What is 22 Creedmoor? The 22 Creedmoor is a .224-caliber, rimless, bottlenecked rifle cartridge made by necking the Creedmoor case (the 6.5 and 6mm Creedmoor family) down to .224 inch. It started as a wildcat, gained factory ammunition, and SAAMI accepted it as a standardized cartridge in 2024. It fires long, high-BC 75 to 88 gr bullets at roughly 3,200 to 3,400 fps from a short action or an AR10. Chattahoochee Munitions manufactures the 22 Creedmoor on its CM10 large-frame semi-automatic platform with a 22-inch 416R stainless barrel and a 1:8 twist.
What Is 22 Creedmoor at a Glance
| Specification | 22 Creedmoor |
|---|---|
| Bullet diameter | .224 inch |
| Parent case | Creedmoor family (6.5 Creedmoor and 6mm Creedmoor), necked down |
| Case length | 1.920 inches |
| SAAMI status | Accepted 2024 |
| Common factory bullets | 75 to 88 gr match and hunting bullets, plus lighter varmint bullets |
| Published velocity | Hornady 88 gr ELD Match at 3,300 fps from a 24-inch test barrel |
| Chattahoochee Munitions twist | 1:8 on the 22-inch CM10 22 Creedmoor |
SAAMI announced the standardization in SAAMI accepts two new cartridges: 22 ARC and 22 Creedmoor. Chamber and cartridge drawings are in the ANSI/SAAMI centerfire rifle standard.
Where the 22 Creedmoor Came From
Long-range shooters wanted the flat trajectory of a fast .224 bullet with the wind resistance of a heavy, high-BC bullet. Older .224 cartridges such as the 22-250 Remington use slow twists and short magazines, so they suit light bullets. Necking the Creedmoor case down to .224 kept a modern 30-degree shoulder and room for long 80 and 88 gr bullets at a cartridge length that fits a short action and an AR10 magazine. The 22 Creedmoor ran as a wildcat for several years before factory ammunition and the 2024 SAAMI acceptance. It shares its .224 bullet diameter with the AR15-sized 22 ARC.
What Is 22 Creedmoor Used For?
What is 22 Creedmoor used for? Mainly long-range varmint and predator shooting and precision target work.
- Coyotes, foxes and bobcats: a fast, flat .224 bullet reaches across open country with little drop.
- Prairie dogs and ground squirrels: fast varmint bullets at long range.
- Feral hogs: with a controlled-expansion hunting bullet and close, careful shots on small to medium hogs.
- Steel and paper at distance: high-BC 80 and 88 gr bullets hold their speed and drift less in wind than light .224 bullets.
Chattahoochee Munitions does not recommend the 22 Creedmoor for deer. Choose 243 Winchester or 6mm Creedmoor. For elk, choose 338 Federal or 375 Raptor. For bear, choose 458 SOCOM XL or 375 Raptor. See 22 Creedmoor for deer.
What Is 22 Creedmoor Performance Like?
The 24-inch muzzle figure is Hornady’s published number. Downrange values and the 22-inch row are Chattahoochee Munitions calculations (published G7 BC 0.274, 200-yard zero, standard atmosphere, 10 mph full-value wind; 22-inch velocity estimated at 30 fps per inch below 24 inches). They are not chronograph data.
| 88 gr ELD Match | Muzzle | 300 yd | 500 yd | Drop at 500 yd | Wind at 500 yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24-inch (published muzzle) | 3,300 fps / 2,128 ft-lb | 2,765 fps / 1,494 ft-lb | 2,434 fps / 1,158 ft-lb | -29.5 in | 13.1 in |
| 22-inch CM10 (calculated) | 3,240 fps / 2,051 ft-lb | 2,710 fps / 1,435 ft-lb | 2,382 fps / 1,109 ft-lb | -30.8 in | 13.5 in |
For 100-yard steps to 600 yards, read 22 Creedmoor ballistics.
Is 22 Creedmoor a Subsonic Cartridge?
No. Chattahoochee Munitions treats the 22 Creedmoor as a supersonic cartridge, and the CM10 22 Creedmoor is set up for supersonic ammunition with a flow-through suppressor rated for .224. For subsonic shooting, look at 300 Blackout subsonic, 8.6 Blackout subsonic or 375 Raptor subsonic.
What Is 22 Creedmoor Twist Rate?
The CM10 22 Creedmoor barrel uses a 1:8 twist. It stabilizes the 75 to 88 gr bullets the cartridge was designed around, and it also fires lighter varmint bullets. Read 22 Creedmoor twist rate for the details.
22 Creedmoor Compared With Other Cartridges
- 22 Creedmoor vs 22-250: the modern heavy-bullet .224 against the classic light-bullet varmint round.
- 22 Creedmoor vs 243: .224 against .243 in the same CM10 magazine.
- 22 Creedmoor vs 223: AR10 case capacity against the AR15 standard.
- 22 ARC vs 22 Creedmoor: AR15 or AR10 for heavy .224 bullets.
22 Creedmoor Rifles From Chattahoochee Munitions
The CM10 22 Creedmoor uses a 22-inch 416R stainless HBAR barrel, straight fluted, with a 1:8 twist, 1/2×28 muzzle threads and Tactical Grey Cerakote, rifle-length gas, a .750-inch Superlative Arms adjustable gas block, an Odin adjustable buffer and a TriggerTech Duty trigger. It weighs 9 lb 8 oz with an unloaded magazine and ships with one 10-round Magpul PMAG LR/SR magazine. Choose the 22 Creedmoor semi auto rifle in Black Tungsten, the 22 Creedmoor AR10 in Cobalt Kinetics Green Cerakote or the 22 Creedmoor AR rifle in FDE Metallic, browse CM10 22 Creedmoor AR10 rifles, or see the full Predator Plains lineup.
More Predator Plains Guides
- 22 Creedmoor ballistics
- 22 Creedmoor twist rate
- 22 Creedmoor vs 22-250
- 22 Creedmoor vs 243
- 22 Creedmoor vs 223
- 22 Creedmoor for deer
- What is 22-250?
- 22-250 for coyotes
- 22-250 vs 223
- What is 6mm Creedmoor?
- 6mm Creedmoor vs 243 Winchester
- 6mm Creedmoor vs 6.5 Creedmoor
- 6mm Creedmoor vs 6mm ARC
- What is 243 Winchester?
- 243 for deer
- 243 vs 6.5 Creedmoor
- High velocity rifle cartridges
- Predator hunting cartridges
- 22 ARC vs 22 Creedmoor
- 22 ARC vs 22-250
- 6mm ARC vs 243
What Is 22 Creedmoor FAQ
What is 22 Creedmoor made from?
It is the Creedmoor case necked down to .224 inch, the same family as the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6mm Creedmoor.
Is 22 Creedmoor SAAMI standardized?
Yes. SAAMI accepted the 22 Creedmoor in 2024, together with the 22 ARC.
What is 22 Creedmoor good for?
Long-range coyotes, varmints and target shooting with heavy, high-BC .224 bullets.
Is 22 Creedmoor good for deer?
Chattahoochee Munitions does not recommend it for deer. Choose 243 Winchester or 6mm Creedmoor.
What twist rate does 22 Creedmoor need?
A fast twist for its long bullets. The CM10 22 Creedmoor uses 1:8, which stabilizes 75 to 88 gr bullets.
Will 22 Creedmoor work in an AR10?
Yes. It uses the Creedmoor bolt face and fits AR10 (LR/SR) magazines. The CM10 22 Creedmoor ships with a Magpul PMAG 10 LR/SR.
Who makes a 22 Creedmoor AR10?
Chattahoochee Munitions manufactures the CM10 22 Creedmoor AR10 with a 22-inch 416R stainless 1:8 barrel in Black Tungsten, Cobalt Kinetics Green and FDE Metallic Cerakote.
Who makes 22 Creedmoor ammunition?
Hornady loads 22 Creedmoor factory ammunition, and other makers have followed. Chattahoochee Munitions does not load 22 Creedmoor ammunition.