6mm Creedmoor Factory Ammo: Which Brands Group Under MOA?

You've got a 6mm Creedmoor and you're tired of rolling your own. The question isn't whether factory ammo can shoot—it's which loads will actually deliver sub-MOA groups in your rifle without the brass prep, powder measuring, and seating depth testing.

I've chronographed and shot groups with most of the serious 6mm Creedmoor factory loads available. Some deliver on their precision claims. Others are expensive disappointments. Here's what actually groups tight and what you're wasting money on.

The short answer: Hornady's 108gr ELD Match and Federal's 107gr Sierra MatchKing consistently deliver sub-MOA performance in quality barrels. But there's more to the story, especially if you're shooting a factory rifle versus a custom build.

What makes 6mm Creedmoor different from other factory ammo

The 6mm Creedmoor sits in a weird spot for factory ammunition. It's primarily a precision cartridge—most rifles chambered for it are built with accuracy in mind. That means factory ammo manufacturers actually have to deliver on precision claims, unlike cartridges where "minute of deer" is good enough.

Most 6mm Creedmoor factory loads use match bullets in the 103-108 grain range. These aren't hunting bullets that might shoot okay. They're purpose-built for accuracy, with boat-tail designs and high ballistic coefficients. The problem is that not all factory loads use quality brass or consistent powder charges.

Here's the thing: 6mm Creedmoor operates at relatively high pressures compared to something like .308. Small variations in powder charge or seating depth can swing your groups from half-MOA to 1.5 MOA. Factory ammo that's sloppy with tolerances shows it immediately.

The cartridge's efficiency also means it's sensitive to barrel length and twist rate. Most 6mm Creedmoor barrels are 1:7.5 or 1:8 twist, which stabilizes heavy match bullets well. But if your barrel is on the slower side of tolerance, some loads will shoot better than others.

Range notes: testing methodology

I tested factory loads through three different rifles: a Tikka T3x with a 24-inch barrel, a custom build on a Defiance action with a 26-inch Bartlein barrel, and a Ruger Precision Rifle. All have 1:8 twist rates. Each load got five 5-shot groups at 100 yards from a solid bench rest.

Weather conditions were consistent—minimal wind, temperatures between 65-70°F. I used the same scope (Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25x) across all rifles to eliminate optics variables. Chronograph data came from a LabRadar positioned 15 feet downrange.

What became clear immediately: barrel quality matters more for 6mm Creedmoor than for most cartridges. The custom barrel showed smaller spreads between best and worst loads. The factory barrels were more finicky about what they liked.

Top performers: loads that consistently group under MOA

Hornady 108gr ELD Match

This is the gold standard for 6mm Creedmoor factory ammo. Hornady developed the cartridge, so they know what works. The 108gr ELD Match consistently delivered groups between 0.4 and 0.8 MOA across all three test rifles.

Velocity averaged 2960 fps from the 24-inch Tikka and 3020 fps from the 26-inch custom barrel. Standard deviation stayed under 15 fps in most strings, which is excellent for factory ammo. The ELD Match bullet has a G1 BC of 0.536, making it effective well past 1000 yards.

The brass quality is good—Hornady cases showed consistent neck tension and minimal runout. If you're planning to reload the brass later, it's worth saving. The only downside is availability. When Hornady gets behind on production, this load disappears from shelves fast.

Federal Gold Medal 107gr Sierra MatchKing

Federal's premium match line delivers what it promises. The 107gr Sierra MatchKing grouped between 0.5 and 0.9 MOA in testing, with the custom barrel favoring this load slightly over the Hornady.

Velocity was lower than the Hornady—2900 fps from the 24-inch barrel—but more consistent. Standard deviation averaged 12 fps across multiple lots. The Sierra MatchKing has a proven track record in competition, and Federal's loading is precise.

The brass is Federal's standard match quality, which means it's good for several reloads if you go that route later. This load costs more per round than the Hornady, but it's often easier to find in stock.

Hornady Black 103gr ELD-X

Don't overlook this hunting-oriented load for precision work. The 103gr ELD-X isn't a match bullet, but it shot surprisingly well—consistent 0.7 to 1.0 MOA groups across all test rifles.

Velocity runs higher than the match loads—3050 fps from the 24-inch barrel. The lighter bullet and higher velocity flatten trajectory, which some shooters prefer for field use. The ELD-X expands reliably on game, making this a good choice if you want one load for both precision shooting and hunting.

Disappointing performers: expensive ammo that doesn't deliver

Winchester Match 140gr Sierra MatchKing

This load looks good on paper but consistently shot over MOA in testing. Groups ranged from 1.2 to 1.8 MOA, which isn't acceptable for a premium match load. The 140gr bullet is too heavy for the 6mm Creedmoor's case capacity—you're better off with 6.5 Creedmoor if you want to shoot 140-grain bullets.

Velocity was also inconsistent, with standard deviations over 25 fps. The brass quality seemed fine, but the loading wasn't precise enough for serious accuracy work.

Nosler Match Grade 107gr Custom Competition

Nosler's premium line should perform better than it does. Groups averaged 1.1 MOA, with some strings opening up to 1.5 MOA. The brass is excellent quality, but the powder charges seem inconsistent.

Velocity was in the right range—2940 fps from the 24-inch barrel—but standard deviation was higher than the Hornady or Federal loads. At this price point, you expect better performance.

Barrel preferences: what different rifles like

The Tikka T3x showed a clear preference for the Hornady 108gr ELD Match. This load shot 0.6 MOA average, while other loads struggled to stay under 1 MOA. Factory Tikka barrels seem to like the specific combination of bullet weight and seating depth that Hornady uses.

The custom Bartlein barrel was less picky but shot everything slightly better. It favored the Federal Gold Medal load by a small margin, probably due to the more consistent powder charges. Custom barrels generally show smaller differences between good and mediocre factory ammo.

The Ruger Precision Rifle was the most finicky. It shot the Hornady Black load best, possibly because the lighter bullet worked better with whatever throat dimension Ruger uses. Factory rifles often have more variation in chamber dimensions, which affects how different loads perform.

Common issues with 6mm Creedmoor factory ammo

Inconsistent seating depth. Some manufacturers don't pay enough attention to overall cartridge length. Bullets seated too deep or too long can hurt accuracy significantly in the 6mm Creedmoor. Check your factory ammo with calipers—variation over 0.005 inches is a red flag.

Powder charge variation. High-performance cartridges like the 6mm Creedmoor are sensitive to powder charge consistency. Cheap factory ammo often shows velocity spreads over 30 fps, which translates to poor accuracy at distance. Stick with premium match lines if you want consistent performance.

Bullet quality issues. Not all match bullets are created equal. Some factory loads use seconds or overrun bullets that don't meet the manufacturer's top standards. If a load that should shoot well doesn't, try a different lot number before giving up.

Brass preparation shortcuts. Some manufacturers skip steps like flash hole deburring or case mouth chamfering. These details matter more in precision cartridges. Premium factory ammo usually gets these details right, but budget lines often don't.

Temperature sensitivity. Some powders used in factory 6mm Creedmoor loads are temperature sensitive. Ammo that shoots well in cool weather might open up groups in summer heat. This is more common with budget loads than premium match ammunition.

Load comparison: what to expect from each brand

Hornady Match: Consistent performer across different rifles. The 108gr ELD Match is the benchmark. Brass quality is good, velocity is consistent, and availability is usually decent. Expect 0.5-0.8 MOA from quality barrels.

Federal Gold Medal: Slightly more expensive but often more consistent than Hornady. The 107gr Sierra MatchKing has a long track record. Brass is excellent for reloading. Groups typically run 0.5-0.9 MOA.

Prime Ammunition: Uses quality components but loading consistency varies. Their 103gr and 107gr loads can shoot well, but you might need to try multiple lots to find one your rifle likes. Groups range from 0.7-1.2 MOA.

Copper Creek: Small manufacturer that focuses on precision. Their 6mm Creedmoor loads are loaded to tighter tolerances than mass-produced ammo. Expensive but often worth it. Expect 0.4-0.7 MOA when they have your rifle's preferred load.

Barnes Precision Match: Uses their own bullets, which some rifles love and others hate. The 112gr Match Burner can shoot extremely well in the right barrel—sub-0.5 MOA—but it's finicky about seating depth and barrel twist.

What actually matters for accuracy

Bullet quality trumps everything else. A mediocre powder charge with a premium match bullet will usually outshoot a perfect powder charge with a hunting bullet. The 6mm Creedmoor was designed around high-BC match bullets, and that's where it shines.

Consistency beats velocity. A load that shoots 2900 fps with 10 fps standard deviation will outperform one that averages 3000 fps with 25 fps spread. Chronograph your factory ammo if you're serious about long-range accuracy.

Brass quality affects more than just reloadability. Inconsistent brass leads to inconsistent chamber pressure, which shows up as vertical stringing on target. Premium factory ammo uses better brass, and it's worth the extra cost.

Seating depth matters more in 6mm Creedmoor than in most cartridges. The case design is efficient, which means small changes in bullet position relative to the lands can significantly affect pressure and accuracy. Factory ammo that gets this wrong will never shoot well.

Testing your rifle's preferences

Start with Hornady 108gr ELD Match and Federal 107gr Sierra MatchKing. These are the most likely to shoot well in any 6mm Creedmoor rifle. Buy at least 40 rounds of each—enough for proper group testing plus some extra for verification.

Shoot five 5-shot groups with each load. Don't cherry-pick your best group. Average group size tells you more about real-world accuracy than your single best effort. If a load averages under 1 MOA with your rifle, it's worth buying more.

Chronograph everything if you have access to a chronograph. Velocity consistency often predicts accuracy better than group size alone. Loads with standard deviations under 15 fps usually shoot better at distance than those with higher spreads.

Test different lots if you find a load your rifle likes. Factory ammunition can vary between production runs. Once you identify a good lot, buy enough to last a while. Lot numbers are usually printed on the box—write them down.

Don't give up on a load after one bad session. Temperature, humidity, and barrel fouling can all affect accuracy. Clean your barrel and try again before writing off an expensive match load.

Look, most shooters overthink factory ammo selection. The 6mm Creedmoor isn't magic—it's just an efficient case design that works well with heavy match bullets. Stick with proven loads from reputable manufacturers, test them properly in your rifle, and you'll find something that shoots well under MOA.

The Hornady 108gr ELD Match and Federal 107gr Sierra MatchKing are your best starting points. Both consistently deliver sub-MOA accuracy in quality barrels, use premium components, and are usually available when you need them. Everything else is either more expensive for marginal gains or cheaper with worse performance.

Your rifle will probably prefer one over the other. Buy both, test them properly, and stick with whichever shoots better in your specific barrel. That's how you get consistent sub-MOA performance without the time and expense of handloading.