Hunting construction
Soft-point, bonded, partitioned, and monolithic expanding bullets are designed differently. Their intended impact-velocity ranges and use cases come from the bullet or ammunition manufacturer.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · SPORTING & MATCH RIFLE
6mm Creedmoor
A short-action 6mm cartridge in the Creedmoor family. Factory match bullets and expanding hunting bullets have different roles despite similar external shapes.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 2.550–2.800 in
64.770–71.120 mm - Case length · max
- 1.920 in
48.768 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.2434 in
6.182 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.472 in
11.989 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Sporting & match rifle
- Bullet specification
- 0.2434 in / 6.182 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 9 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 80–109 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
6mm Creedmoor is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 6 mm CM. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
6mm Creedmoor is not 6.5 Creedmoor. Keep the complete caliber marking visible when storing closely related cartridges.
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 6 mm Creedmoor grew from the 6.5 Creedmoor through a project involving Outdoor Life writer John Snow, George Gardner of GA Precision and Hornady. It began as a wildcat before SAAMI accepted the cartridge in 2017. The design retained the Creedmoor case family while using 6 mm projectiles.
Precision-rifle competition provided an important audience. Shooters wanted long, streamlined 6 mm bullets and the relatively manageable recoil that could help them observe their own shots during a match. The cartridge appeared in larger AR-pattern rifles and later in precision bolt actions, including chassis-style factory rifles. Its performance was often compared with the older .243 Winchester, but its commercial development included fast-twist barrels and chamber geometry intended for contemporary long projectiles. Its history is consequently more specific than simply being a smaller-bullet Creedmoor: it records a writer-and-gunmaker experiment that found a competitive role and then gained factory support.
Historical sources: Sierra: 6mm Creedmoor cartridge history ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Match construction
Open-tip match and tipped match bullets prioritize consistency and aerodynamics. A match designation does not by itself mean the projectile was designed for hunting expansion.
Specialty offerings
Lead-free, reduced-recoil, and premium long-range products are separate load designs when offered. Compare the exact SKU, bullet weight, test barrel, and intended role rather than relying on a cartridge-wide average.
In the cited 6mm Creedmoor examples, bullet weights are 80, 87, 90, 103, 105, 107, 108, 109 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
80 grains
3,300 fps
ELD-VT®
90 grains
3,325 fps
CX®
105 grains
3,025 fps
BERGER HYBRID
Compare all 9 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady81397 | 80 gr 5.18 g | ELD-VT® | 3,300 fps 1,006 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 184 ↗ |
| Hornady81393 | 87 gr 5.64 g | V-MAX® | 3,210 fps 978 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 184 ↗ |
| Hornady813944 | 90 gr 5.83 g | CX® | 3,325 fps 1,013 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 184 ↗ |
| Hornady81392 | 103 gr 6.67 g | ELD-X® | 3,050 fps 930 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 184 ↗ |
| FederalGM6CRDBH1 | 105 gr 6.80 g | BERGER HYBRID | 3,025 fps 922 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗ |
| Hornady81396 | 105 gr 6.80 g | BTHP | 2,960 fps 902 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 184 ↗ |
| FederalGM6CRDM1 | 107 gr 6.93 g | SIERRA MATCHKING BTHP | 3,000 fps 914 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗ |
| Hornady81391 | 108 gr 7.00 g | ELD® Match | 2,960 fps 902 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 184 ↗ |
| FederalGM6CRDLRHT1 | 109 gr 7.06 g | BERGER HYBRID | 2,975 fps 907 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗ |
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
6mm Creedmoor: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 80 gr Hornady ELD-VT® | Hornady | 0: 3300; 100: 3053; 200: 2820; 300: 2599; 400: 2388; 500: 2187 |
| 87 gr Hornady V-MAX® | Hornady | 0: 3210; 100: 2962; 200: 2727; 300: 2505; 400: 2292; 500: 2091 |
| 90 gr Hornady CX® | Hornady | 0: 3325; 100: 3081; 200: 2851; 300: 2632; 400: 2424; 500: 2225 |
| 103 gr Hornady ELD-X® | Hornady | 0: 3050; 100: 2862; 200: 2687; 300: 2514; 400: 2348; 500: 2189 |
| 105 gr Federal BERGER HYBRID | Federal | 0: 3025; 100: 2846; 200: 2674; 300: 2509; 400: 2350; 500: 2196 |
| 107 gr Federal SIERRA MATCHKING BTHP | Federal | 0: 3000; 100: 2826; 200: 2658; 300: 2497; 400: 2341; 500: 2191 |
| 108 gr Hornady ELD® Match | Hornady | 0: 2960; 100: 2784; 200: 2615; 300: 2453; 400: 2296; 500: 2144 |
| 109 gr Federal BERGER HYBRID | Federal | 0: 2975; 100: 2808; 200: 2647; 300: 2492; 400: 2342; 500: 2197 |
| 105 gr Hornady BTHP | Hornady | 0: 2960; 100: 2782; 200: 2612; 300: 2447; 400: 2289; 500: 2136 |
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 6mm Creedmoor?
A short-action 6mm cartridge in the Creedmoor family. Factory match bullets and expanding hunting bullets have different roles despite similar external shapes.
What diameter does 6mm Creedmoor use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.2434 inches (6.182 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
6mm Creedmoor is not 6.5 Creedmoor. Keep the complete caliber marking visible when storing closely related cartridges.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
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.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 45 ↗
- Sierra: 6mm Creedmoor cartridge background ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 184 ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗
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.