrel change.
Is it the same as the 6.5 Creedmoor?
No. The cases look alike, but the neck and bullet size differ. Never fire 6mm Creedmoor in a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle, or the reverse. Match the ammo to the stamp on your barrel.
Match Loads: 6mm Creedmoor Ballistics for Target Work
Match ammo uses hollow-point boat-tail or polymer-tip bullets made for accuracy and steady flight. They are not hunting bullets.
| Load | Bullet | Grain | Muzzle velocity (fps) | Muzzle energy (ft-lbs) | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady 6mm Creedmoor 108 Grain ELD Match | Hornady ELD Match Polymer Tip | 108 | 2,960 | 2,101 | 20-round box |
| Hornady Black 6mm Creedmoor 105 Grain BTHP | Jacketed Hollow Point | 105 | 2,960 | 2,043 | 20-round box |
| Berger 6mm Creedmoor 105 Hybrid Target | Jacketed Hollow Point (Berger Hybrid Target) | 105 | 2,959 | 2,042 | 20-round box |
| Sig Sauer 6mm Creedmoor 107 Grain Marksman Elite OTM | Hollow point boat-tail (Sierra MatchKing) | 107 | 2,950 | 2,068 | 20-round box |
| Berger 6mm Creedmoor 109 Grain Hybrid Target | Jacketed Hollow Point (Berger Hybrid Target) | 109 | 2,950 | 2,107 | 20-round box |
| Federal Gold Medal 6mm Creedmoor 105 Grain Berger Hybrid | Jacketed Hollow Point | 105 | 3,025 | 2,133 | 20-round box |
| Federal Gold Medal 6mm Creedmoor 109 Grain Berger Hybrid | Jacketed Hollow Point (Berger Hybrid Target) | 109 | 2,975 | 2,142 | 20-round box |
| Nosler 6mm Creedmoor 105 RDF Match Grade | Jacketed Hollow Point (Nosler RDF) | 105 | 3,050 | 2,169 | 20-round box |
| Norma 6mm Creedmoor 107 Grain Match HP | Jacketed Hollow Point | 107 | 3,051 | 2,211 | 20-round box |
| Federal Gold Medal 6mm Creedmoor 107 Grain Sierra MatchKing | Jacketed Hollow Point (Sierra MatchKing) | 107 | 3,000 | 2,138 | 20-round box |
The Hornady 108 grain ELD Match lists 2,960 fps and 2,101 ft-lbs. The Nosler 105 grain RDF Match Grade lists 3,050 fps and 2,169 ft-lbs. The Federal Gold Medal 109 grain Berger Hybrid lists 2,975 fps and 2,142 ft-lbs.
Hunting and Varmint Loads
For game, the bullet has to open or hold together the right way. Light polymer tips suit varmints. Bonded and copper bullets suit deer.
| Load | Bullet | Grain | Muzzle velocity (fps) | Muzzle energy (ft-lbs) | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nosler Varmageddon 6mm Creedmoor 70 Grain | Nosler Varmageddon polymer tip | 70 | 3,550 | 1,959 | 20-round box |
| Hornady V-Match 6mm Creedmoor 80 Grain ELD-VT | Polymer Tip (Hornady ELD-VT) | 80 | 3,300 | 1,934 | 20-round box |
| Sig Elite Hunter Copper 6mm Creedmoor 80 Grain | Solid Hollow Point (Monolithic Copper) | 80 | 3,300 | 1,935 | 20-round box |
| Hornady Superformance 6mm Creedmoor 90 Grain CX | Polymer Tip (Hornady CX monolithic copper) | 90 | 3,325 | 2,209 | 20-round box |
| Nosler Ballistic Tip 6mm Creedmoor 95 Grain | Polymer Tip (Nosler Ballistic Tip) | 95 | 3,100 | 2,027 | 20-round box |
| Nosler AccuBond 6mm Creedmoor 90 Grain Trophy Grade | Nosler AccuBond Bonded Polymer Tip | 90 | 3,200 | 2,046 | 20-round box |
| Berger Classic Hunter 6mm Creedmoor 95 Grain | Jacketed Hollow Point | 95 | 3,140 | 2,080 | 20-round box |
| Remington Core-Lokt 6mm Creedmoor 100 Grain Soft Point | Jacketed Soft Point (Core-Lokt) | 100 | 3,000 | 1,998 | 20-round box |
| Hornady Precision Hunter 6mm Creedmoor 103 Grain ELD-X | Polymer Tip (Hornady ELD-X) | 103 | 3,050 | 2,127 | 20-round box |
| Berger Elite Hunter 6mm Creedmoor 108 Grain | Jacketed Hollow Point (Berger Elite Hunter) | 108 | 2,931 | 2,060 | 20-round box |
The Nosler Varmageddon 70 grain lists 3,550 fps and 1,959 ft-lbs. For deer, the Nosler AccuBond 90 grain lists 3,200 fps and 2,046 ft-lbs, and the Hornady Precision Hunter 103 grain ELD-X lists 3,050 fps and 2,127 ft-lbs.
Reading the Numbers
Muzzle velocity is speed at the barrel in feet per second. Muzzle energy is the bullet’s work capacity in foot-pounds. Energy rises with the square of speed.
The muzzle figures here look close from load to load. The real gap opens downrange. Heavy 105 to 109-grain bullets have a high ballistic coefficient. They start a bit slower but hold speed and resist wind better over distance. That is why match shooters pick them.
Barrel, weather and altitude caveats
Box numbers come from test barrels, often 24 inches long. Many precision rifles use 24 to 26-inch barrels, while light hunting rifles may run 20 to 22 inches and lose some speed. Temperature changes powder burn. Altitude changes drag. For long-range work, chronograph your load and build your data from real speeds, not the box.
What Is the 6mm Creedmoor Good For?
Steel and paper at distance
This is its home ground. Low recoil lets you spot your own hits and corrections. The high-BC match loads above are built for it.
Varmints and predators
Light, fast bullets like the 70-grain Varmageddon and the Hornady V-Match 80 grain ELD-VT, which lists 3,300 fps and 1,934 ft-lbs, work well on coyotes and prairie dogs.
Deer and pronghorn
With a good 90 to 108-grain hunting bullet, the 6mm Creedmoor handles deer at sensible ranges. Shot placement matters more with a smaller bullet. The Remington Core-Lokt 100 grain lists 3,000 fps and 1,998 ft-lbs. The copper Hornady Superformance 90 grain CX lists 3,325 fps and 2,209 ft-lbs.
Some states set minimum caliber rules for deer or require lead-free bullets. Laws vary, so check your state’s hunting rules.
6mm Creedmoor Compared to the 243
Both fire .243-inch bullets from a short action. The 6mm Creedmoor’s case and rifles are set up for long, heavy bullets, so it shines with match loads. The 243 has a wider range of hunting loads. Compare them in our 243 Winchester ballistic data guide. Interested in the parent round? Our 6.5 Creedmoor gel test guide covers its hunting bullets.
Shop 6mm Creedmoor Ammo
Browse match, varmint and hunting loads in our 6mm Creedmoor ammo category.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 6mm Creedmoor a short action?
Yes. The 6mm Creedmoor is based on the 6.5 Creedmoor case, so it fits a short action like the 308 and 243. That keeps rifles compact. Many 6.5 Creedmoor actions can take a 6mm Creedmoor barrel, but have a gunsmith handle the swap.
Is 6mm Creedmoor the same as 6.5 Creedmoor?
No. The 6mm Creedmoor uses the 6.5 Creedmoor case necked down to a smaller .243-inch bullet. The rounds are not interchangeable. Firing the wrong one is dangerous. Always match the ammo to the chambering stamped on your barrel.
What is 6mm Creedmoor good for?
It suits long-range target shooting, varmints and predators, and deer with the right bullet. Low recoil lets you spot your hits. For deer, use a 90 to 108-grain hunting bullet, and check your state’s rules on caliber and bullet type.
What caliber is a 6mm Creedmoor?
The 6mm Creedmoor fires a 6mm bullet that measures .243 inch. That is the same bullet size as the 243 Winchester and 6mm Remington, but each uses a different case. Only fire ammo marked for your rifle’s exact chambering.
What is a 6mm Creedmoor compared to?
It is most often compared to the 243 Winchester and the 6.5 Creedmoor. Versus the 243, it is set up for longer, heavier match bullets. Versus the 6.5 Creedmoor, it kicks less and shoots flatter, but carries a lighter bullet for hunting.
