Many manufacturers, like Fusion, now produce 6.5 Creedmoor ammo specifically for hunting. (Jeff G. Phillips photo)
March 10, 2017
By Game & Fish Online Staff
The 6.5 Creedmoor rifle cartridge was originally developed for competitive shooting. Due to its excellent long-range accuracy and low recoil, it was only a matter of time before becoming a popular short-action cartridge for hunters.
Federal Trophy Copper Federal 6.5 Creedmoor Trophy Copper, 120-grain (Photo courtesy of Federal Premium)
Federal Premium touts pinpoint accuracy, superior penetration and aggressive expansion in a copper, polymer-tipped bullet with the Vital-Shok Trophy Copper cartridge . The hunting cartridge provides flat trajectories and excellent downrange performance.
Bullet Type: Trophy Copper Bullet Weight: 120 grains Ballistic Coefficient: 0.497 Muzzle Velocity: 2,875 feet per second Item/Part #: P65CRDTC1 Additional Features:
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Copper-alloy construction provides up to 99 percent weight retention for deep penetration Tipped bullet cavity is optimized for expansion across a broad velocity range Grooved bullet shank for superb accuracy across a wide range of firearms Polymer tip and boat-tail design increase the ballistic coefficient for high downrange velocity and energy with minimal bullet drop Fusion Soft Point Fusion 6.5 Creedmoor Soft Point, 140-grain (Jeff G. Phillips photo)
Fusion’s claim-to-fame is rifle ammunition specifically built for deer hunting. These Fusion Soft Point cartridges offer large expansion and high-weight retention in head-to-head comparisons against the competition.
Bullet Type: Soft Point Bullet Weight: 140 grains Ballistic Coefficient: 0.439 Muzzle Velocity: 2,750 feet per second Item/Part #: F65CRDFS1 Additional Features:
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Copper jacket is electro-chemically applied to the core, resulting in a perfectly uniform jacket Boat-tail design for great accuracy Skived, pre-programmed nose provides consistent expansion Maximum weight retention for deep penetration Browning BXR Rapid Expansion Matrix Tip Browning BXR Rapid Expansion Matrix Tip, 129-grain (Photo courtesy of Browning Ammunition)
The BXR Rapid Expansion Matrix Tip is designed specifically for use on thin-skin, medium-size game, such as whitetail, blacktail, mule deer and antelope. The proprietary matrix-tip design allows for high downrange velocity and energy retention while also initiating rapid positive expansion. The jacket-and-tip combination yields accuracy and rapid energy transfer for excellent knockdown power.
Bullet Type: Matrix Tip
Bullet Weight: 129 grains Ballistic Coefficient: 0.557 Muzzle Velocity: 2,850 feet per second Item/Part #: B192100651 Nosler Ballistic Tip Nosler 6.5 Creedmoor Ballistic Tip, 140-grain (Photo courtesy of Nosler)
Nosler Ballistic Tip hunting ammunition is loaded with the proven accurate and reliable Ballistic Tip Bullet. Every bullet weight and muzzle velocity is optimized for maximum effectiveness for medium-size game.
Bullet Type: Ballistic Tip Hunting Bullet Weight: 140 grains Ballistic Coefficient: 0.509 Muzzle Velocity: 2,650 feet per second Item/Part #: 40064 Winchester Deer Season XP Winchester 6.5 Creedmoor Deer Season XP, 125-grain (Photo courtesy of Winchester)
Winchester’s Deer Season XP ammunition was engineered specifically for deer hunters. The Extreme Point bullet features an oversize-impact diameter, which simply means more impact trauma, better energy transfer, and larger wound cavities for quick knockdowns.
Bullet Type: Extreme Point Bullet Weight: 125 grains Ballistic Coefficient: 0.540 Muzzle Velocity: 2,850 feet per second Item/Part #: X65DS Winchester Expedition Big Game Long Range Winchester’s Expedition Big Game Long Range hunting ammunition uses a tough, deep-penetrating Nosler Accubond Long Range bullet for performance on big game. Controlled bullet expansion allows for penetrating hide and bone before delivering its knock-down power.
Bullet Type: Nosler AccuBond Long Range Bullet Weight: 142 grains Ballistic Coefficient: 0.719 Muzzle Velocity: 2,700 feet per second Item/Part #: S65LR Norma Scirocco II Norma 6.5 Creedmoor Scirocco II, 130-grain (Photo courtesy of Norma USA)
The proliferation of hunting loads for the 6.5 Creedmoor includes the Norma 130-grain Scirocco II. This sleek, polymer-nose bullet, with its 15-degree boat-tail flies flat. In expansion and penetration tests, it opens reliably down to 1,750 feet per second, and drives straight and deep. The bonded bullet stays in one piece after high-speed impact, routinely retaining more than 80 percent of its original weight.
Bullet Type: Polymer Tip Scirocco Bullet Weight: 130 grains Ballistic Coefficient: 0.550 Muzzle Velocity: 2,800 feet per second Item/Part #: 20166302 Sendero Ammo Match-Grade Hunting Sendero Ammo 6.5 Creedmoor Match-Grade Hunting, 143-grain (Photo courtesy of Sendero Ammo)
Boasting Match Grade Hunting 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition , these hand-loaded rounds are made from new Hornady brass, temperature insensitive smokeless powder, Hornady 143 ELD-X bullets and CCI BR2 primers packaged in a reusable 20-round plastic container.
Bullet Type: Hornady ELD-X Bullet Weight: 143 grains Ballistic Coefficient (G1): 0.623 Ballistic Coefficient (G7): 0.314 Muzzle Velocity: 2,815 feet per second (noted with disclaimer) Hornady InterLock American Whitetail Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor InterLock American Whitetail, 129-grain (Photo courtesy of Hornady)
Hornady’s legendary InterLock bullets have been proven in the deer hunting world for decades. Hornady’s American Whitetail ammunition combines generations of ballistics know-how with modern components and the technology to make those once-in-a-lifetime shots count.
Bullet Type: Jacketed Spire Point Bullet Weight: 129 grains Ballistic Coefficient: 0.445 Muzzle Velocity: 2,820 feet per second Item/Part #: 81489 Additional Features:
Legendary Hornady InterLock bullets Optimized loads tailored specifically for deer hunting Select propellants deliver consistent accuracy and performance Hornady GMX Full Boar Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor GMX Full Boar, 120-grain (Photo courtesy of Hornady)
Hornady's Full Boar ammunition is Pigman approved and features hard-hitting GMX bullets for deep penetration and excellent weight retention. These monolithic copper-alloy bullets deliver more than 95 percent weight retention.
Bullet Type: GMX Monolithic Copper Alloy Bullet Weight: 120 grains Ballistic Coefficient: 0.450 Muzzle Velocity: 2,925 feet per second Item/Part #: 81498 Additional Features:
California compatible and approved for use in other areas requiring the use of non-traditional bullets Hornady ELD-X Precision Hunter Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor ELD-X Precision Hunter, 143-grain (Photo courtesy of Hornady)
Accuracy and consistency is the touted foundation of Hornady Precision Hunter factory-loaded ammunition. Great care has been given by Hornady engineers to develop match-accurate hunting loads allowing the ELD-X bullet to achieve its ballistic potential. Precision Hunter ammunition is clean burning, has consistent propellant volume and manufactured with minimal run out. Propellant and primer combinations are carefully selected to provide the consistent shot-to-shot results regardless of temperature.
Bullet Type: ELD-X Bullet Weight: 143 grains Ballistic Coefficient (G1): 0.623 Ballistic Coefficient (G7): 0.314 Muzzle Velocity: 2,700 feet per second Item/Part #: 81499 Hornady GMX Superformance Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor GMX Superformance, 120-grain (Photo courtesy of Hornady)
Bullet Type: GMX Bullet Weight: 120 grains Ballistic Coefficient: 0.450 Muzzle Velocity: 2,808 feet per second Item/Part #: 81490 For more information, click here . Copper Creek Cartridge Co. Hunting Ammo Copper Creek Cartridge Co. 6.5 Creedmoor Custom Hunting Ammo (Photo courtesy of Copper Creek Cartridge Co.)
Copper Creek Cartridge Co. loads a wide variety of 6.5 Creedmoor hunting ammunition . They offer loads with different bullet brands, such as Berger and Hornady, paired with new Hornady brass. According to their website, a box of 20 loaded cartridges will cost you $35 to $40.
If you’re looking for ultimate precision and accuracy, Copper Creek offers a development service to custom load ammunition specifically for your rifle.
Hendershot’s Custom Hunting Ammo Hendershot’s 6.5 Creedmoor Custom Hunting Ammo (Photo courtesy of Hendershot’s)
Touting Extreme Custom Ammo , Hendershot’s advertises each round is built one at a time to meet their high standards of performance. The ordering process on their website if fairly simple; choose the bullet brand/type and weight you want, and the quantity of boxes. From their website, expect to pay $50 to $70 per box of 20 cartridges.