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Hornady V-Match 6.5 Creedmoor 100 gr ELD-VT

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Ammo Reports Team 5 6.5 Creedmoor

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At a Glance

Official Specs

All data verified against Hornady’s official product page and multiple established retailers.

BC note: Two BC values appear in retailer listings — 0.448 (Hornady official, OpticsPlanet) and 0.488 (AmmoMan listing). The 0.448 figure is confirmed from Hornady’s own source and is used for ballistics calculations on this page. The 0.488 may reflect a different measurement methodology or a data entry error.

Data error — Midsouth Shooters Supply: listed MV as 3,000 fps for this load. This is incorrect — Hornady’s official page shows 3,200 fps and real-world testing (International Sportsman, Labradar) recorded 3,208 fps average, confirming the 3,200 fps specification.

ME verification: 100 gr × 3,200² ÷ 450,400 = 2,274 ft-lbs ✓

Ballistics Table

Calculated from Hornady official MV (3,200 fps, 24″ barrel) and BC (G1: 0.448). Zero: 100 yards. Sight height: 1.5″.

Trajectory confirmed against real-world test data: International Sportsman field test with Labradar recorded 3,208 fps average MV and 0″/−3.5″/−10″/−23″ at 100/200/300/400 yards with 100-yard zero — consistent with these calculations.

Key takeaway: at 3,200 fps this is the second fastest load in this report series (tied with Barnes 100 gr TTSX) — trailing only the 95 gr V-Max at 3,300 fps. The BC of 0.448 is higher than the V-Max’s 0.365, which means the ELD-VT sheds velocity more slowly. At 400 yards the ELD-VT retains 1,303 ft-lbs — more than the V-Max (1,007 ft-lbs at 400 yards) — making it the better choice for longer-range varmint and predator work. The real-world field test confirmed near-exact agreement with published specs.

The ELD-VT — Hornady’s Dual-Purpose Innovation

The ELD-VT (Extremely Low Drag — Varmint/Target) is Hornady’s newest design category, introduced in 2024 — a bullet engineered to bridge the gap between match accuracy and varmint terminal performance:

From the match side:

• Heat Shield tip — Hornady’s heat-resistant polymer that doesn’t deform at high velocities; maintains consistent BC throughout flight (the same technology as ELD Match)
• AMP (Advanced Manufacturing Process) jacket — precisely formed for near-zero runout and minimal wall thickness variation; match-grade concentricity

From the varmint side:

• Thin jacket mouth — designed for dramatic fragmentation on impact; the thin tip-end jacket initiates rapid explosive terminal performance
• Dense lead core — Hornady notes the “unique weight to length design” — the 100 gr at 6.5mm is relatively short for its weight, which contributes to the high muzzle velocity while maintaining the dense core needed for fragmentation energy transfer

The result: a bullet that flies with match accuracy, maintains BC consistency via Heat Shield, and fragments explosively on impact like a varmint bullet. The V-Max achieves fragmentation through an extremely thin standard jacket; the ELD-VT achieves it through the thin-mouthed jacket combined with match-grade manufacturing precision.

V-Match vs Varmint Express — Hornady’s Two Light 6.5 CM Loads

Hornady offers two light-bullet varmint options for 6.5 CM. Choosing between them:

The ELD-VT wins on BC, downrange energy, tip consistency, and accuracy precision. The V-Max is faster (100 fps) and cheaper ($0.15/round). For varmint hunting inside 300 yards where explosive fragmentation is the priority, both work equally well. For long-range varmint and predator work at 300–500 yards where BC and retained energy matter, ELD-VT is the superior choice.

Best Uses

Good fit:

• Coyotes and predators at 200–500 yards where the ELD-VT’s higher BC vs V-Max and Heat Shield tip consistency enable more precise long-range shots
• Prairie dogs and ground squirrels at extended ranges where flat trajectory and explosive fragmentation combine effectively
• Long-range varmint competition where match-grade accuracy is required alongside varmint terminal performance
• Hunters with a 6.5 CM rifle who want the best-performing light-bullet varmint option in their caliber
• Temperatures extremes — the Heat Shield tip is specifically noted for consistent performance from summer heat to winter cold

Not the right tool for:

• Deer or any game larger than coyote — the ELD-VT’s thin jacket and fragmentation design will not penetrate adequately on medium or large game
• High-volume prairie dog shooting on a budget — at $2.17/round the V-Max at $2.02/round or dedicated varmint calibers are more economical for 100+ round sessions
• Lead-free requirements — lead-core construction
• Self-defense — not designed or rated for it

Reliability Notes

No structured submissions yet.

General notes from field testing:

• International Sportsman conducted an independent field test (2024) with a Labradar chronograph, recording 3,208 fps average from 8 shots — confirmed tight standard deviation and no “blue sky” vs the 3,200 fps published velocity; groups measured sub-0.5 MOA at 100, 200, and 300 yards
• The ELD-VT is a 2024 introduction — newer than the V-Max (decades of documentation) but backed by Hornady’s established AMP jacket and Heat Shield technology from the mature ELD Match line
• Temperature consistency is a stated design goal — Hornady’s “carefully chosen propellants” are selected for consistency across temperature ranges; similar to the temperature-stable approach used in their Match line
• Hornady.com official page confirms 20 rounds per box, 10 boxes per case — consistent with other Hornady Match line packaging

Competitors

The ELD-VT’s advantage: among the three 6.5 CM varmint/light-bullet factory loads in this series, the ELD-VT has the highest BC (0.448) and most retained energy at distance. It is the match-grade option in the varmint category — designed when both accuracy and downrange performance beyond 300 yards matter.

Price Reality

• Typical retail range: $42–45 per box of 20 (~$2.10–2.25/round)
• vs. Hornady V-Max 95 gr: ELD-VT runs $2–3/box more for higher BC, more retained energy, and Heat Shield tip consistency — justified for long-range varmint work
• vs. Nosler Varmageddon: ELD-VT runs $3–6/box less for better BC and real-world confirmed accuracy
• vs. Barnes 100 gr TTSX: TTSX runs $8–10/box more and is lead-free — different use case (pronghorn/deer), not a direct varmint alternative
• Fair price benchmark: under $44/box is competitive for the ELD-VT’s match-grade varmint niche

Where to Buy

Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.

• MidwayUSA
• Brownells
• Palmetto State Armory
• Natchez Shooters Supplies

FAQ

What is the ELD-VT and how is it different from the V-Max?

The ELD-VT (Extremely Low Drag Varmint-Target) combines Hornady’s match bullet technology (Heat Shield tip, AMP jacket, precision manufacturing) with a thin-mouthed jacket designed for explosive fragmentation on varmints. The V-Max uses a standard polymer tip and thinner overall jacket for varmint fragmentation but without match-grade manufacturing precision. The ELD-VT has a higher BC (0.448 vs 0.365) because the Heat Shield tip maintains its shape at high velocity where standard polymer tips deform — producing more consistent BC throughout flight. At close range both fragment explosively; at 400+ yards the ELD-VT’s BC advantage produces significantly better retained velocity and trajectory.

Is this load appropriate for coyotes?

Yes — the ELD-VT is explicitly designed for predator hunting alongside precision competition. The thin jacket mouth combined with the 3,200 fps velocity produces rapid, explosive fragmentation on coyotes at 100–400 yards. The Heat Shield tip enables consistent long-range accuracy that allows confident shots at the extended distances where coyotes often present themselves in open terrain. The International Sportsman field test specifically mentions upcoming coyote hunts using this load.

Why does Midsouth Shooters Supply show 3,000 fps instead of 3,200 fps?

This is a retailer data error. Hornady’s official page shows 3,200 fps from a 24″ test barrel. Independent real-world testing (International Sportsman, Labradar) recorded 3,208 fps average — confirming the 3,200 fps specification is accurate. The 3,000 fps figure at Midsouth is inconsistent with all other sources and does not reflect the load’s actual performance. Always verify against Hornady’s official specifications when retailer data conflicts.

Submit Your Data · Real-World Results

Manufacturer velocity figures are measured under controlled lab conditions — barrel length, temperature, and lot number all affect real-world performance. The data below comes from community submissions tied to specific test conditions and reviewed before publishing.

Once this page reaches 3 approved submissions, aggregate velocity and confidence level will appear here automatically.

Shot this load? Share your results — firearm type, barrel length, average velocity, shots fired, temperature. No account required.

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Results vary by firearm, barrel condition, ammunition lot, and environmental factors. Submitted data is for reference only. AmmoReports does not guarantee accuracy of user-submitted results.

Last updated: April 2026 · Data confidence: Low (0 submissions) · MV (3,200 fps) verified against Hornady official and real-world field test (3,208 fps, Labradar). Midsouth Shooters Supply 3,000 fps listing is a retailer data error.