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Last updated November 11, 2026

5.56 match grade ammo prices

Compare precision and competition loads across retailers.

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IronScout provides observed price and availability data for 5.56 NATO ammunition across tracked online retailers. Data reflects historical price observations and does not include purchase recommendations.

These figures cover all tracked 5.56 NATO listings, not only 5.56 match grade loads.

Observed 30-Day Price (Per Round): median: $0.799, sample size: 17760.

Prices last updated November 11, 2026 · 873 listings tracked across 30 retailers · 31 days with data in the 30-day window

How we calculate this

SQL PERCENTILE_CONT over daily-best per-product-per-day observed in-stock prices

  • Daily-best is MIN(price_per_round) per (caliber, product, UTC day).
  • Only in-stock observations included.
  • Coverage varies by retailer and source.
View 873 tracked 5.56 NATO products →

5.56 match grade options

Product LineGrainBulletCount
Federal Gold Medal Match77grSierra MK20
Hornady Black75grBTHP20
Black Hills Mk 26277grSierra MK50

What to know about 5.56 match ammo

Heavy-bullet 5.56 (75—77gr) requires a 1:7 or 1:8 twist barrel to stabilize properly. The 77gr Sierra MatchKing (SMK) is a widely used reference bullet — it's the bullet used in the Mk 262 military precision round. These loads are 2—3x the cost of ball ammo. The heavier bullets also retain energy better at distance than 55gr M193.

Related

Frequently asked questions

Which 5.56 match loads are common in competition?
Federal Gold Medal Match .223 with 69gr or 77gr Sierra MatchKing bullets is used in competition. Other match loads include Hornady Match 73gr ELD-M and Black Hills 77gr OTM.
What twist rate do I need for 5.56 match ammo?
Heavier match bullets (69–77gr) require faster twist rates. A 1:8 twist stabilizes up to 77gr. A 1:7 twist handles all weights. The common 1:9 twist is marginal for 77gr bullets. Check your barrel specifications before selecting match loads.
How do .223 match ammo and bulk FMJ compare in an AR-15?
Match ammo typically costs two to three times as much per round as bulk FMJ. The group-size difference is most noticeable from high-quality rifles at 200+ yards and is smaller during casual range use under 100 yards.