6mm Creedmoor vs 6.5 Creedmoor
Side-by-side ballistics comparison computed from our ballistics engine. Standard conditions: sea level, 59°F, 10 mph crosswind, 100 yard zero.
6mm Creedmoor
108gr Hornady ELD-M — 2960 fps — BC 0.536
6.5 Creedmoor
140gr Hornady ELD-M — 2710 fps — BC 0.646
Bullet Drop Comparison
| Range (yds) | 6mm CM Drop (in) | 6.5 CM Drop (in) | Difference (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 200 | -3.0 | -3.8 | -0.8 |
| 300 | -11.1 | -13.4 | -2.3 |
| 400 | -25.0 | -29.6 | -4.6 |
| 500 | -45.6 | -53.2 | -7.6 |
| 600 | -73.9 | -85.1 | -11.2 |
| 700 | -111.0 | -126.3 | -15.3 |
| 800 | -158.3 | -178.1 | -19.8 |
| 900 | -217.5 | -241.9 | -24.3 |
| 1000 | -290.6 | -319.3 | -28.6 |
Energy & Velocity Comparison
| Range (yds) | 6mm CM Vel (fps) | 6.5 CM Vel (fps) | 6mm CM Energy (ft-lb) | 6.5 CM Energy (ft-lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 2781 | 2569 | 1855 | 2052 |
| 200 | 2610 | 2433 | 1633 | 1840 |
| 300 | 2445 | 2301 | 1433 | 1646 |
| 400 | 2286 | 2173 | 1253 | 1468 |
| 500 | 2133 | 2049 | 1090 | 1305 |
| 600 | 1985 | 1929 | 945 | 1157 |
| 700 | 1844 | 1814 | 816 | 1023 |
| 800 | 1710 | 1704 | 702 | 902 |
| 900 | 1584 | 1599 | 602 | 795 |
| 1000 | 1467 | 1500 | 516 | 699 |
Wind Drift Comparison — 10 mph Crosswind
| Range (yds) | 6mm CM Drift (in) | 6.5 CM Drift (in) | Difference (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| 200 | 2.3 | 2.2 | +0.2 |
| 300 | 5.4 | 5.0 | +0.4 |
| 400 | 9.9 | 9.1 | +0.8 |
| 500 | 16.0 | 14.7 | +1.3 |
| 600 | 23.8 | 21.7 | +2.1 |
| 700 | 33.5 | 30.5 | +3.1 |
| 800 | 45.5 | 41.0 | +4.4 |
| 900 | 59.7 | 53.5 | +6.2 |
| 1000 | 76.5 | 68.2 | +8.4 |
Comparison Verdict
Flatter Trajectory
6mm Creedmoor drops 7.6" less at 500 yards (45.6" vs 53.2"), providing a meaningfully flatter trajectory for mid-range shooting. This translates to less scope adjustment and a larger point-blank range, which matters in hunting scenarios where quick shots are needed.
Energy Retention at 1000 Yards
6.5 Creedmoor retains 183 ft-lb more energy at 1000 yards (699 vs 516 ft-lb), offering greater terminal performance at extended range. For hunting applications, most experts recommend a minimum of 1000 ft-lb for deer-sized game — check the energy table above to see where each cartridge crosses that threshold.
Wind Drift at 500 Yards
6.5 Creedmoor drifts 1.3" less in a 10 mph crosswind at 500 yards (14.7" vs 16.0"), making it more resistant to wind deflection. Wind reading is typically the largest source of error in long-range shooting, so lower wind sensitivity directly translates to more consistent hits at distance.
Verdicts derived from computed data at standard conditions (sea level, 59°F, 29.92 inHg, 50% humidity). Actual results vary with ammunition, barrel length, and environment.
6mm Creedmoor vs 6.5 Creedmoor FAQ
Which has less bullet drop, 6mm Creedmoor or 6.5 Creedmoor?
At 500 yards, 6mm Creedmoor drops 45.6 inches while 6.5 Creedmoor drops 53.2 inches under standard conditions with representative match loads. 6mm Creedmoor provides the flatter trajectory, requiring less scope adjustment for mid-range shots.
Which handles wind better, 6mm Creedmoor or 6.5 Creedmoor?
In a 10 mph crosswind at 500 yards, 6mm Creedmoor drifts 16.0 inches while 6.5 Creedmoor drifts 14.7 inches. 6.5 Creedmoor is more wind-resistant, which is a significant advantage since wind reading is the largest source of error in long-range shooting.
Which retains more energy at long range, 6mm Creedmoor or 6.5 Creedmoor?
At 1000 yards, 6mm Creedmoor retains 516 ft-lb while 6.5 Creedmoor retains 699 ft-lb of kinetic energy. 6.5 Creedmoor delivers more terminal energy at extended range, which matters for hunting applications where minimum energy thresholds determine ethical shot distances.
Individual Caliber Data
View detailed load presets, drop charts, and ballistic performance data for each caliber.