22 Creedmoor — Is It Worth It?

Lead photo courtesy of Impact Shooting.

This cartridge opens the door to some very specific challenges. If you’ve followed my content, you already know: 6mm Creedmoor is my favorite caliber. Period. With my combat background and my appetite for coyote hunting, it has been a phenomenal performer. It checks a lot of boxes. Of course, I’ll always have .308 rifles — especially as rental guns in my precision rifle courses. That cartridge isn’t going anywhere for good reason. Most people also understand the advantages of 6.5 Creedmoor over .308. It wins in many departments, though not all. Now we step into 22 Creedmoor.

More: Gun Digest: Building a 22 Creedmoor

First Question: Why Leave 6mm Creedmoor?

If you already own a 6mm Creedmoor, there’s very little merit in moving to 22 Creedmoor — unless you fall into a very specific category. If you are a fur-taking predator hunter and you don’t want to damage hides, 22 Creedmoor starts to make sense. Realistically, this cartridge was designed to compete with the .22-250 — the predator hunter’s dream round. It is laser-flat shooting. It minimizes holdover concerns when a coyote trots into a call. It reduces the need to think about drop under normal predator distances.

That’s its lane.

Yes, it’s a barrel burner. That’s part of the tradeoff. Hornady claims it matches .22-250 performance. Even if the advertised velocities are slightly optimistic — and we’ve all seen manufacturers stretch numbers before — the simple fact that 22 Creedmoor is more common and more accessible in modern rifle platforms gives it legitimacy. If it delivers even 80–90% of .22-250 performance in a more supported cartridge, that’s not nothing.

The Problem for Me

The challenge is convincing someone who already runs 6mm Creedmoor to step down slightly in diameter. 6mm Creedmoor sits just north of 100 grains in most match loads. It offers:

• Predator capability

• Mid-size game capability

• Long-range steel performance

• Wind forgiveness

• Manageable recoil

It is incredibly versatile. 22 Creedmoor narrows the mission set.

The Velocity Temptation

A few of my clients have tried pushing 22 Creedmoor even harder through handloads. Everyone wants that extra laser-flat trajectory — that’s what the cartridge was built around. But there’s a limit. Push certain bullets too fast, and they begin to come apart before reaching the target. That can be twist-rate related, but it is often simply a structural limitation of the projectile at extreme velocity. There is a ceiling, and some people find it the hard way.

Who It’s Actually For

If you are a .22-250 shooter looking for your next predator rifle, 22 Creedmoor might be perfect for you.

It is:

• Soft shooting and perfect for small-statured shooters

• Extremely flat

• Fur-friendlier than 6mm or 6.5

• Purpose-built for predator work, though professional shooters are using it for medium-sized game

But if you want versatility — the ability to ring steel at distance, hunt predators, and step into mid-size game when needed — 6mm Creedmoor still holds the advantage.

Hornady offers a diverse selection of 22 Creedmoor ammunition.

My Final Take

Personally, it’s a pass. Not because it’s bad. It’s not. It’s just narrow. If your world revolves exclusively around predator hunting and minimizing fur damage, you may love it. If you want broader capability, the 6mm Creedmoor continues to prove itself as one of the most well-rounded cartridges available.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rob Orgel enlisted in the USMC in 2004 as an Infantry Rifleman (0311), serving with 3rd Bn 1st Marines in Iraq, including roles as a point man in OIF-3 & team leader in OIF-6. Later, he joined the 1st Marine Regiment, achieved the rank of Sergeant in 2010, & continued service in Afghanistan. Upon returning, he became a Combat Instructor at the School of Infantry West. Transitioning to private military contracting with Securing Our Country (SOC), he instructed at the American Embassy in Iraq. In 2018, Rob became Chief Instructor at GPS Defense Sniper School, revamping their program. Now, as owner & lead instructor at Emergency Response Tactical, he focuses on training novice to advanced shooters on the range over 300 days a year. Rob also hosts the Silencer Syndicate channel on YouTube.