The California-Friendly 6.5 mm Creedmoor

by
posted on October 19, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
creedmore.jpg

A recent “Latest Loads” column featured the 6.5 mm Creedmoor cartridge capped with Hornady’s new 143-gr. ELD-X bullet; however, the lead-core projectile cannot be used in California’s condor zone, ecological reserves and wildlife areas. Moreover, some hunters prefer to use leadless bullets due to their high-retained weights, which increases penetration depths. Whatever the reason, the recipe below is for you. Featuring the streamlined, all-copper Barnes 127-gr. Long-Range X Bullet (LRX), when propelled to 2705 f.p.s., the projectile—which has a ballistic coefficient (BC) of .468—drops 4.4", 18.9", and 42.2" at 300, 400, and 500 yds., respectively—when zeroed at 250 yds. The corresponding comeups in m.o.a. are 1.4, 4.5, and 8.1. And, with nearly 1,000 ft.-lbs. of energy still available at 500 yds., this “eco-friendly” load is bad news for all but the largest non-dangerous, big-game species.

Latest

Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber
Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber

Review: Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber

Ruger recently released a variant of its popular 10/22 made with modern materials and incorporating performance-minded engineering: the 10/22 Carbon Fiber.

Winchester Celebrates USA 250th With Commemorative Ammo Line

Winchester Ammunition's special line of commemorative ammunition honors the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding, with unique packaging that honors the American heritage.

The Keefe Report: The Incomparable, Inimitable Phil Schreier—1962-2025

Philip Schreier, director of the NRA Museums, passed away on Dec. 29, 2025, after battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

America 250: The Tradition Of The Armed Citizen Lives On

The Declaration of Independence reaffirmed the right to self-determination—and the uniquely American practice of keeping and bearing arms allowed a new nation to thrive.

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 5, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Too Late: The Perils Of Waiting To Buy That One Gun

Gunmakers are often quiet when they discontinue a gun model. We’ve all felt the pain of suddenly discovering a firearm we’d love to own that is no longer available.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.