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New cartridges like the 22 Creedmoor and 22 ARC have been developed alongside the modern practice of leveraging heavy-for-caliber bullets into better downrange performance and, as it turns out, the 22 Creedmoor is a stone-cold deer killer. There are still relatively limited factory ammo options compared to legacy cartridges, and if you’re looking for the best 22 Creedmoor ammo for deer specifically, there are a couple of important considerations. Here’s a look at five of the solid options we have tested for accuracy and velocity, using the bullets that have killed deer and other big game with. Being that Hornady brought the cartridge to SAAMI for standardization, they have the widest variety of factory ammo, but there are other good options too.
- Hornady Precision Hunter, 80-grain ELD-X
- Hornady Match, 80-grain ELD-M
- Hornady Superformance, 65-grain CX
- Federal Fusion, 75-grain Bonded
- Nosler 70-grain Accubond
Not Your Daddy’s .22
People get a lot of big feelings when you broach the subject of shooting big-game animals with .22-caliber rifles, so it’s important to talk about what we mean, and what we don’t. There have undoubtedly been thousands of deer killed with various varmint bullets and .22 rimfire cartridges with a wide variety of results.
That’s not what we’re talking about here.
As numerous insightful old timers discovered by loading cartridges like the .220 Swift, .22/250 Remington, and .223 Remington with more purposeful bullets — sometimes requiring tighter twist barrels — .22-caliber centerfires kill deer very effectively.
The 22 Creedmoor, with the same bullets and barrel length, will leave even the great Swift in the dust, and it’s specifically designed to work best with modern, long, high-BC bullets that maintain their speed and terminal effectiveness hundreds of yards beyond what traditional 40- to 60-grain .224 bullets could. These bullets are perfectly capable of delivering decisive penetration and trauma on any reasonable shot at a deer.
Picking Your Ammo: Beware of the Cold
There are a couple important things to consider when picking the best 22 Creedmoor ammo for deer. First is bullet weight and construction. There isn’t currently a plethora of 22 Creed factory ammo on the market, but it’s wise to avoid the varmint-specific loads. Many varmint bullets are designed specifically to be fragile. At some of the velocities you’ll see from these 22 Creed varmint loads, the volatile bullets can sometimes not penetrate well.
An example of this is Hornady’s 62-grain ELD-VT, launched with the 22 ARC in mind. According to Hornady their shooters, after killing hundreds of coyotes, noticed that they saw a higher percentage of them running after being hit when the 62-grain ELD-VT was used in the 22 CM than when it was launched slightly slower out of the ARC. The problem was remedied with a slightly heavier 69-grain slug. Deer aren’t exceptionally big or dense animals, and there are other ammo options that will work well.
The other consideration isn’t as straightforward, and is one significant drawback of the 22 Creedmoor. Its standardized twist rate of 1:8 accommodates those more fragile bullets at high velocities while generally stabilizing the heavy-for-caliber 80-plus-grain bullets — but not always. At low elevations and in cold weather, your bullets can lose stability, and your accuracy can go to hell completely.
I first noticed this while shooting at about 28 degrees Fahrenheit and 1,000 feet of elevation. This barrel consistently printed 20-shot samples under an inch with the 80-grain ELD-X, but, beyond 600 yards, my bullets were dropping way more than they had been doing a few days prior when it was warmer. Later, at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, groups at 100 yards opened up to nearly 6 inches with the same bullets. I’ve documented this instability, which varies from barrel to barrel, in several guns now.
The takeaway is that if you are going to be hunting late season at low elevation in cold temperatures, either choose a bullet that will work reliably in a 1:8-twist barrel, or at least test your rifle and ammo in those conditions before hunting.
Best 22 Creedmoor Factory Loads for Deer
Best Overall: Hornady Precision Hunter, 80-grain ELD-X
- Bullet: Hornady ELD-X
- Bullet Weight: 80 grains
- Bullet BC: .485 G1
- Ideal Twist Rate: 1:7 inches
- Tested Velocity: 3,078 fps (18-inch barrel), 3,159 fps (20-inch barrel), 3,170 fps (22-inch barrel), 3,284 fps (24-inch barrel)
- Price: $49 per box
The 80-grain ELD-X is one of the best all-around .22-cal performers for larger game. This bullet follows the same general design as other ELD-X bullets, featuring a lead core and mechanical internal locking ring to control expansion. It has Hornady’s heat shield tip with DRVT for more consistent drag. This is one of the most efficient hunting-specific .22-cal bullets there is, with a BC that allows it to stay above 2,000 fps for over 600 yards in the 22 Creedmoor. The most unique characteristic to this bullet — compared to the ELD-X in other calibers — is that it has a proportionally thicker jacket. This was to ensure controlled expansion even at velocities over 3,000 fps.
This bullet has proven to penetrate well and do a lot of damage. I shot a whitetail buck with the 80-grain ELD-X loaded in a .223, which would have been the equivalent of about a 450-yard shot from the 22 Creed. It hit the buck, which was quartering to, through the front shoulder and exited halfway back the ribs on the opposite side. I’ve also executed a similar shot on a huge black bear from about 15 yards with a 22 ARC — leaving the bullet under the offside hide after about 18 inches of penetration.
This is an all-around performer in the 22 Creedmoor, but is more optimal in a 1:7-twist barrel. If you’re planning on using it in cold weather, you should test it beforehand.
Also Consider: Hornady Match, 80-grain ELD-M
- Bullet: Hornady ELD-M
- Bullet Weight: 80 grains
- Bullet BC: .485 G1
- Ideal Twist Rate: 1:7 inches
- Tested Velocity: 3,069 fps (18-inch barrel), 3,121 fps (20-inch barrel), 3,215 fps (22-inch barrel), 3,272 fps (24-inch barrel)
- Price: $46 per box
Many hunters will intentionally steer clear of match ammunition and Hornady does not recommend this ammo for deer hunting. Sometimes folks try stuff without asking permission, however, and it ends up working pretty damned well. Now, seeing how well the 80-grain ELD-X works, I’m not compelled to choose the nearly identical ELD-M bullet over it. They have the same BC and often have nearly the same point of impact and velocity. But this load has crushed a lot of bucks and is a favorite of Derrick Ratliff of Horizon Firearms and one of the big players in bringing the 22 Creed to the commercial market.
The ELD-M bullet will generally be more fragile than the ELD-X, and it creates even more violent wound cavities. This doesn’t mean it explodes on shoulders and won’t penetrate — that’s not the case. But when seeing the holes it puts through deer, you may want to tone it down. There’s no harm if you choose a more rigidly constructed bullet, and you should always be thoughtful about the shots you do take by keeping your bullet construction in mind. Still, this ammo is out there killing bucks with authority.
Best Unleaded: Hornady Superformance, 65-grain CX
- Bullet: Hornady CX
- Bullet Weight: 65 grains
- Bullet BC: .365 G1
- Ideal Twist Rate: 1:8 inches
- Tested Velocity: 3,431 fps (18-inch barrel), 3,523 fps (22-inch barrel), 3,574 fps (24-inch barrel)
- Price: $57 per box
If you need or want a monolithic copper bullet, this will likely be the only factory option you can find. It uses a 65-grain CX bullet, which is a comfortable 1:8-twist bullet. In testing, Hornady found the 70-grain CX — made for the 1:7-twist 22 ARC — doesn’t stabilize well. I was able to shoot a pronghorn with this bullet, handloaded for an 18-inch 22 Creedmoor, before factory ammo was available. The bullet passed through both shoulders and the buck was dead before he hit the ground.
If you’re a fan of shoulder-shooting deer, this is a bullet you will be very happy with. The CX is designed for high weight retention and won’t produce a wound as violent as the ELD-X or ELD-M, but it is a penetrating son-of-a-gun. The 65-grain CX has a lower BC than the 80-grain lead-core bullets, but has enough velocity to help it maintain a similar effective range. For most deer hunters choosing a 22 Creed, you’ll be hunting at distances where that lower BC won’t come into play.
Best Value: Federal Fusion, 75-grain Bonded
- Bullet: Federal Fusion
- Bullet Weight: 75 grains
- Bullet BC: .298 G1
- Ideal Twist Rate: 1:8 inches
- Tested Velocity: 3,100 fps (22-inch barrel)
- Price: $39 per box
We’ve been big fans of the Federal Fusion line for deer ammo because it’s affordable, shoots well, and delivers great terminal performance. Federal just announced this 22 Creedmoor deer ammo, but I saw the press release a few days after buying some in a local store, so it should be available for rifle seasons. This is probably the most affordable 22 Creed ammo that’s deer-appropriate, and it features the same plated jacket as other Fusion bullets.
I’ve gone through a couple boxes of this and the ammo shot pretty well. It averaged 3,100 fps from a 22-inch barrel, which would put it around 125 fps slower than box velocity of 3,300 fps in a 24-inch barrel. Velocities can vary depending on several factors, but it does track with a lot of factory 22 CM ammo in the 70-80-grain range which ranges from 3,050 to 3,200 fps from 20-inch barrels — the most common contemporary barrel length.
If maximizing efficiency is important to you, there are better bullets, but this should work comfortably at any temperature in a standard 1:8 twist barrel, and will deliver great performance for the needs of most deer hunters.
Nosler Trophy Grade, 70-Grain AccuBond
- Bullet: Nosler AccuBond
- Bullet Weight: 70 grains
- Bullet BC: .370 G1
- Ideal Twist Rate: 1:9 inches
- Tested Velocity: 3,031 fps (18-inch barrel), 3,092 fps (20-inch barrel)
- Price: $66 per box
Another excellent option for deer would be Nosler’s 70-grain AccuBond offering. This is more of a legacy bullet — made for 1:9- or 1:8-twist barrels — that’s also loaded in .223, rather than one of the more optimized 22 Creedmoor options. I would love to see Nosler come out with a heavier, more efficient option that leverages the Creed’s case and chamber design and load this to a bit more competitive speeds. Still, this is a deadly and effective bullet at normal deer-hunting distances, and would be a good choice.
Final Thoughts
Modern bullets are what really make the 22 Creedmoor shine as a deer cartridge. We have options that are more efficient with more predictable performance than ever. If you want to hunt deer with a 22 Creedmoor, pick ammo that will fit how and where you hunt.
Read Next: Best Ammo for Deer Hunting, Tested for Accuracy
Most people won’t have to worry about bullet stability with factory ammo, but it’s something you need to pay attention to at low elevation in temperatures below freezing. As with any hunting rifle and ammo, the most important factor is you. Pick a rifle and ammo you like and get out there and practice.