CaliberAtlas › Compare › .243 Win. vs 6.5 Creedmoor

.243 Win. vs 6.5 Creedmoor — Ballistics Compared

6.5 Creedmoor shoots flatter with these representative loads: 53.2" vs 54.2" of drop at 500 yards. 6.5 Creedmoor carries more energy downrange: 1305 vs 695 ft-lb retained at 500 yards. 6.5 Creedmoor drifts less in a 10 mph crosswind: 14.7" vs 26.5" at 500 yards.

Figures use each cartridge's representative load, computed with our validated G1 model at standard conditions. Full tables and every load are on the cartridge pages: .243 Win. ballistics · 6.5 Creedmoor ballistics.

Pick .243 Win. if…

your focus is varmint, which is listed for this cartridge but not the other profile

Pick 6.5 Creedmoor if…

you want the flatter trajectory (53.2" vs 54.2" at 500 yd)
you want more retained energy at distance (1305 vs 695 ft-lb at 500 yd)
you want the heavier representative load shown in this pairing (140gr vs 100gr)
your focus is competition, which is listed for this cartridge but not the other profile

Side-by-Side Specifications

	.243 Win.	6.5 Creedmoor
Representative load	100gr Federal Power-Shok Jacketed Soft Point (243B)	140gr Hornady Match ELD Match
Muzzle velocity	2960 fps	2710 fps
Muzzle energy	1946 ft-lb	2284 ft-lb
G1 BC	0.355	0.646
Case length	51.9 mm	48.77 mm
Overall length	68.8 mm	71.76 mm
SAAMI max pressure	60,000 PSI	62,000 PSI
Common twist	1:10"	1:8"

Drop Comparison (inches)

	.243 Win.	6.5 Creedmoor
100 yd	0"	0"
200 yd	-3.3"	-3.8"
300 yd	-12.5"	-13.5"
400 yd	-28.8"	-29.7"
500 yd	-54.2"	-53.2"

Retained Energy (ft-lb)

	.243 Win.	6.5 Creedmoor
100 yd	1609 ft-lb	2051 ft-lb
200 yd	1323 ft-lb	1840 ft-lb
300 yd	1077 ft-lb	1645 ft-lb
400 yd	869 ft-lb	1467 ft-lb
500 yd	695 ft-lb	1305 ft-lb

Wind Drift — 10 mph Full-Value (inches)

	.243 Win.	6.5 Creedmoor
100 yd	0.9"	0.6"
200 yd	3.7"	2.2"
300 yd	8.6"	5.1"
400 yd	16"	9.2"
500 yd	26.5"	14.7"

Hunting Energy References

.243 Win.: Retains about 1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized energy reference) to roughly 335 yd. Retains about 1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized energy reference) to roughly 140 yd.

6.5 Creedmoor: Retains at least 1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized energy reference) through 500 yd — the end of the listed data. Retains about 1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized energy reference) to roughly 380 yd.

A retained-energy reference only — not a shoot/don't-shoot distance. Real effective range depends on your accuracy, shot placement, bullet construction, and conditions. The ~1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized) and ~1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized) figures are commonly cited rules of thumb, not standards.

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