Introduction
The rise of the .22 Creedmoor has stirred up more than a few campfire debates. Long-range predator hunters and competition shooters have fallen in love with its flat trajectory, low recoil, and impressive ballistic coefficients. But as its popularity grows, more and more hunters are starting to ask a serious question: Is the .22 Creedmoor enough for deer hunting?
Let’s be clear—this isn’t a discussion built on marketing hype or internet hearsay. This article is grounded in real-world experience, data, and practical field knowledge. I’ve used the .22 Creedmoor myself, and while it’s a phenomenal performer in many ways, whether or not it belongs in the deer woods comes down to more than just raw numbers. It’s about terminal performance, shot placement, bullet selection, and knowing your limitations as a hunter.
Before we get lost in trajectory curves and gear talk, let’s focus on what actually matters when you pull the trigger: what that bullet does when it hits the animal.
Terminal Ballistics & Minimum Energy Requirements
When asking whether the .22 Creedmoor is enough for deer, the conversation starts—and ends—with terminal performance. This isn’t just about what your ballistic app says or how your rifle prints groups at 600 yards. It’s about what happens when that bullet hits bone, muscle, and vitals. And that means talking about energy on impact and how much is truly “enough.”
How Much Energy Does It Really Take to Kill a Deer?
You’ll hear two numbers tossed around in this debate: 300 foot-pounds and 1,000 foot-pounds. Both are technically valid—but the truth lies somewhere in the middle, depending on context.
✅ Yes—300 ft-lbs Can Kill a Deer
There’s evidence, both scientific and anecdotal, that 300 foot-pounds of energy can EASILY kill a whitetail. We’re talking:
Perfect broadside shot right through the heart-lung triangle
Close-range impacts under 100 yards
Premium bullets that expand and penetrate even at low velocities
This is the realm of specialty cases—airgun hunters using 400 ft-lb PCP rifles, or guys dropping deer with the .22 Hornet at bowhunting ranges. It’s possible. But it’s a surgical scenario—not a hunting standard.
⚠️ But “Enough to Kill” ≠ “Ethical to Hunt With”
The more commonly accepted benchmark is 1,000 foot-pounds of energy at the point of impact. Why? Because:
It provides a margin for error on shot placement
It ensures reliable bullet expansion and penetration
It accommodates varied hunting scenarios (wind, angles, brush, adrenaline)
In short: it’s about delivering a clean, repeatable kill—not gambling on perfection.

Where the .22 Creedmoor Lands
With high-velocity loads like the Hornady 75-grain ELD-M or 80-grain ELD-X, you can expect:
1,917 ft-lbs at the muzzle
1,680 ft-lbs at 100 yards
1,470 ft-lbs at 200 yards
Dips below 1,000 ft-lbs past 450–500 yards
That means it delivers more than triple the energy of a “300 ft-lb killer”, and it does it out to distances where most hunters are just starting to get comfortable behind a rifle.
Why Energy Isn’t the Whole Story
Energy is a starting point—not the final answer. What matters just as much is how that energy is transferred into the animal. That comes down to:
Bullet design
Impact velocity
Shot placement
The .22 Creedmoor rewards precision
Compared to Other .22-Caliber Deer Cartridges
Cartridge |
Velocity (fps) |
Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) |
100 yd Energy |
200 yd Energy |
.223 Rem (75 gr) |
2750 |
~1,200 |
~1,000 |
~800 |
.22-250 (80 gr) |
3600 |
~1,600 |
~1,350 |
~1,100 |
.22 Creedmoor (80 gr) |
3285 |
~1,917 |
~1,470 |
~1,310 |
.243 Win (100 gr) |
2960 |
~2,000 |
~1,750 |
~1,600 |
📈 The .22 Creedmoor splits the difference—faster than a .243 and more capable than a .223.
What Is the .22 Creedmoor?
The .22 Creedmoor is a modern, high-performance centerfire cartridge built for long-range precision and hunting. Originally developed as a wildcat cartridge, it earned a growing fan base among varmint hunters and long-range shooters for its flat trajectory, high velocity, and exceptional ballistic performance. And in 2023, it received official SAAMI approval, making it a standardized cartridge with formally recognized specs.
At its core, the .22 Creedmoor is a 6mm Creedmoor or 6.5 Creedmoor case necked down to accept a .224-inch bullet (the same diameter used in .223 Rem and 5.56 NATO). This design allows for greater powder capacity and significantly higher velocity than traditional .22-caliber rounds. It pushes heavy-for-caliber bullets—like 75, 80, or 88 grains—at speeds north of 3,250 fps with impressive retained energy and minimal wind drift.
It offers:
High-BC .224 bullets at magnum-like speeds
Match-grade accuracy past 1,000 yards
Terminal energy levels capable of cleanly taking medium game like deer and even black bear
Now SAAMI Standardized
With SAAMI approval, the .22 Creedmoor is no longer just a gunsmith’s niche project. It now has defined chamber specs, pressure limits, and overall dimensions, paving the way for:
Wider factory rifle support
Factory ammo options
Easier reloading data access
Growing legitimacy in the hunting world
It’s still most popular among precision builders and serious shooters who value dialed-in dope and long-range performance. But thanks to the SAAMI stamp, it’s stepping out of the shadows and onto more shelves.
In Summary:
SAAMI approved in 2023
Based on the 6mm/6.5 Creedmoor case, necked to .224
Capable of 3,200+ fps and far North of that with 75–90 grain bullets
Flat shooting, low recoil, long-range precision
Now seeing wider ammo, barrel, and rifle support
Shot Placement, Bullet Choice & Effective Range (Expanded)
If there’s one thing that separates a good deer cartridge from a great one, it’s consistency in terminal performance—and with a small-caliber round like the .22 Creedmoor, that consistency hinges on bullet selection and shot discipline.
Bullet Choice
The .22 Creedmoor launches .224-caliber bullets at incredible velocities—over 3,200 fps in many cases. That velocity gives you long-range potential, but only if your bullet can handle the job on the terminal end. Not all bullets are created equal, especially at high speeds.
Here are a few that are proven deer killers:
Hornady 80gr ELD-X – Designed for controlled expansion at extended ranges. Great balance of aerodynamics and terminal effect.
Avoid thin-jacketed varmint bullets. They’re built to fragment on coyotes and prairie dogs—not punch through a whitetail shoulder or reach both lungs. And if you're handloading, don’t just chase BC. Chase ballistic integrity.
Watch below as Erik shoots a mule deer at 750 yards with his 22 Creedmoor.
Shot Placement
You’re not shooting a .300 Win Mag here. You don’t have the energy reserve to compensate for bad angles or sloppy hits. Your shot placement with the .22 Creedmoor needs to be intentional and exact.
Stick to broadside or slightly quartering-away shots
Aim for the vitals triangle—right behind the shoulder, middle of the body, mid-height
Avoid quartering-toward, head-on, or raking shots unless you’re inside 150 yards and absolutely sure of your angle and bullet
This is a round that performs best when it slips through the ribs and destroys lungs and heart. When you deliver that hit, the animal rarely goes far. But if you try to “send it” through a shoulder at 500 yards, you’re asking for problems—especially if your bullet wasn’t built for it.
Real-World Experience

I’ve spent real time with the .22 Creedmoor in the field, and I can tell you firsthand—it’s not just a paper-puncher or predator round. It’s taken game for me at distances where most people wouldn’t even think to pull the trigger.
I’ve killed a buck at 750 yards. That shot required solid fundamentals—tight position, solid rest, and dialed-in dope. It wasn’t a lucky shot. It was a shot I’d practiced for, and when it connected, it proved to me just how capable the .22 Creedmoor really is when everything lines up.
I’ve also shot a whitetail at 150 yards. That’s well within the comfort zone for this round.
Then there was the black bear at 450 yards. That’s not a small target or a soft-skinned animal. The bullet hit where it needed to and did the job. The bear didn’t go far. That shot reinforced that with the right bullet and shot placement, this cartridge has what it takes—even on tougher game.
And my wife made her mark too—dropping a buck at 650 yards. Calm wind, solid position, and a well-placed shot. That deer went down clean. It wasn’t a fluke—she put in the work, and the cartridge performed.
These aren’t guesses or theoretical kills. These are real animals, real distances, real results. The .22 Creedmoor might not be for every hunter or every situation—but for those who know their rifle, know their range, and wait for the right shot—it absolutely delivers.
Effective Range
Here’s where the .22 Creedmoor really shines. It has the velocity and precision to make ethical shots at longer distances—if you do your part. But every cartridge has a window of effectiveness. With the Creedmoor, you need to factor in:
Impact velocity: Most hunting bullets need ~1,800 fps minimum to expand reliably
Impact energy: You want to stay above 1,000 ft-lbs for deer-sized game
Wind: At 400+ yards, small-caliber bullets start getting pushed hard—know your conditions
For most responsible hunters with solid shooting setups, the .22 Creedmoor is very capable to:
300–400 yards: Maximum ethical range for most conditions with proper bullet
500+ yards: Possible—but only with wind calls, perfect rest, and dialed dope
600–750 yards: Specialist territory. Only attempt if you've trained, tested your load, and know your exact capability
The Legal and Ethical Side
✅ Legal in many states: Texas, Florida, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Virginia, and more.
❌ Illegal or restricted: Colorado, Iowa, California, Minnesota, Illinois, and Washington—these require .243 or larger.
But let’s not just talk about laws. Let’s talk about ethics.
Would I hand this rifle to a new hunter and suggest a long shot? No.
Would I use it prone, off a bipod, with a good shooter in good light? Absolutely.
Ethics is about knowing your limitations. If you have to ask if it’s enough, you might already have your answer. But if you see the rifle, the load, and the shot, you’re good to go. Read that again.
Final Thoughts & Takeaways
Is the .22 Creedmoor enough for deer?
Yes — with discipline.
This isn’t a cartridge you pick up to compensate for bad shooting. It’s not meant to cover up shaky fundamentals or guesswork in the field. But in the right hands, with the right bullet, and the right shot, it’s surgical. It’s precise. It’s consistent.
It hits harder than it looks on paper, and I’ve seen it do the work from 150 yards all the way out to 750. That’s not hypothetical. That’s real blood on the ground and meat in the freezer — proof that the Creedmoor, when paired with skill and restraint, is a legitimate big game option.
It’s earned its spot in my rotation. Not because it’s trendy. Not because it’s flashy. But because speed kills — and the .22 Creedmoor delivers that speed with control, accuracy, and minimal recoil.
It’s a cartridge built for shooters who do their homework. Who know their drops, respect the wind, and understand bullet performance. It’s not a "one-rifle-for-everyone" solution. But if you’re that shooter — the one who dials and confirms, who hunts with intent — this round will not let you down.
The .22 Creedmoor doesn’t demand perfection, but it rewards those who chase it.
Watch below as Erik shoots a western whitetail buck with his TS Customs 22 Creedmoor.