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Hornady Match 6.5 Creedmoor 120 gr ELD Match

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Ammo Reports Team 3 6.5 Creedmoor

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Hornady Match 6.5 Creedmoor 120 gr ELD Match

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Official Specs

All data verified against Hornady’s official ballistics chart (PDF) and Hornady’s official bullet page.

BC note: Hornady publishes velocity-dependent BC values for ELD Match bullets. The 0.486 G1 figure comes from Hornady’s official metric ballistics chart for SKU 81491. Hornady now publishes “200-yard Mach 2.25” BC values rather than single-number averages — see hornady.com/bc for the full velocity-dependent BC table. The 0.486 figure represents practical performance at typical shooting velocities.

120 gr vs 140 gr ELD Match: this is the lighter, faster ELD Match option in Hornady’s 6.5 CM lineup. The 140 gr ELD Match (SKU 81500) runs at 2,710 fps with BC ~0.646 — higher BC but slower start. The 120 gr is the choice when velocity and flat trajectory inside 400 yards are the priority over maximum long-range BC.

Ballistics Table

From Hornady’s official ballistics chart (velocity data, 24″ barrel, SKU 81491). Zero: 100 yards. Sight height: 1.5″.

Key takeaway: the 120 gr ELD Match is the fastest Hornady match load in 6.5 CM at 2,910 fps. The BC of 0.486 is lower than the 140 gr ELD-M (0.646) — the lighter bullet trades downrange BC efficiency for a flatter close-range trajectory. At 200 yards only 6.5 inches of drop; at 300 yards 19.2 inches. For competition formats with stages inside 400 yards where rapid target transitions matter more than extreme long-range BC, the 120 gr’s velocity advantage is genuinely useful. At 500 yards 1,096 ft-lbs retained.

The ELD Match Bullet — Key Technology

The ELD Match (Extremely Low Drag Match) is Hornady’s flagship precision match bullet — engineered around a discovery made using Doppler radar:

The Heat Shield tip discovery: Hornady found that at high velocities (above approximately Mach 1.5), standard polymer bullet tips deform due to aerodynamic heating — a phenomenon they confirmed with Doppler radar. A deformed tip changes the bullet’s BC mid-flight, causing velocity inconsistency and vertical dispersion at long range. Standard BTHP bullets avoid this but sacrifice the aerodynamic efficiency of a tipped design.

Heat Shield solution: Hornady developed a heat-resistant polymer formulation for the ELD Match tip that maintains its shape throughout flight regardless of velocity or aerodynamic heating. The result is a bullet that achieves tip-forward aerodynamic efficiency (like a polymer tip) while maintaining tip consistency (like a BTHP) — the best of both designs.

Additional ELD Match features:

• AMP (Advanced Manufacturing Process) jacket — precisely formed for near-zero runout and minimal wall thickness variation; the jacket foundation for accuracy
• Secant ogive — maximum aerodynamic efficiency for the highest possible BC in its weight class
• DVRT (Drag Variability Reduction Technology) — Hornady’s process for reducing drag variation between bullets in the same lot
• Premium brass selection — cases screened for wall thickness uniformity, internal capacity, and wall concentricity

120 gr vs 140 gr ELD Match — Choosing Within Hornady’s Match Line

Hornady offers three ELD Match loads for 6.5 Creedmoor. Each optimizes a different aspect:

The 120 gr is fastest with the flattest near-range trajectory. The 140 gr has significantly higher BC — better wind resistance and energy retention at 500+ yards. The 147 gr has the highest BC of any Hornady ELD Match in 6.5 CM. For competition formats with mixed distances (100–600 yards), the 140 gr is the most versatile choice. For stages inside 400 yards, the 120 gr’s velocity edge is meaningful.

Best Uses

Good fit:

• Precision rifle competition at stages inside 400 yards where the 120 gr’s higher velocity produces a marginally flatter trajectory than 140 gr alternatives
• Benchrest and short-to-mid range precision target shooting where the ELD Match’s consistency and Heat Shield tip provide a BC advantage over BTHP designs
• Shooters who run 6.5 Creedmoor in semi-automatic platforms — at 2,910 fps and 120 gr the load is within normal operating parameters for AR-10 class rifles
• Reloaders who want Hornady’s premium specially selected brass for future handloading

Not the right tool for:

• ELR competition (600+ yards) where the 140 gr and 147 gr ELD-M loads’ higher BCs produce meaningfully better performance
• Hunting — ELD Match is a match bullet not designed for terminal expansion; use Hornady Precision Hunter ELD-X for hunting
• Budget practice — at $2.17/round the Hornady American Gunner 140 gr BTHP at $1.55/round is the economy practice option
• Self-defense — not designed or rated for it

Reliability Notes

No structured submissions yet.

General notes:

• The ELD Match bullet line has been extensively tested and adopted at the highest levels of precision rifle competition — the Heat Shield tip’s performance advantage over standard polymer tips has been validated by Doppler radar testing and field competition results
• Hornady’s strict quality selection of cases (wall thickness, capacity, concentricity) for Match loads is a genuine manufacturing differentiator vs American Gunner which uses standard Hornady brass
• At 2,910 fps the 120 gr ELD Match generates more muzzle blast than the 140 gr load at 2,710 fps — not a performance issue but worth noting for shooters sensitive to concussion or shooting suppressed
• The 120 gr weight is unusual in the 6.5 CM match landscape — the 140 gr class dominates competition. The 120 gr is a niche option for specific velocity-focused applications

Competitors

The internal Hornady competition: the Hornady Match 140 gr ELD-M at $38–45/box has a significantly higher BC (0.646 vs 0.486) at comparable or slightly lower price. For most competitive shooters, the 140 gr is the stronger choice. The 120 gr ELD Match is appropriate when maximum velocity inside 400 yards is specifically wanted over long-range BC.

Price Reality

• Box pricing: ~$43–46 per box of 20 (~$2.15–2.30/round)
• Case pricing: ~$415 / 200 rounds (~$2.08/round) — modest case discount
• vs. Hornady Match 140 gr ELD-M: comparable or slightly more expensive for lower BC — the 140 gr is typically the better overall buy within the Hornady Match line
• vs. Hornady American Gunner BTHP: American Gunner runs $0.55–0.65/round less in 50-round boxes — the practice economy choice
• vs. PPU Supreme SMK: PPU runs $0.50–0.70/round less with higher BC (0.617) — value leader in this category
• Fair price benchmark: under $44/box is reasonable; the 140 gr ELD-M at similar pricing is typically a better performance investment

Where to Buy

Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 120 Grain ELD Match (Box)

Hornady Match 6.5 Creedmoor 120 Grain Boat Tail Extremely Low Drag (ELD) Polymer Heat Shield - 20 Round BoxHornady has so much research and technology in these rounds we cannot add all the features into the title. From the tip down:Hornady's heat resistant tip is designed to stay perfectly formed...

$44.99 at Ammunitiondepot.com View Price at Sportsmansguide.com

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FAQ

What is the Heat Shield tip and why does it matter for accuracy?

Hornady discovered using Doppler radar that standard polymer bullet tips deform due to aerodynamic heating at high velocities — typically above Mach 1.5 in flight. A deformed tip changes the bullet’s ballistic coefficient mid-flight, causing velocity inconsistency and vertical dispersion at long range. Standard BTHP bullets avoid tip deformation but sacrifice the aerodynamic advantage of a tipped design. Hornady’s Heat Shield tip is a heat-resistant polymer formulation that maintains its shape through flight regardless of velocity, providing both the aerodynamic BC advantage of a tip and the consistency of a BTHP. This is the core engineering innovation that differentiates ELD Match from previous Hornady match designs.

120 gr ELD Match vs 140 gr ELD Match — which should I use for PRS competition?

For PRS and NRL competition, the 140 gr ELD Match is typically the stronger choice for its higher BC (0.646 vs 0.486). At competition distances of 300–800 yards the BC difference produces meaningfully less wind drift and drop — at 600 yards the 140 gr may drift 2–3 fewer inches in a 10 mph crosswind. The 120 gr’s velocity advantage (200 fps at the muzzle) is essentially equalized by 250–300 yards where BC begins to dominate. For indoor matches or stages capped at 300–400 yards, the 120 gr’s near-range flatness is a legitimate choice. For open-format PRS with 500–1,000 yard stages, the 140 gr is the better tool.

Is the ELD Match appropriate for deer hunting?

No — ELD Match is specifically engineered for accuracy, not terminal expansion. The Heat Shield tip and precision jacket are optimized to maintain the bullet’s ballistic profile, not to initiate controlled expansion on game. Hornady explicitly distinguishes ELD Match (match only) from ELD-X (designed for hunting). For hunting in 6.5 CM, Hornady makes the Precision Hunter 143 gr ELD-X, which uses a similar tip and jacket design tuned for terminal expansion on game from close range through 500+ yards.

How does Hornady’s velocity-dependent BC system work?

Hornady now publishes BC values at specific Mach numbers rather than a single average figure. The 120 gr ELD Match has a higher G1 BC at higher velocities (leaving the muzzle) and a lower BC as velocity drops (at extended range). The 0.486 G1 value represents a practical average across typical shooting velocities. Hornady’s website (hornady.com/bc) provides the full velocity-dependent BC table for precise long-range trajectory calculations. For practical shooting inside 500 yards, the 0.486 value is adequate for trajectory planning.

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.

ES and SD data are especially valuable for this premium match load — include them in Notes if your chronograph captures them.

All submissions are manually reviewed before appearing on this page.

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.

Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 120 Grain ELD Match (Box)

$44.99

in stock

Hornady Match, 6.5mm Creedmoor, ELD Match, 147 Grain, 20 Rounds

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Last updated: April 2026 · Data confidence: Low (0 submissions) · Specs verified against Hornady official ballistics chart (24″ barrel). BC from Hornady metric chart (velocity-averaged).