Most Accurate 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo, Tested

Our a few years of rifle testing have proven the 6.5 Creedmoor to be one of the vital exact cartridges to decide on when utilizing manufacturing facility ammo, however what’s the most correct 6.5 Creedmoor ammo? As a result of every rifle is completely different, we are able to’t declare any single load to be universally most correct, however our testing has given us some useful perception. Capturing Editor John B. Snow, and I fireplace tens of hundreds of photographs for accuracy testing every year between the 2 of us. We’re always evaluating rifles throughout a spectrum of worth factors and functions, and accuracy analysis is a giant a part of that.

Two issues we’ve developed by all that testing are an inexpensive expectation for what good accuracy is and which ammo continuously meets or exceeds that degree of efficiency. A part of the testing course of is capturing every kind of ammunition we get by management rifles to realize top-end expectations for the efficiency of that ammo. If ammo shoots poorly in these rifles, it’s nearly all the time worse in a manufacturing facility looking rifle. This permits us to single out and use the very best high quality ammunition. On this case, it has helped us decide a number of the most correct 6.5 Creedmoor ammo which you could purchase right this moment.

Testing the Most Correct 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo: Accuracy Protocol

At Outside Life, we try to all the time enhance our testing high quality and current probably the most related info. That has precipitated our accuracy testing and, extra importantly, the kind of information we take a look at to evolve. A number of years again, we relied on five-shot group measurement as a main metric for evaluating and evaluating accuracy. Then we moved to averages of many five-shot group sizes. We now have realized that even that metric isn’t very dependable or helpful. 5-shot group sizes merely differ an excessive amount of and even averages of enormous numbers of teams don’t provide us helpful predictive information about how a gun or ammo will shoot.

Hornady has led the cost on educating of us about pattern sizes and information interpretation, and we extremely advocate watching their podcast episodes on the topic starting with episode 50, Your Groups are too Small. After doing our personal testing, we’ve discovered their info and perspective to be spot on. Merely utilizing legitimate pattern sizes has answered lots of the questions and mysteries of each rifle accuracy and load development.

Although we nonetheless current five-shot group measurement as a reference, we put our weight on 20-shot samples. No, we don’t shoot 20 photographs in a row. Fairly, we shoot five-shot teams, then mix them right into a 20-shot composite group by syncing up factors of goal as detailed in this story. Utilizing 20 photographs reduces the variability of group measurement from round 50 p.c to about 20 p.c. Extra importantly, it provides us sufficient information for a legitimate imply radius calculation — the common distance every shot lands from the true group zero. You’ll be able to learn extra about what imply radius is here, however a key level is that it accounts for each shot fired, not simply the unfold of the 2 worst photographs. For comparative information, imply radius tells you which ones load is capturing extra precisely significantly better than group measurement.

Management Rifles

To search out probably the most correct 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, we have to check it in a significant approach. Which means capturing it by rifles that we all know are constantly exact. Each rifle is completely different, and a few rifles choose one kind of ammo, the subsequent would possibly shoot higher with one other. Our most correct ammo may not be the perfect in your rifle, but it surely’s a secure guess that if it doesn’t shoot any of those effectively, it’s not going to be very correct with something you feed it. Right here’s a take a look at the rifles we’ve used to check.

Zermatt TL3 Customized

• Motion: Zermatt Arms TL3 SA
• Barrel: 24-inch Proof Analysis carbon-fiber pre-fit
• Inventory/Chassis: MDT XRS chassis
• Optic: Nightforce ATACR 7-35

Ruger Precision Rifle

• Motion: Ruger Precision Rifle
• Barrel: 24-inch Proof Analysis metal pre-fit
• Inventory/Chassis: RPR with Magpul PRS Lite and Catalyst Arms ARCA handguard
• Optic: Nightforce ATACR 7-35

Most Correct 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo: Evaluations and Suggestions

Right here’s a take a look at probably the most correct 6.5 Creedmoor ammo that we’ve examined. Every load has been correct in a wide range of rifles and we’ll embody information from a number of management rifles in addition to a manufacturing facility looking rifle or two for a sensible perspective and expectation for these platforms.

Most Correct 6.5 Creedmoor Match Ammo: Sako TRG 136-grain Scenar

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Execs

• Very correct
• Nice for precision match capturing
• Good high quality brass

Cons

• Costly
• Will be powerful to seek out

Key Options

• Bullet: 136-grain Lapua Scenar
• G1 BC: .526
• Brass: Sako
• Field Velocity: 2,820 fps
• Value: $45 per field

100-Yard Accuracy

Sako TRG is a number of the most correct 6.5 Creedmoor ammo that you simply’ll be capable to discover. It fires the 136-grain Lapua Scenar, and makes use of high-quality Sako brass. These Finnish cartridges deliver the identical high quality we see and anticipate from Sako rifles, they usually shoot effectively in a wide range of rifles. From my Proof-barreled RPR, the .86-inch 20-shot unfold was spectacular, however imply radius tells an much more informative story. A imply radius of .21 inches signifies that the common shot from that pattern missed the middle of the group by lower than 1 / 4 inch. If we contemplate the .86-inch total group measurement, that tells us that just about all of the photographs had been clustered tightly collectively and it was probably one or two errant photographs that precipitated that enormous of a bunch. That’s why group measurement alone doesn’t give us the perfect info.

The draw back to Sako TRG ammo is that it’s as costly as lots of looking ammo, and it may be powerful to seek out.

Most Correct 6.5 Creedmoor Looking Ammo: Federal 143-grain ELD-X

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Execs

• Extraordinarily correct
• Nickel-plated circumstances feed easily
• Nice all-around 6.5 CM looking bullet

Key Options

• Bullet: 143-grain Hornady ELD-X
• G1 BC: .623
• Brass: Federal, nickel-plated
• Field Velocity: 2,700 fps
• Value: $54 per field

100-Yard Accuracy

I consider the Hornady 143-grain ELD-X to be probably the greatest looking bullets ever fielded within the 6.5 Creedmoor — and one of the vital correct too. Over time, I’ve taken sheep, caribou, deer, moose, and bears with it, and haven’t any plans on slowing down. Federal additionally started loading the projectile of their premium line, and it’s rattling correct ammo. The 143 ELD-X is constructed for accuracy and effectivity in flight, with a really excessive B.C. and warmth protect tip that features Hornady’s patented DVRT meplat for constant downrange ballistics.

Federal’s premium looking load is available in nickel-plated brass circumstances and spits bullets out at 2,700 fps from a 24-inch barrel. It’s good to take into account that shorter barrels are most typical, and you have to preserve you impression velocity in thoughts when looking at longer distances. For those who’ve acquired the rate to do the job, nonetheless, this ammo can be loads correct sufficient. Hell, it will compete in any NRL Hunter match when fired from barrel.

Greatest Worth 6.5 Creedmoor Match Ammo: AAC 140-grain BTHP

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Execs

• Very inexpensive
• Good accuracy
• Nice for precision apply or NRL Hunter

Cons

• Not fairly as constantly correct as most premium match ammo
• Crimped primers

Key Options

• Bullet: 140-grain Hornady BTHP
• G1 BC: .580
• Brass: AAC
• Field Velocity: 2,700 fps
• Value: $20 per field

100-Yard Accuracy

We all the time like discovering good-shooting ammo. We prefer it even higher when that ammo is affordable. You typically get what you pay for relating to ammo, however we’ve discovered a number of gems over time, over which shooters can rejoice. On the subject of probably the most correct 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, the perfect worth going is AAC’s 140-grain BTHP load, which rings up at $20 per field. That’s lower than half what the premium stuff will value you. There’s nothing flashy about this load. It makes use of a fundamental BTHP bullet that Hornady developed for AAC, and it’s potential punches approach above it’s weight class.

Restricted testing has proven that these things isn’t probably the most correct by the common looking rifle, however who cares? By way of a premium-barreled rifle it shoots precisely sufficient, with mid-teen velocity SD’s, to compete in NRL Hunter. One of the helpful functions for this ammo is to make use of in your competitors or looking rifle for positional apply — one thing we are able to all use extra of.

Greatest Worth 6.5 Creedmoor Looking Ammo: Nosler Whitetail Country

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Execs

• Nice accuracy
• Good all-around looking ammo
• Nice worth

Cons

• Not nice for longer distances

Key Options

• Bullet: 140-grain stable base lead-tipped bullet
• G1 BC: .495
• Brass: Nosler
• Field Velocity: 2,650 fps
• Value: $32 per field

100-Yard Accuracy

In 2024, Nosler launched a line of ammo centered on whitetail hunters, but it surely’s way more helpful than that. This inexpensive, simplified load makes use of Nosler’s premium elements and a lead-tipped cup-and-core bullet that has a thickened jacket and stable base. It’s similar to their ballistic tip design, simply with a lead core. Their goal is to supply nice medium-sized sport ammo at a terrific worth. They’ve finished it.

This ammo was very correct in my Ruger Precision Rifle, and shot fairly effectively within the Remington 700 Alpha 1 too. Regardless of not having a terrific B.C., this is a superb possibility for almost any deer or black bear looking underneath 400 yards. It’s a tough worth to beat.

Federal 140-grain Fusion Tipped

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Execs

• Nice accuracy in lots of rifles
• Extra inexpensive that lots of premium looking ammo
• Bonded for top weight retention

Cons

• Skiving on jackets and ideas don’t all the time look clear and constant

Key Options

• Bullet: 140-grain Fusion Tipped
• G1 BC: .529
• Brass: Federal
• Field Velocity: 2,715 fps
• Value: $44 per field

100-Yard Accuracy

Federal’s Fusion Tipped — like their lead-tipped Fusion — is among the most underrated kinds of 6.5 Creedmoor ammo available on the market. It’s marketed towards the deer hunter as a extra inexpensive bonded-bullet ammunition, but it surely’s able to rather more. In my expertise, it’s been extra correct than the costlier Terminal Ascent premium ammo in a wide range of cartridge choices. This tipped model is more moderen and elevates the ballistic efficiency of the bullet, which nonetheless has a copper jacket bonded to a lead core.

The orange tips about a few of this ammo look soiled, and the skiving on the jackets seems a bit inconsistent in some containers. It doesn’t appear to have an effect on accuracy although. That is a number of the most correct looking ammunition we’ve examined in 6.5 Creedmoor. In premium rifles we noticed it print 20-shot group sizes underneath an inch — which is unbelievable for a looking rifle — and sub-quarter-inch imply radiuses. From extra customary looking rifles just like the Tikka T3X, it nonetheless shoots effectively, and is completely satisfactory for many looking eventualities.

Hornady Precision Hunter 143-grain ELD-X

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Execs

• Nice accuracy
• Glorious looking bullet
• Greatest-in-class B.C. for looking

Key Options

• Bullet: 143-grain Hornady ELD-X
• G1 BC: .623
• Brass: Hornady
• Field Velocity: 2,700 fps
• Value: $47 per field

100-Yard Accuracy

Hornady’s Precision Hunter has been my go-to for six.5 Creedmoor looking ammo for a few years. They’d a winner once they launched the 143-grain ELD-X, a slippery, environment friendly looking bullet. Usually, Precision Hunter has been one of the vital correct 6.5 Creemoor hundreds available on the market. We now have seen some fluctuation in that, particularly throughout covid, but it surely appears to be capturing pretty much as good as ever now. The ELD-X bullet isn’t bonded, however has a tapered jacket and a core that’s mechanically fixed to the jacket by way of an interlock ring. In the event that they increase sufficient, you’ll generally see jackets and cores separate, however I’ve by no means seen or not it’s a difficulty on an animal. In my expertise, these bullets have been devastating from level clean to 500 yards.

Precision Hunter is premium ammo, however not the most costly. For those who shoot it by a premium barrel, anticipate tight teams. When you begin getting down round quarter-inch imply radiuses at 100 yards, you’ve acquired some actually good-shooting ammo. Even out of a looking rifle at a .3- to .4-inch imply radius, you’ll by no means miss an animal as a result of your ammo wasn’t correct sufficient.

Hornady Match 140-grain ELD-M

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Execs

• Good accuracy
• Constant B.C.
• Broadly obtainable

Cons

• Shoots effectively in every little thing, not exceptionally in something

Key Options

• Bullet: 140-grain Hornady ELD-M
• G1 BC: .646
• Brass: Hornady
• Field Velocity: 2,710 fps
• Value: $41 per field

100-Yard Accuracy

Hornady’s staple 6.5 Creedmoor match load, utilizing the 140-grain ELD-M bullet is one which we’ve had blended outcomes with over time. Some heaps we’ve shot had been so reliably correct that you simply’d would possibly as effectively pitch your barrel if it doesn’t shoot it effectively. Others, like this check lot had extra middling precision. The 140-grain ELD-M bullet is a splendidly correct slug, with constant jacket thickness, a wonderful drag profile, but it surely hasn’t blown us out of the water in our current testing.

A optimistic on this load is that it’s typically obtainable anyplace that sells ammo. Although it may not be probably the most correct possibility in your rifle, we nonetheless see accuracy that’s loads succesful for many plate matches, and ballistic apps like Hornady’s 4DOF have already got hyper correct drag fashions for the bullet. You simply want zero and correct velocity information.

Federal Premium Gold Medal 140-grain Center Strike

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Execs

• Nice accuracy in most rifles
• Premium elements
• Good B.C.

Key Options

• Bullet: 140-grain OTM
• G1 BC: .552
• Brass: Federal
• Field Velocity: 2,650 fps
• Value: $52 per field

100-Yard Accuracy

Federal Premium Gold Medal match has been a normal in our accuracy testing for years, and their comparatively new Heart Strike lineup is continuous to impress us in a wide range of cartridges. This premium-quality match ammunition makes use of a 140-grain OTM bullet loaded with Gold Medal brass and primers. It’s acquired B.C. and, in case your rifle loves it, can be arduous to beat for manufacturing facility match ammo.

Like most hundreds, we’ve seen some rifles shoot this one extraordinarily effectively and others are simply OK. General although, it’s one of many extra dependable and most correct 6.5 Creedmoor ammo choices obtainable. For those who’re searching for match ammo, Heart Strike is one you positively need to attempt. It’s not low-cost however, not like some smaller boutique match ammo, Federal has the muscle to crank out lots of these things — so availability shouldn’t be an issue.

Nosler 140-grain RDF

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Execs

• Ammo is clear and constant
• Nice B.C.
• Good trajectory

Cons

• Costly
• Not nice velocity SD

Key Options

• Bullet: 140-grain RDF BTHP
• G1 BC: .658
• Brass: Nosler
• Field Velocity: 2,675 fps
• Value: $58 per field

100-Yard Accuracy

Nosler’s 140-grain RDF competitors load options the decreased drag issue bullet — an ultra-high-B.C. boattailed hollowpoint. Like another manufacturing facility hundreds, we’ve seen the RDF match ammo shoot very effectively at occasions, and never fairly as correct at others. Accuracy in my check rifles was pretty erratic, but it surely did fairly effectively within the two looking rifles proven above. At near $60 per field, this ammo is fairly costly, even for premium competitors ammo. If it shoots effectively in your rifle, will probably be price it, however I’d purchase a pair containers and get good information earlier than committing to a bulk order.

FAQ

Last Ideas

Ammo accuracy is a perform of many various variables, so it’s vital to see what shoots finest for you. Nevertheless, you possibly can moderately anticipate your outcomes with this ammo to reflect what we’ve seen. There are all the time exceptions, however in our expertise, probably the most correct 6.5 Creedmoor ammo typically shoots effectively in most weapons, and exceptionally in some. Ammo that typically shoots poorly nearly by no means turns into a ringer in the fitting rifle. All of us dream of discovering the magic combo of rifle and ammo, however the information doesn’t actually assist that wallet-draining mentality. To search out the perfect ammo for you, attempt a field, compile your information utilizing a legitimate pattern measurement, and also you’ll study extra concerning the ammo and your rifle every time you do it. Better of all, you’ll be geared up to acknowledge great-shooting ammo if you do come throughout it.