Light bullets
Many varmint-oriented loads use light bullets designed for rapid expansion. Their high muzzle velocity should not be confused with the behavior of a heavier match or hunting bullet.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · SMALL-BORE CENTERFIRE
.22 Creedmoor
A .22-caliber centerfire in the Creedmoor family. Current factory offerings pair the case with longer, heavier .224-caliber bullets as well as lighter varmint designs.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 2.450–2.700 in
62.230–68.580 mm - Case length · max
- 1.920 in
48.768 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.224 in
5.690 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.472 in
11.989 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Small-bore centerfire
- Bullet specification
- 0.2240 in / 5.690 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 3 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 69–80 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.22 Creedmoor is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 22 CM. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
It is distinct from .22 ARC, .22-250 Remington, and 6mm Creedmoor. Bullet length and the ammunition maker's twist recommendation matter.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
The .22 Creedmoor developed a following as a wildcat before it became an industry-standard cartridge. It brought .22-caliber bullets to the Creedmoor case family, appealing to shooters who wanted a fast small-bore cartridge built around long, streamlined projectiles. Horizon Firearms became an early commercial advocate, developing hunting rifles and conducting field testing while the cartridge was still outside the usual factory-ammunition lineup.
Horizon subsequently helped pursue standardization. In February 2024, SAAMI announced acceptance of the .22 Creedmoor, with Hornady identified as the submitting ammunition company. That step established common cartridge, chamber and performance specifications for broader factory adoption. The sequence is the central part of its history: custom-rifle demand and field use preceded formal standardization. It also separates the Creedmoor from the .22 ARC, accepted in the same announcement but designed around a different case and a more compact rifle-platform envelope.
Historical sources: Horizon Firearms: early .22 Creedmoor development and standardization ↗ · SAAMI: February 2024 acceptance announcement ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Longer bullets
Streamlined match bullets can retain velocity differently downrange. Bullet length, construction, rifling twist, and magazine constraints are product-specific; grain weight alone does not describe them.
Specialty construction
Monolithic, bonded, tipped, and subsonic products are distinct load types when offered. A match label describes a target role and does not automatically establish a hunting application.
In the cited .22 Creedmoor examples, bullet weights are 69, 80 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
69 grains
3,550 fps
ELD-VT®
80 grains
3,285 fps
ELD® Match
Compare all 3 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady83414 | 69 gr 4.47 g | ELD-VT® | 3,550 fps 1,082 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 183 ↗ |
| Hornady83411 | 80 gr 5.18 g | ELD® Match | 3,285 fps 1,001 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 183 ↗ |
| Hornady83412 | 80 gr 5.18 g | ELD-X® | 3,285 fps 1,001 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 183 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
.22 Creedmoor: measured velocity by barrel length
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 80 gr Hornady ELD-X · Horizon cut-down test | Horizon / On the Horizon Outdoors | 14: 2819; 15: 2891; 16: 2974; 17: 3030; 18: 3089; 19: 3116; 20: 3124; 21: 3165; 22: 3215; 23: 3253; 24: 3253; 25: 3277; 26: 3311 |
.22 Creedmoor: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 69 gr Hornady ELD-VT® | Hornady | 0: 3550; 100: 3296; 200: 3057; 300: 2832; 400: 2617; 500: 2412 |
| 80 gr Hornady ELD® Match | Hornady | 0: 3285; 100: 3076; 200: 2877; 300: 2687; 400: 2505; 500: 2330 |
| 80 gr Hornady ELD-X® | Hornady | 0: 3285; 100: 3076; 200: 2877; 300: 2687; 400: 2505; 500: 2330 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .22 Creedmoor?
A .22-caliber centerfire in the Creedmoor family. Current factory offerings pair the case with longer, heavier .224-caliber bullets as well as lighter varmint designs.
What diameter does .22 Creedmoor use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.2240 inches (5.690 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
It is distinct from .22 ARC, .22-250 Remington, and 6mm Creedmoor. Bullet length and the ammunition maker's twist recommendation matter.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
The barrel-length view uses Horizon’s published 80-grain ELD-X cut-down test. The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- Horizon: original .22 Creedmoor barrel-length test table at 1:00 ↗. Archive release July 14, 2026; the spoken summary rounds some values differently, so the graph retains the table values. No velocity slope has been borrowed from a different cartridge.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 76 ↗
- Hornady: .22 Creedmoor factory ammunition ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 183 ↗
- Horizon Firearms: early .22 Creedmoor development and standardization ↗
- SAAMI: February 2024 acceptance announcement ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.