The 6.5mm Creedmoor is a centerfire rifle cartridge introduced by Hornady in 2007. When loaded with heavier bullets, cartridges such as the 6.5x55mm and 6.5-284 are capable of greater muzzle velocity due to their longer cases and larger powder capacity. However, due to its shorter overall length, the 6.5mm Creedmoor is more flexible in its ability to be chambered in short-action bolt rifles and AR-10 rifles.
6.5 mm (.264") bullets, in general, are known for their relatively high ballistic coefficients, and have seen success in rifle competition. The 6.5mm Creedmoor is capable of duplicating the trajectory of the .300 Winchester Magnum while generating significantly lower recoil. Also, converting a rifle chambered for the .308 Winchester (or any of its offspring, such as the .243 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington or .338 Federal) to 6.5mm Creedmoor generally requires little more than a simple barrel change.