Published: December 2025 | Last updated: April 2026
The 22 Creedmoor began as a wildcat developed by Horizon Firearms around 2013, formed by necking down the 6.5 Creedmoor case to accept .224-inch bullets. Hornady standardized it commercially in 2024, releasing factory ammunition and solidifying its status as a premier long-range .22-caliber option. The cartridge arrived because the 6.5 Creedmoor‘s efficient short-fat case geometry, when neck-sized for .224 caliber with a fast 1:7.5 to 1:8 twist barrel, allows the 80-90 grain high-BC .224-inch bullet class to be driven at velocities significantly higher than the 22-250 Remington or 223 Remington can achieve with those bullets. A 90-grain Sierra MatchKing at 3,210 FPS maintains supersonic flight past 1,200 yards and produces wind resistance that rivals premium 6.5mm competition loads.
The 22 Creedmoor‘s position is clear: it is the highest-performance option among .22-caliber bolt-action cartridges for long-range work. The 22 ARC and 224 Valkyrie offer similar heavy-bullet capability in AR-15-compatible packages but at 300-500 FPS less velocity. The 22 GT matches the Creedmoor closely in velocity while offering better barrel life and lower extreme spreads from the GT case geometry. The 22 Creedmoor‘s limitation relative to these competitors is barrel life – approximately 1,500-2,000 rounds – and the requirement for a long-action bolt-action rifle. For precision rifle competitors and long-range varmint hunters who want maximum .22-caliber performance from a bolt-action, it defines the current ceiling.
For reloading data, see the 22 Creedmoor complete guide. For comparisons, see 22 ARC vs 22 Creedmoor and 22 Creedmoor ballistics.
Core Ballistic Parameters
| Load | MV | BC (G7) | Muzzle Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 gr Nosler AccuBond | 3,400 FPS | 0.185 | 1,795 ft-lbs |
| 80 gr Hornady ELD-X | 3,285 FPS | 0.242 | 1,917 ft-lbs |
| 85 gr Nosler RDF | 3,175 FPS | 0.248 | 1,899 ft-lbs |
| 90 gr Sierra MatchKing | 3,210 FPS | 0.282 | 2,060 ft-lbs |
All data below uses a 200-yard zero, 1.5-inch sight height, 59°F, sea level, 24-inch barrel.
Bullet Drop (200-Yard Zero)
| Range (yards) | 70 gr AccuBond | 80 gr ELD-X | 85 gr RDF | 90 gr SMK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzle | -1.5 | -1.5 | -1.5 | -1.5 |
| 100 | +1.7 | +1.1 | +1.0 | +1.0 |
| 200 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 300 | -7.2 | -5.3 | -5.7 | -5.5 |
| 400 | -20.5 | -15.4 | -16.6 | -16.0 |
| 500 | -40.5 | -31.1 | -33.6 | -32.0 |
| 600 | -68.0 | -52.0 | -55.5 | -52.5 |
| 700 | -104.0 | -80.0 | -84.5 | -79.0 |
| 800 | -149.0 | -115.0 | -120.5 | -112.0 |
| 900 | -204.0 | -158.0 | -164.0 | -152.0 |
| 1,000 | -270.0 | -208.0 | -215.0 | -200.0 |
Drop in inches. Positive values = above line of sight.
The trajectory data makes the 22 Creedmoor‘s long-range case compelling. At 500 yards with a 200-yard zero, the 90-grain MatchKing is only 32 inches low – less than three feet, manageable with a dialed turret or well-practiced reticle subtension. The gap between the 70-grain AccuBond and the 90-grain MatchKing at 1,000 yards reaches 70 inches, illustrating how BC dominates at distance. The AccuBond starts 190 FPS faster, yet its G7 BC of 0.185 causes it to shed velocity so rapidly that by 500 yards the MatchKing is nearly equal in retained velocity, and past that the MatchKing pulls progressively farther ahead.
The 85-grain RDF drops slightly more than the 80-grain ELD-X despite being 5 grains heavier – reflecting the ELD-X’s 110 FPS velocity advantage. The RDF’s marginally superior BC (G7: 0.248 vs 0.242) cannot overcome the starting velocity gap at practical competition and hunting distances.
Compared to the 22-250 Remington 55-grain BlitzKing at 3,680 FPS – the traditional long-range varmint benchmark – the 22 Creedmoor 80-grain ELD-X drops approximately 40 fewer inches at 500 yards. That difference explains why serious long-range varmint hunters transitioned away from the 22-250 for extended-range work.
Wind Drift – 10 MPH Full-Value Crosswind
| Range (yards) | 70 gr AccuBond | 80 gr ELD-X | 85 gr RDF | 90 gr SMK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| 200 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.0 |
| 300 | 9.8 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 6.9 |
| 400 | 17.5 | 14.0 | 13.5 | 12.4 |
| 500 | 27.5 | 22.0 | 21.2 | 19.4 |
| 600 | 40.0 | 32.0 | 30.8 | 28.0 |
| 700 | 54.5 | 43.5 | 41.8 | 38.0 |
| 800 | 71.0 | 56.5 | 54.2 | 49.2 |
| 900 | 89.5 | 71.2 | 68.2 | 61.8 |
| 1,000 | 110.0 | 87.5 | 83.8 | 76.0 |
Drift in inches. Half-value crosswind = divide by 2.
Wind drift is where the 22 Creedmoor earns its long-range reputation. The 90-grain MatchKing drifts 34 fewer inches at 1,000 yards than the 70-grain AccuBond – the BC difference translates into practical confidence at distance that velocity alone cannot provide. At 600 yards in a 10 MPH crosswind, the MatchKing drifts 28 inches. The 6.5 Creedmoor 140-grain ELD-M drifts approximately 25-26 inches at the same distance – the 22 Creedmoor with its best bullets approaches its parent cartridge’s wind resistance from a bore diameter that’s 0.040 inches smaller. That is the technical achievement this cartridge represents.
The 70-grain AccuBond’s 40-inch drift at 600 yards exceeds the width of a coyote’s vital zone in a 10 MPH crosswind. For open-country predator hunting in variable wind, the AccuBond becomes impractical past 400 yards. The 80-grain ELD-X at 32 inches at 600 yards is manageable; the MatchKing at 28 inches provides more margin for wind estimation error.
Velocity Retention
| Range (yards) | 70 gr AccuBond | 80 gr ELD-X | 85 gr RDF | 90 gr SMK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzle | 3,400 | 3,285 | 3,175 | 3,210 |
| 200 | 2,836 | 2,808 | 2,720 | 2,800 |
| 400 | 2,329 | 2,388 | 2,307 | 2,430 |
| 600 | 1,878 | 2,014 | 1,940 | 2,090 |
| 800 | 1,490 | 1,688 | 1,622 | 1,785 |
| 1,000 | 1,109 | 1,406 | 1,344 | 1,516 |
| 1,100 | 956 | 1,274 | 1,215 | 1,390 |
| 1,200 | 832 | 1,153 | 1,095 | 1,272 |
Velocity in FPS. Supersonic threshold approximately 1,340 FPS at sea level.
The velocity crossover between lighter and heavier loads occurs around 350-400 yards, where the MatchKing’s higher BC overcomes its starting velocity deficit. By 600 yards the MatchKing at 2,090 FPS is 212 FPS faster than the AccuBond at 1,878 FPS despite starting 190 FPS slower. This reversal is why long-range competitors prioritize BC over starting velocity.
The 70-grain AccuBond goes transonic around 1,000-1,025 yards. The 80-grain ELD-X holds supersonic to approximately 1,075-1,100 yards. The 85-grain RDF stays supersonic to approximately 1,050 yards. The 90-grain MatchKing maintains supersonic flight past 1,200 yards due to its superior G7 BC – making it the only practical 22 Creedmoor load for competition stages genuinely past 1,100 yards.
For hunting, 1,800 FPS is the reliable expansion threshold for quality hunting bullets. The ELD-X stays above that to approximately 800 yards; the MatchKing past 900 yards – though the MatchKing’s expansion is inconsistent by design.
Energy Retention
| Range (yards) | 70 gr AccuBond | 80 gr ELD-X | 85 gr RDF | 90 gr SMK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzle | 1,795 | 1,917 | 1,899 | 2,060 |
| 200 | 1,249 | 1,400 | 1,393 | 1,566 |
| 300 | 1,052 | 1,220 | 1,216 | 1,387 |
| 400 | 843 | 1,015 | 1,004 | 1,179 |
| 500 | 664 | 840 | 830 | 988 |
| 600 | 549 | 721 | 711 | 873 |
| 800 | 345 | 507 | 497 | 637 |
| 1,000 | 210 | 350 | 342 | 460 |
Energy in ft-lbs.
The original article showed the 85-grain RDF with 2,433 ft-lbs muzzle energy – physically impossible for an 85-grain bullet at 3,175 FPS. The correct calculation produces approximately 1,899 ft-lbs, consistent with published ballistic data. An 85-grain bullet at 3,175 FPS producing 2,433 ft-lbs would require approximately 3,588 FPS – well beyond this cartridge’s capability.
All four loads drop below 1,000 ft-lbs between 300 and 430 yards, setting the honest ceiling for coyote body shots at approximately 375-400 yards with the 80-90 grain loads. This is a predator and varmint cartridge, not a deer cartridge. Past 400 yards the 22 Creedmoor is hunting small to medium predators where 600-700 ft-lbs is adequate with quality expanding bullets and precise shot placement.
The 90-grain MatchKing retaining 460 ft-lbs at 1,000 yards is relevant primarily in competition context – confirming there is energy to work with at extreme range, even though the MatchKing is not a designed hunting bullet.
Terminal Performance Profiles
Hornady V-MAX 75-80 gr
Construction: Polymer tip with thin copper jacket and lead core. Hornady’s signature varmint fragmentation bullet, available in multiple weights through the .224-inch range commonly loaded in the 22 Creedmoor.
Terminal behavior: Fragments explosively at 22 Creedmoor’s high impact velocities. At close range the V-MAX essentially disintegrates on prairie dogs and ground squirrels, creating immediate incapacitation with no exit wound. At 400 yards where impact velocity drops to approximately 2,500-2,600 FPS, fragmentation remains reliable and effective on coyotes from broadside shots. Past 500 yards, fragmentation consistency begins to drop as velocity decreases below the bullet’s reliable upset threshold.
Hunting application: Prairie dogs, ground squirrels, and small varmints inside 500 yards in calm conditions. Coyotes inside 400 yards with broadside body shots where energy remains above 800 ft-lbs. In any wind above 5 MPH at 400 yards, the V-MAX’s low BC makes it challenging to stay on target. Use the heavier ELD-X for coyote work in variable conditions. The V-MAX excels in high-volume prairie dog situations where close-range dramatic effect and quick follow-up shots matter more than wind resistance.
More details: Hornady V-MAX bullet profile
Hornady ELD-X 80 gr
Construction: Polymer tip with Heat Shield to prevent tip deformation in flight, bonded copper jacket to lead core. The bonding is essential at 22 Creedmoor’s 3,285 FPS muzzle velocity – standard cup-and-core bullets at this velocity can experience premature core-jacket separation at close-range impacts before the bullet reaches the vitals.
Terminal behavior: Expands to 0.42-0.50 inches with 90-95% weight retention. At close range the bonded construction maintains integrity through the rapid initial expansion – the bullet expands violently but stays together. Penetration in coyote-sized tissue: 12-16 inches. At 500 yards where impact velocity drops to approximately 2,014 FPS, expansion is more controlled and penetration more consistent. The ELD-X expands reliably down to approximately 1,600 FPS – past 800 yards in this cartridge.
Hunting application: The primary hunting bullet for the 22 Creedmoor across all applications. Effective on coyotes and bobcats inside 700 yards where energy remains above 500 ft-lbs with quality shot placement. For pronghorn at 300 yards where energy exceeds 1,200 ft-lbs on broadside lung shots, the ELD-X is the only appropriate .224-inch bullet for the application – the bonded construction handles the shot angles that smaller predator hunting does not require. No other 22 Creedmoor load provides the consistent close-range to long-range terminal performance of the ELD-X.
More details: Hornady ELD-X bullet profile
Nosler RDF 85 gr
Construction: Reduced Drag Factor match bullet with Nosler’s signature long boat-tail and precisely controlled jacket dimensions. The RDF is designed for competition accuracy, not controlled terminal expansion.
Terminal behavior: The RDF’s thin, uniformly controlled jacket produces inconsistent terminal performance at hunting distances – violent fragmentation at high-velocity close-range impacts, variable and unpredictable expansion at reduced long-range velocities. It is a competition bullet that happens to produce some terminal disruption at 22 Creedmoor’s velocities, not a designed hunting projectile.
Competition application: Precision rifle competition where Nosler’s dimensional consistency produces competitive accuracy. The RDF’s G7 BC of 0.248 is slightly higher than the ELD-X’s 0.242, but lower than the 90-grain MatchKing’s 0.282. For competitors who find the RDF groups better than either alternative in their specific barrel, it is a legitimate choice through 1,000 yards.
Sierra MatchKing 90 gr
Construction: Open-tip match boat-tail with Sierra’s benchmark dimensional consistency. The 90-grain SMK has the highest G7 BC of the four loads (0.282) and the longest supersonic range. It is not designed for controlled hunting expansion.
Terminal behavior: At 22 Creedmoor’s 3,210 FPS muzzle velocity, the MatchKing produces violent fragmentation at close range through jacket yaw and failure at high-velocity impact. At 600-700 yards where velocity has dropped to 2,090-1,785 FPS, fragmentation becomes less predictable but the bullet continues to produce significant tissue disruption on coyote-sized game. Sierra designed this bullet for paper and steel, not game – its use on predators is accepted but terminal consistency is secondary to its BC and accuracy.
Competition application: The wind-performance and supersonic range benchmark for the 22 Creedmoor. At 1,000 yards in a 10 MPH crosswind, the 90-grain MatchKing drifts 76 inches – approaching the 6.5 Creedmoor 140-grain ELD-M’s 65-70 inches. The MatchKing stays supersonic past 1,200 yards, making it the only practical 22 Creedmoor load for the longest competition stages. For precision rifle competitors demanding the absolute lowest drift from a .22-caliber bolt-action, the 90-grain MatchKing is the selection.
More details: Sierra MatchKing bullet profile
Berger LRHT 85.5 gr
Construction: Long Range Hybrid Target combining secant and tangent ogive sections. The hybrid geometry provides maximum BC while maintaining forgiving seating depth tolerance – an advantage in bolt-action rifles where cartridges are not always seated to exact lands distance. BC is competitive with the 90-grain MatchKing.
Terminal behavior: The LRHT fragments at 22 Creedmoor velocities through its thin jacket and hollow point. At ranges where impact velocity exceeds 2,000 FPS, fragmentation produces effective predator kills. At extended range below 2,000 FPS the terminal effect becomes variable – acceptable for competition, less predictable for hunting.
Competition application: Preferred by some 22 Creedmoor competitors over the MatchKing for the hybrid ogive’s tolerance of varying seating depth. In competition rifles where cartridges are loaded to precise lands distance, the MatchKing’s pure secant ogive often produces the tightest groups. For hunters and competitors loading to magazine-length with variable jump, the LRHT’s tangent ogive section provides more consistent accuracy.
More details: Berger LRHT bullet profile
Practical Range Recommendations
Prairie dogs and small varmints – any load to 500 yards in calm conditions, 400 yards in a 10 MPH crosswind with the ELD-X or MatchKing. The 22 Creedmoor’s defining varmint advantage over the 22-250 Remington is its ability to drive 80-90 grain high-BC bullets at 3,175-3,285 FPS – extending reliable varmint range to 600 yards in light wind where the 22-250’s lighter loads struggle with both drop and drift.
Coyotes and predators – ELD-X 80-grain inside 600 yards with broadside body shots. Energy at 600 yards (approximately 721 ft-lbs) is adequate for coyotes with quality expanding bullets and precise shot placement. The 90-grain MatchKing is used by experienced hunters on coyotes at 700+ yards where variable terminal performance is accepted in exchange for maximum wind resistance. A 500-yard self-imposed limit for coyote body shots in variable field conditions with the ELD-X is the responsible standard.
Long-range competition – 90-grain MatchKing or Berger LRHT 85.5-grain for stages past 800 yards. The 80-grain ELD-X for stages inside 800 yards where its starting velocity advantage provides flatter trajectory. The 22 Creedmoor with these loads competes directly against 6mm cartridges in PRS and NRL at distances where the .22-caliber BC ceiling remains competitive.
Platform requirement – the 22 Creedmoor requires a long-action bolt-action rifle. It does not fit AR-15 or short-action bolt-action magazines. Rifles must be purpose-built or re-barreled with a 22 Creedmoor chamber. For AR-15 users wanting comparable heavy-bullet .22 performance, the 22 ARC is the appropriate choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 22 Creedmoor better than the 224 Valkyrie for competition? For bolt-action competition, yes – the 22 Creedmoor produces 300-500 FPS more velocity with equivalent 80-90 grain bullets, resulting in flatter trajectory, higher supersonic ceiling, and approximately 8-12 fewer inches of wind drift at 1,000 yards. The 224 Valkyrie is the correct choice for AR-15 competition where bolt-action is not an option.
Is the 22 Creedmoor appropriate for deer? No. All loads drop below 1,000 ft-lbs between 300 and 430 yards. The .224-inch bore’s 80-90 grain bullets lack the mass for reliable deep penetration on deer from non-ideal angles. The 6.5 Creedmoor parent cartridge provides substantially better deer energy and penetration in the same action.
What twist rate is required? A 1:7 or 1:7.5 twist is required for reliable stabilization of 85-90 grain bullets at the 22 Creedmoor’s high velocities. At 3,200+ FPS, these long, heavy .224-inch bullets need fast twist rates. A 1:8 twist may marginally stabilize 80-grain bullets; 1:9 or slower will not reliably stabilize 85-90 grain bullets. Verify before purchasing components.
How does barrel life compare to the 6.5 Creedmoor? Significantly shorter – approximately 1,500-2,000 rounds for the 22 Creedmoor versus 2,500-3,000 rounds for the 6.5 Creedmoor. The smaller .224-inch bore concentrates pressure on a smaller throat area, producing faster erosion. For a competition shooter firing 600-800 rounds per season, expect barrel replacement every 2-3 seasons.
Does the 22 Creedmoor use 6.5 Creedmoor brass? Yes – 22 Creedmoor cases are formed from 6.5 Creedmoor brass by running through a 22 Creedmoor full-length sizing die. This is the standard handloading approach that preceded Hornady’s 2024 commercialization. Dedicated 22 Creedmoor brass is now available from Hornady.
What is the 22 Creedmoor’s practical advantage over the 22 GT? Marginally higher velocity with some bullet weights and broader factory ammunition availability since Hornady’s 2024 standardization. The 22 GT counters with approximately double the barrel life (3,500-4,500 rounds vs 1,500-2,000) and lower extreme spreads from the GT case geometry. For competition shooters who prioritize barrel economy and shot-to-shot consistency, the 22 GT is compelling; for those who want factory Hornady ammunition availability, the 22 Creedmoor is currently the more accessible option.
Editorial note: This article was originally published in December 2025 and revised in April 2026. The revision corrected the energy table (85 gr RDF showed 2,433 ft-lbs muzzle energy – physically impossible at 3,175 FPS; correct value is approximately 1,899 ft-lbs), added velocity retention table extended to 1,200 yards with supersonic ceiling analysis for each load, expanded all five bullet profiles with specific construction, terminal behavior, and practical application data, added the long-action platform requirement note, and added FAQ section.
