6.5 Creedmoor vs. 6mm ARC: Which One’s Better?

Comparing the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6mm ARC is a little like apples and oranges. Both cartridges were designed for superior long-range use, but they were made for different platforms. The 6.5 Creedmoor is made for the AR-10, while the 6mm ARC is meant more for the AR-15. But what if you’re trying to decide between the two? Which cartridge is better and why?

What’s the 6.5 Creedmoor?

The 6.5 Creedmoor is what you get when a handful of talented long-range shooters—some of whom have a background in ballistic science and product development—get it into their heads to make a better long-range round. You could say they did a good job, and it’d be an understatement. 6.5 Creedmoor was designed by Dave Emary, Hornady’s senior ballistic scientist, and Dennis DeMille, vice president of product development at Creedmoor Sports. However, the cartridge got its start with competitive shooter David Tubb, who designed the 6mm XC, which eventually morphed into the 6.5 Creedmoor.

Dave Emary said, “The original intent of the cartridge was an across-the-course match cartridge. We envisioned it as an off-the-shelf round that produced the accuracy and ballistics to compete in all match shooting disciplines right out of the box.”

An out-of-the-box competition-worthy cartridge was a bit of a lofty goal, but they pulled it off. The 6.5 Creedmoor delivers a flat trajectory at fantastic ranges, plus it’s a great precision round. You can run it in bolt-actions and AR-10s, and while you can get somewhat more impressive precision with the right bolt, you might be surprised by just what the AR-10 can do.

What’s the 6mm ARC?

Unlike the 6.5 Creedmoor, which was made for the general public, the 6mm ARC was first designed for military use. Of note is that it was made for Special Operations use, not for duty use by the military. Basically, it’s a specialized cartridge designed to handle combat at a variety of distances. The 6mm ARC was designed for the AR-15 platform so it would be more portable and maneuverable and made to outperform other AR-15 cartridges for trajectory and range (and it does).

So, why is 6mm ARC so great for its original Special Operations purpose? It outdoes the 5.56 by far, and when the 5.56 failed, the next move in the military was switching to .308 Winchester. Of course, using .308 means a much heavier platform, among other things. Cutting weight is important when you’re going to be carrying a rifle for significant distances and lengths of time. The 6mm ARC solved those issues by providing a lighter platform and a cartridge with excellent ballistics.

On the civilian side, the 6mm ARC offers the same benefits it does for military use. The AR-15 is lighter, but the 6mm ARC is still a solid long-range round. It might not have quite the reach of something like the 6.5 Creedmoor, but the 6mm ARC delivers greater long-range performance than most—if not all—other AR-15 cartridges. It also provides fantastic terminal ballistics, which is important for both self-defense and hunting.

6.5 Creedmoor vs. 6mm ARC ballistics

A big chunk of the answer to which cartridge is better lies in the ballistics. Here’s a breakdown of how these two compare.

• 6.5 Creedmoor’s effective range on steel is 1,000 yards, although it can be stretched beyond that. The 6mm ARC’s effective range on steel is also around 1000 yards.
• 6.5 Creedmoor’s effective range for deer hunting is approximately 500 yards. 6mm ARC’s effective range on deer is about 500 yards (seeing a trend yet?).
• Using Hornady Match ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor with a 147-grain bullet has a drop rate of -43.2 inches at 500 yards. Hornady Match 6mm ARC 108-grain has a drop rate of -54.1 inches.
• With the same Hornady Match loads, 6.5 Creedmoor has a muzzle energy of 2,370 ft-lbs and 500-yard energy of 1,428 ft-lbs. 6mm ARC’s muzzle energy is 1,813 ft-lbs and then, at 500 yards, drops to 931 ft-lbs.

Which round is more accurate?

Both 6.5 Creedmoor and 6mm ARC have proven themselves to be incredibly accurate. As long as you bring the skills to go with it, you can get stellar precision out of both. 6.5 Creedmoor does have an edge for precision at greater distances, though. It’s what it was made for, and in contrast, 6mm ARC was designed for improved terminal ballistics for combat and defensive use.

If you’re shooting at more typical ranges instead of considering long-range shots, the two cartridges are pretty equal for accuracy. I can get similar groups at 100 yards with both cartridges. It does depend on the specific ammo being used, which isn’t unusual. Now, here’s the interesting part. If you’re going to be shooting offhand rather than prone or from a bench, it’s the 6mm ARC that wins for accuracy.

This is owed largely to the typical size and weight of guns chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. Most shooters will have an easier time balancing and firing 6mm ARC rifles offhand. There are certainly exceptions to that, but the reality is that 6.5 Creedmoor rifles tend to be significantly bulkier. They also have longer barrels, and that lends to the difficulty in firing them offhand for good groups. It isn’t impossible, but it is more challenging.

What’s better, 6.5 Creedmoor or 6mm ARC?

When I’m asked to compare two cartridges like this, I usually say the winner depends on the purpose. What are you doing with it? But this time around, I’m comfortable giving 6mm ARC the win. Yes, it has more drop than 6.5 Creedmoor, meaning it doesn’t have the same flat trajectory as the larger cartridge. However, the AR-15 is a far lighter platform, and its effective range is quite similar to that of the 6.5 Creedmoor. And if you’re a hunter, there’s something else to consider.

Blood trails are a known issue when using the 6.5 Creedmoor. You can solve that issue by being picky about which ammo you use for hunting and by nailing shot placement. It isn’t that 6.5 Creedmoor isn’t a great hunting round—because it is—it’s that it isn’t uncommon for hunters to fail to recover game due to a poor blood trail. 6mm ARC doesn’t have that issue, thanks to its design. And if you’re thinking that doesn’t translate to defensive use, you’d be wrong. 6mm ARC has better terminal ballistics and is designed for that, and it outdoes 6.5 Creedmoor significantly when it comes to close-quarters combat.

The 6mm ARC is lighter weight, the guns are easier to maneuver in close quarters, and it creates effective wound cavities on game. It’s also better for home defense due to its lighter weight and more compact overall dimensions. Now, it’s true that available factory loads are still somewhat limited because this is a newer cartridge, but that will change with time. Oh, the 6mm ARC produces less felt recoil, too.

If the overall size and weight of the rifle aren’t an issue, 6.5 Creedmoor might be right for you. It’s also a better go-to if shooting to 1,000 yards and beyond on steel is your thing. 6.5 Creedmoor simply has a flatter trajectory, and that makes it a winner for long-range. But for the average shooter, 6mm ARC is perfect.

This is a case of YMMV. Not everyone is going to prefer the same cartridge, and that’s okay. Which one’s your personal preference? Share your thoughts in the comments.