Hornady Superformance 6.5 Creedmoor Review: Hotrod Hunting Rounds

If you want to squeeze every foot-per-second of muzzle velocity out of your 6.5 Creedmoor hunting rifle that you can, then you should seriously consider hunting with Hornady Superformance.

Boasting 100-200 fps higher muzzle velocity than analogous hunting loads and devastating terminal ballistics, Hornady Superformance rifle ammunition can easily harvest that trophy whitetail buck or bull elk that’s been teasing your trail cams all off-season.

Is Hornady Superformance the real deal? Or is all that stuff I just wrote no more than marketing hype? In this in-depth ammo review, we will look at two Hornady products that have been making waves since their release and explain to you why Superformance 6.5 Creedmoor ammo is an excellent choice for your bolt-action or semi-auto hunting rifle.

Hornady Superformance 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo Overview

Hornady has always been a big player when it comes to hunting ammo. Whether you're hunting red squirrel or going on safari, the old Nebraska manufacturer has you covered. Hornady American Whitetail. Hornady Outfitter. Hornady Precision Hunter, loaded with the almighty ELD-X bullet. They're all proven winners: reliable, accurate, and deadly.

Hornady took a new approach to hunting ammunition when they released their Superformance line in 2010. Loaded with special progressive Hornady propellants, the Superformance line pushes bullets approximately 100-200 fps faster than similar cartridges by manufacturers like Winchester, Federal, and Nosler.

Higher muzzle velocity equals flatter trajectory – hence Superformance ammo's greater forgiveness of ranging mistakes. It's not a magic trick that turns a novice into a master marksman, although it can spell the difference between an afternoon of tracking and an insta-kill.

Hornady Superformance ammunition is loaded with some of the company’s best hunting bullets that you’ve likely read about here on Ammo.com or online hunting forums. For varmint hunting, you have the world-famous V-MAX and NTX bullets. For medium to large game, there are options loaded with SST, CX, and InterLock bullets.

No matter if you’re hunting caribou in Alaska, black bear in the Rockies, or whitetail across the Midwest. Hornady Superformance 6.5 Creedmoor ammo will make sure you’re putting meat in the freezer and not telling stories of how you “almost bagged the trophy of a lifetime.”

Want to compare Superformance to other top-tier options? Check out our guide to the best 6.5 Creedmoor hunting ammo to find the perfect load for your next hunt.

Our Hornady Superformance 6.5 Creedmoor Review

If you’ve read any of my other content on Ammo.com, you know I’m a big Hornady fan. Their attention to quality control and accuracy is on par with many other match-grade ammo manufacturers. Hornady can just give it to you at a lower price point.

I'm intrigued by Hornady's claims that their Superformance 6.5 Creedmoor ammo increases muzzle velocity without increasing recoil or exceeding chamber pressure limits. As a handloader, I’d love to know what propellants they are using to cast such rifle ammunition sorcery.

The bullet type selection for both 6.5 Creedmoor Superformance rounds is extremely on point. I love the monolithic copper 120 grain CX bullet as a lead-free hunting option, and you can’t go wrong with a 129 grain SST loaded to a muzzle velocity of 3,000 fps.

I want to address a comment I hear a lot about the 6.5 Creedmoor. A lot of hunters question its efficacy for big game hunting, so let’s talk about it.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is an excellent choice for varmints, coyotes, whitetail, mule deer, pronghorn, and even feral hogs. It delivers the flat trajectory that simplifies long-range shots. Its striking power is no joke, either, as the 129 grain SST conserves over 1,600 ft lbs of energy at 300 yards. Despite this, some hunters and handloaders believe the 6.5 Creedmoor isn’t powerful enough for elk or black bear.

Much is said of the 6.5 Creedmoor being a target rifle cartridge and not a true hunting round. Although it was initially developed for competitive shooting, that does not mean it is not also effective in the woods.

When it comes to hunting, shot placement trumps bullet type. If you can put that bullet where it needs to go, then it won’t matter if you’re firing a 338 Winchester Magnum or a 223 Remington.

That being said, a larger cartridge like a 300 Win Mag or 416 Ruger will give you a longer effective range on dangerous or big game. Accurate as it might be, the 6.5 Creedmoor isn't the hardest hitter. For example, the 300 Win Mag's effective range on elk is around 500 yards, whereas the 6.5 Creedmoor's is "only" around 300.

So here's all I'm saying. Is the 6.5 Creedmoor the most versatile tool for taking large game? No. It's very possible you might encounter a faraway unshootable elk if it's all you're carrying. But if you have no intention of hunting large game outside of 300 yards – and may hunters haven't – then there really isn't much it can't do for you.

What’s It Best For?

Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor Superformance ammunition is best used for hunting medium to big game. It is available loaded with CX and SST bullets, which are both designed for rapid expansion – precisely the deadly terminal ballistics you want when your goal is to put down your trophy with minimal P. and S.

Disadvantages

Hornady Superformance ammo is not good for plinking or target practice. It's just too expensive. Most hunters don't fret about plunking down a few dollars per round since they typically only go through one or two boxes of rifle ammo per season.

Hornady Superformance ammo is sometimes hard to come by. Its inability to occupy store shelves for very long is a testament to its well-deserved popularity. If you see some, make sure to grab it before it’s gone.

Pros and Cons

No ammo is perfect. Here are some of the pros and cons of Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor Superformance ammunition you should be aware of.

Pros

• Excellent terminal performance
• High ballistic coefficient for long-range shots
• Extremely accurate
• Higher muzzle velocity than competitors
• Low recoil

Cons

• Expensive
• Can be hard to find

Cartridge Specs

Well, would you look at that? A detailed spec chart for the 6.5 Creedmoor.

Hornady Superformance 6.5 Creedmoor History and Development

The 6.5 Creedmoor was born from a gripe session between legendary Service Rifle competitor Dennis DeMille and Dave Emary, the senior ballistician for Hornady at the time.

After a frustrating day at the 2005 Service Rifle National Matches, DeMille came to Emary with a wishlist of specs he wanted in a new long-range shooting round.

DeMille’s Wishlist was:

• The cartridge must be able to fit into a magazine for the rapid-fire stages of competition
• Less recoil than a 308 Winchester for better follow-up shots and shooter comfort during rapid fire
• Flatter trajectory than a 308 Win with an accurate, high ballistic coefficient bullet
• Good barrel life
• Uses readily available reloading components so results can be duplicated
• Reloading recipes printed on the box
• Produced in quantities that could keep up with demand

No round met all of DeMille’s specifications at the time. Emary determined to change that.

The 6.5 Creedmoor round was developed by necking down a 30 Thompson Center case to accept a 6.5mm (or 0.264”) diameter bullet.

The 6.5 Creedmoor can fire bullets weighing between 95 and 153 grains, with the 120, 130, and 140 grain options being the most popular.

Although Emary wanted to name the round the "6.5 DeMille," the legendary shooter declined such an honor. He instead insisted that they name the cartridge in honor of the historic Creedmoor Rifle Range in Long Island where the first National Matches were held.

Developed to fire high ballistic coefficient (BC) bullets and have considerably less felt recoil than larger long-range shooting cartridges like the 300 Winchester Magnum, the 6.5 Creedmoor has become one of the few new cartridge success stories since the turn of the millennium.

Variations

At the time of writing, there are only two Hornady Superformance 6.5 Creedmoor factory loads available. Let’s take a look at both.

6.5 Creedmoor 120 Grain CX Superformance

If you need to make sure that Bambi and his 12-point dad end up in your freezer, reach for Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 120 grain CX Superformance ammunition.

At the heart of this round is Hornady’s CX (Copper alloy eXpanding) hunting bullet. The monolithic copper alloy bullet is completely lead-free, exhibits devastating terminal performance, penetrates deep, and will have nearly 95% weight retention.

The CX's deep hollow point is protected by Hornady’s Heat Shield tip. In addition to resisting deformation that could have harmed accuracy, the Heat Shield helps to acclerate and broaden terminal expansion.

Loaded in strict accordance with Hornady’s stringent quality control, 6.5 Creedmoor Superformance ammunition can easily achieve MOA levels of accuracy (or better) from most hunting rifles. All Superformance ammo is loaded in Hornady’s factry fresh (and highly reloadable) brass cases.

With an impressive muzzle velocity of 3,050 fps and a whopping 2,479 ft-lbs of muzzle energy, this round has a flat trajectory and can take down any medium game you cross paths with throughout the Lower 48 (and Hawaii too, I guess). With proper shot placement, you can even take down elk or black bear, but for big game, I’d prefer the round discussed below.

6.5 Creedmoor 129 Grain SST Superformance

If you’re p taking aim on large game like elk and black bear, then you want to reach for the 129gr Super Shock Tip (SST) ammo.

Upon impact, the SST bullet's polymer tip wedges into its lead core. The result is shocking energy transer on impact, followed by the lightning-fast yet controlled expansion that puts game down quickly.

The SST's core and copper jacket are locked together by Hornady's proprietary Interlock ring. It prevents the two components from prying apart from one another during penetration, which promotes a deeper (and deadlier) wound column.

The SST's boat tail, secant ogive profile, and sharp polymer tip all help to minimize drag. The payoff? A flatter trajectory, with higher resistance to cross and vertical winds, as well as greater downrange striking energy.

The 6.5 CM 129 grain SST clears muzzle at a velocity 2,950 fps, and slaps with around 1894 ft lbs of energy at 200 yards (assuming a 24" barrel). The round's effective range for whitetail about 600 yards; elk, 400 yards.

Ballistics for Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor Superformance Ammo

Here is a ballistics table for both variations of Hornady ce 6.5 Creedmoor Superformanammunition currently available on the market. (Note that muzzle velocities were recorded using a 24” barrel.)

Parting Shots

If you can’t tell by now, I’m a pretty big fan of Hornady Superformance ammo. These rifle cartridges are excellent for hunting across the USA and designed to put game down toot sweet.

The added muzzle velocity supplied by Superformance ammunition is a real benefit. It gives you a slightly flatter trajectory, as well as higher striking energy. Sometimes that extra oomph is just what you need to get the job done.

If you are looking for some 6.5 Creedmoor hunting ammo, we have tons of it in stock and ready to ship to your door HERE. I’ll look forward to seeing all of your trophy photos in my inbox this fall!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor Superformance ammo worth buying?

Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor Superformance ammo is a great choice if you plan on hunting medium or large game. It is loaded with some of Hornady’s best hunting bullets: accurate, and designed to undergo deadly terminal expansion following low-velocity impact.

What is the range of Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor Superformance ammo?

The effective range of 6.5 Creedmoor Superformance ammo is primarily defined by what you’re hunting. For elk, your maximum effective range will be around 300 to 400 yards, whereas whitetail deer can easily be harvested out to around 600 yards.

Is Hornady Superformance good for hunting?

Yes, Hornady Superformance ammo is specifically designed with the needs of hunters in mind. Loaded with Hornady’s deadliest bullets like the SST, V-MAX, CX, and InterLock, Superformance ammo will create devastating wound channels that put down game quickly and humanely.