Best 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo For Accuracy: Feed Your Rifle Top-Performing Rounds!

Deciding on the best 6.5 Creedmoor ammo for accuracy is no small feat. Each barrel affects the bullet differently, so if a load drives tacks in one rifle, it might prove far less accurate in another. Plus, all the varying bullet weights and styles perform differently from gun to gun.

Given the countless options and obtuse industry jargon, it’s easy to see why finding the top-performing ammo can be confusing and frustrating for new shooters (and even seasoned marksmen). Many suggest handloading 6.5 Creedmoor ammo for the best results – but who has dozens of hours to spend perfecting each round? I sure don’t! Although I do dabble in reloading, my busy schedule demands that I fire factory-loaded ammo 90% of the time.

Let’s make things easy. Here are our picks for the most accurate factory ammo for a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle!

Our Top Picks for Best 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo for Accuracy in 2024

1. Sierra MatchKing Competition 140 Grain HPBT MatchKing - Best Overall
2. Hornady 147 Grain ELD Match - Best for Long-Distance
3. Winchester Deer Season XP 125 Grain Extreme Point - Best for Hunting
4. Sellier & Bellot 140 Grain FMJBT - Budget-Friendly

The Most Recommended 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo

Sierra Competition 140 Grain HPBT MatchKing - Most Accurate 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo

Specs

Sierra MatchKing Competition 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo - 20 Rounds of 140 Grain HPBT MatchKing Ammunition

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• Bullet Type: Hollow Point Boat Tail
• Bullet Weight: 140 grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,675 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,224 ft-lbs
• Casing Type: Brass

Pros

• Trusted brand
• High-quality projectiles
• Match-grade ammunition
• Solid ballistics
• Incredibly accurate

Cons

• Expensive

Why We Chose It

The 6.5 Creedmoor already has outstanding ballistics in general – but this match ammo pushes the limits of any precision rifle.

Sierra Competition 140 Grain HPBT MatchKing is the best 6.5 Creedmoor ammo for accuracy. Sierra’s bullets are known for their incredibly reliable ballistic performance, and these rounds are designed for shooting competitions.

Numerous other ammunition manufacturers use Sierra bullets, and for only one reason: they deliver as promised. Hollow point boat tail bullets have a high ballistic coefficient, which means they’re significantly more aerodynamic than the soft point bullets often used in hunting loads. The MatchKing exemplifies the HPBT design courtesy of its exceedingly thin and concentric match-grade jacket, gyroscopically stable form-fitted lead core, and low-drag tip and tapered base.

This round’s 140 grain bullet has a flat trajectory: dropping only 23” at 400 yards when zeroed at 200 yards, which aids in downrange accuracy, creating the opportunity for sub-MOA five-shot groups. To compare other top brands, check out our in-depth look at 6.5 Creedmoor ballistics.

Despite being our top pick, Sierra Competition 140 Grain HPBT MatchKing has a glaring flaw: It’s pricey!

Ammo prices have been consistently rising for some time, so I’m running out of kidneys to sell for ammo! But seriously, if you plan to shoot a lot, these rounds will quickly eat up your ammo budget. I understand that a higher price is often needed because you usually get what you pay for when buying ammo. If you opt for the cheap stuff, it won’t be as accurate and reliable.

Surprisingly, this ammo isn’t as expensive as Black Hills Gold 120 Grain GMX – another high-quality offering from a prestigious American ammo manufacturer.

For me, the significant con doesn’t outweigh all the glowing benefits Sierra Competition 140 Grain HPBT MatchKing offers shooters regarding accuracy and reliability. Don’t hesitate to grab a few boxes before your next trip to the range!

Hornady 147 Grain ELD Match - Best 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo for Long-Distance Accuracy

Specs

Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo - 20 Rounds of 147 Grain ELD Match Ammunition

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$36.99

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• Bullet Type: Polymer Tipped Secant Ogive Boat Tail
• Bullet Weight: 147 grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,695 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,370 ft-lbs
• Casing Type: Brass

Pros

• Trusted brand
• Top-notch bullet design
• Ridiculously accurate
• Solid ballistics
• Match ammo

Cons

• Fairly expensive

Why We Chose It

Hornady is one of my favorite ammo brands no matter what I’m shooting. I’ve tested a lot of their ammo, and it always performs incredibly well. It’s no different with Hornady 147 Grain ELD Match. It’s a revolutionary bullet design that’s accurate and offers shooters excellent ballistics downrange.

ELD stands for “Extremely Low Drag,” meaning these projectiles don’t lose as much downrange velocity as others and have a flat trajectory to show for it. The secant ogive boat tail design and Heat Shield tip further increase the ballistic coefficient of these 6.5mm bullets. ELD-M bullets are loved so much that many other ammo makers load them in their ammunition.

These revolutionary features mean you can trust the bullet will strike the target exactly where you need it to every time you pull the trigger.

The biggest downside is the price. Though it’s not as expensive as other options, like Sierra Competition 140 Grain HPBT MatchKing or Federal 130 grain Berger Hybrid OTM, you’ll still feel your wallet losing weight and girth with each trigger pull.

Regarding factory match ammo, you’ll be hard pressed to find anything better than Hornady 147 Grain ELD Match. Those projectiles are exquisitely designed for long-range accuracy, so grab a box or ten from Ammo.com today!

Winchester Deer Season XP 125 Grain Extreme Point - Best 6.5 Creedmoor Hunting Ammo

Specs

Winchester Deer Season XP 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo - 20 Rounds of 125 Grain Extreme Point Ammunition

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$29.99

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• Bullet Type: Polymer Tipped
• Bullet Weight: 125 grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,850 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,254 ft-lbs
• Casing Type: Brass

Pros

• Trusted brand
• Designed for whitetail hunting
• Very accurate
• Flat trajectory

Cons

• Bullet weight is a little light for other big game animals

Why We Chose It

Winchester Deer Season XP 125 Grain Extreme Point is the best 6.5 Creedmoor ammo for hunting because it’s accurate, has a flat trajectory, and is produced by a beloved brand.

Winchester is synonymous with the guns and ammo industry. We wouldn’t be where we are today without Winchester, and many shooters (myself included) load Winchester rounds into their hunting rifles each deer season.

I honestly didn’t know that Winchester hunting ammo could get any better. Then they came out with Deer Season XP, and there’s no comparison with older ammo.

Winchester Deer Season XP 125 Grain Extreme Point is more accurate at longer ranges thanks to its bullets’ polymer tips, which are much larger than average and accordingly do a more effective job of streamlining the bullets’ frontal profiles. And because the large tip has a large base, it accelerates terminal expansion to deliver absolutely shocking energy immediately following impact.

These hunting loads will have no problem ethically harvesting deer farther than you thought possible. The 125 grain Extreme Point is a little on the lighter side for larger game (the inevitable downside of a bullet that contains more polymer than average), so I’d recommend stepping up to Hornady Precision Hunter 143 Grain ELD-X if you’re gunning for elk. Hornady’s 143 grain bullet carries more energy downrange, which enables it to penetrate to an effective depth for taking down a larger, thicker quarry.

If you’re looking for less of a step up in bullet weight, don’t overlook the Remington Core-Lokt Tipped 129 Grain Polymer Tip. These rounds offer hunters slightly better ballistics, although they are more expensive than Winchester Deer Season XP.

Once you fire Winchester Deer Season XP 125 Grain Extreme Point, you’ll see why we rated it as the best 6.5 Creedmoor hunting ammo for accuracy. Be sure to grab a box or two before they’re gone!

Sellier & Bellot 140 Grain FMJBT - Budget-Friendly Accurate 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo

Specs

Sellier and Bellot 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo - 500 Rounds of 140 Grain FMJ-BT Ammunition

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$449.99

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• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail
• Bullet Weight: 140 grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,658 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,195 ft-lbs
• Casing Type: Brass

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Reasonably accurate
• Descent ballistics
• Quality materials

Cons

• Lesser-known brand
• Need to purchase in bulk to get the best deal

Why We Chose It

Although American shooters are generally less aware of Sellier & Bellot ammunition, it’s been available in the USA for many years – and I’ve never had a problem with it. Sellier & Bellot 140 Grain FMJBT is a steal when you see how expensive other 6.5 Creedmoor ammo is, plus the FMJBT is a very accurate projectile!

The ballistics won’t blow you away, but they will hold their own against other factory loads. And again, they’re WAY LESS costly than the other factory loads, too.

I’ve always been impressed with the materials S&B uses. The primers always ignite when you pull the trigger, and the propellant burns pretty clean (especially for budget-friendly ammo). The FMJBT bullet’s tapered base elevates its ballistic coefficient, which grants it better long-range accuracy than a traditional FMJ.

If you want the best deal, you’ll have to buy in bulk. That’s certainly the case with Sellier & Bellot 140 Grain FMJBT. This just means you’ll have to fork over more money upfront, but you won’t feel as much of a sting each time you pull the trigger because these rounds are still affordable compared to most other 6.5 Creedmoor ammo. If you don’t want to spend a mortgage payment on ammo, you can check out Winchester USA 125 grain Open Tip. It’s a little more expensive than S&B, but it’s a trusted American brand.

If you’re on a budget but still in need of an accurate round to take to the range, you won’t be sorry if you pick up Sellier & Bellot 140 Grain FMJBT!

How to Choose the Best 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo for Accuracy

The problem with ranking the best 6.5 Creedmoor ammo for accuracy is that it will vary from shooter to shooter, gun to gun, and bullet to bullet. Some of my Ruger bolt-action rifles fire Nosler bullets better than Barnes bullets, while my buddy’s Lapua rifle is the opposite.

Then, we must factor in grain weight, which gets even more confusing as we consider bullet type.

Instead of overthinking it, when buying ammo, I prefer to purchase a few boxes in various weights and styles to see what works best with my rifle. You might find that your Bergara loves Hornady 140 grain ELD-M bullets, but you’ve never liked them in any other gun.

Considerations for Long-Range Hunting

When buying ammo for long-range shooting and hunting, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Bullet weight vs. size of animal you are hunting
• Bullet trajectory
• Bullet terminal ballistics
• Availability
• Cost
• How it performs in your rifle

Most hunting ammo is manufactured with many of these factors in mind, but it’s always good to double check and ensure the round will perform as intended.

Considerations for Long-Range Target Shooting

Target shooting ammo is a bit different from hunting ammo because you don’t have to worry about having enough energy left to harvest an animal ethically. Here are several things to keep in mind when buying ammo for long-range target shooting:

• Bullet trajectory
• Availability
• Cost
• How it performs in your rifle
• Bullet design

Frequently Asked Questions

The team at Ammo.com has gathered and answered a few of the most commonly asked questions regarding the best 6.5 Creedmoor ammo for accuracy.

How far can you accurately shoot a 6.5 Creedmoor?

With practice, you can accurately fire a 6.5 Creedmoor out to 1,200 yards.

What is the best 6.5 Creedmoor grain for long-range shooting?

The best 6.5 Creedmoor grain for long-range shooting is 147 grain, followed by 144 grain.

How accurate is a 6.5 Creedmoor at 1000 yards?

The 6.5 Creedmoor is very accurate at 1000 yards, making it a top choice for many competitive long-range shooters.

Parting Shots

While the best 6.5 Creedmoor ammo for accuracy will ultimately depend on you and your rifle, the suggestions above will undoubtedly put you on the right path. Don’t forget to check out our wide selection of 6.5 Creedmoor ammo!

Written by

Wes Littlefield