Lead free bullets for the 6.5 Creedmoor
All three Fox Classic Hunter 6.5mm weights in the 6.5 Creedmoor, and why the 123 grain is the one most people should load.
Last updated 28 July 2026
The 6.5 Creedmoor has become one of the default British deer cartridges in the space of a decade, and it is arguably the best-suited cartridge in common use for a lead free transition. It fires a .264 inch (6.5mm) bullet, and Fox makes three Classic Hunter weights at that diameter.
Which weight
| Weight | G1 BC | Length | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 gr | 0.315 | 29.2 mm | Flattest, smaller species |
| 123 gr | 0.390 | 34.0 mm | The default choice |
| 139 gr | 0.425 | 37.3 mm | Longer shots, larger deer |
The 123 grain is the one to start with. Its 0.390 BC is genuinely good, it is not so long that case capacity becomes awkward, and it has ample mass for any British deer species. It is the weight that makes the fewest compromises.
The 139 grain carries the highest ballistic coefficient in the entire Fox range at 0.425. That is what you want for open hill work on red, or any shooting where wind and distance dominate. At 37.3mm it is long, so check magazine fit carefully.
Twist rate and case capacity
6.5 Creedmoor rifles are almost universally 1:8, which is the standard recommendation for heavy 6.5mm bullets and handles all three Fox weights. The cartridge was designed around long projectiles at magazine length, which is exactly the problem a monolithic presents — one reason it takes so well to lead free.
That said, a 37.3mm bullet still eats case volume. Establish your distance to the lands, then work seating depth around what your magazine will actually take.
Related guides
Bullets for the 6.5 Creedmoor
Projectiles only — no powder, primers or loaded ammunition.
What is the best lead free bullet for a 6.5 Creedmoor?
The Fox Classic Hunter 123 grain for general stalking. Move to the 139 grain for longer shots and larger deer, or the 100 grain for a flatter trajectory on smaller species.
Will a 6.5 Creedmoor stabilise the 139 grain Fox bullet?
6.5 Creedmoor rifles are typically 1:8 twist, which is the usual recommendation for heavy 6.5mm bullets and should handle the 37.3mm 139 grain.
Is the 6.5 Creedmoor good for lead free?
It is one of the better cartridges for it. The fast standard twist and a design built around long bullets at magazine length both suit monolithics well.
Read next
Oxon Deer stocks the full Fox Classic Hunter range in 6mm, 6.5mm, .270 and .308, in boxes of 50. Browse the shop.