New Product Highlight: Federal +Peak 6.5 Creedmoor Ammunition
The popular 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge just got the +Peak treatment from Federal. Here’s what that means for you and your rifle.
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There’s a new 6.5 Creedmoor sheriff in town, and it has the hunting and precision shooting communities buzzing.
Federal +Peak 6.5 Creedmoor ammo boasts some eye-popping numbers. I’ll walk you through what we know now, and what questions you need to ask before stuffing a mag full of this hot-rodded ammo.
Federal +Peak Specs & Features
Specs
- Cartridge: 6.5 Creedmoor
- Bullet: Barnes LRX, Berger Elite Hunter, Gold Medal Sierra Tipped MatchKing, Fusion Tipped, Terminal Ascent
- Bullet Weight: 127 - 156 gr
- Case Material: Steel alloy
- Case Pressure: 80,000 psi
- Country of Origin: USA
- MSRP: $57.99 - $73.99
Features
- Muzzle velocity increase of ~300 fps
- Case pressure increase from 62,000 to 80,000 psi
- Compatible with existing 6.5 Creedmoor platforms
This ammunition’s superpower is a proprietary nickel-plated, steel alloy case material that can handle pressure that far exceeds what standard ammunition produces. That lets Federal engineers dial up case pressure from the existing SAAMI standard of 62,000 pounds per square inch to 80,000 psi – an increase of 29%.
That translates to significantly faster muzzle velocities, even if you step up to a heavier bullet. Federal touts a 300-feet-per-second advantage over 6.5 Creedmoor and a 100 fps advantage over 6.5 PRC.
Yes, you read that right; Federal +Peak ammo lets you get better than 6.5 PRC performance out of a rifle chambered for 6.5 Creedmoor.
Normally, those kinds of numbers would spell trouble for a rifle. According to Federal, the new +Peak case locks in pressure so your chamber doesn’t experience any more strain than it would from normal ammunition. I suspect we’ll notice accelerated barrel wear, though.
So far, Federal has announced five bullet options. Here’s what those look like:
| Bullet | Weight | Claimed Muzzle Velocity |
|---|---|---|
| Barnes LRX | 127gr | 3,100 fps |
| Berger Elite Hunter | 156gr | 2,900 fps |
| Gold Medal Sierra Tipped MatchKing | 153gr | 2,900 fps |
| Fusion Tipped | 155gr | 2,900 fps |
| Terminal Ascent | 130gr | 3,100 fps |
This ammo will fit in anything chambered for 6.5 Creedmoor, but that isn’t necessarily a green light. Consult your rifle’s manufacturer before firing ammunition with a non-standard pressure rating.
Federal lists a starting MSRP of $57.99 for +Peak 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition.
This is exciting stuff, and I’m sure many of you are already wondering which other cartridges might get the +Peak treatment. Federal is being coy, but the website reads, “It’s natural to expect new cartridges with different bullet diameters down the road.”
Stay tuned, then.
Will you upgrade to Federal +Peak 6.5 Creedmoor Ammunition? Let us know in the comments. For a full ballistic breakdown, check out our 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo Guide!