Ammo prices by caliber
Current ammunition pricing across every caliber IronScout tracks. Median cost per round and observed price range, by category, updated daily from tracked online retailers.
Need full market benchmarks and methodology? Use the Ammo Price Index.
Prices last updated May 13, 2026
Current Prices by Caliber
| Caliber | Median /rd | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Handgun | |||
| .38 Special | $1.000 | ||
| 9mm | $1.000 | ||
| .40 S&W | $1.150 | ||
| .380 ACP | $1.310 | ||
| .45 ACP | $1.350 | ||
| 10mm Auto | $1.458 | ||
| .357 Magnum | $1.550 | ||
| .44 Magnum | $1.800 | ||
| Rifle | |||
| .223/5.56 | $1.250 | ||
| .223/5.56 | $1.250 | ||
| 7.62x39 | $1.326 | ||
| .300 AAC Blackout | $1.625 | ||
| .308/7.62x51 | $2.000 | ||
| .243 Winchester | $2.035 | ||
| .30-06 | $2.050 | ||
| 6.5 Creedmoor | $2.150 | ||
| .270 Winchester | $2.250 | ||
| Rimfire | |||
| .22 LR | $0.170 | ||
| .17 HMR | $0.360 | ||
| Shotgun | |||
| .410 Bore | $0.840 | ||
| 20ga | $0.840 | ||
| 12ga | $0.880 | ||
Sorted by median cost per round within each category. Per-round normalization is computed from retailer feeds and may be imperfect for some listings; figures shown are observational and not a deal verdict.
How ammunition pricing varies
Ammunition pricing is more volatile than most shooters realize. The same SKU can vary meaningfully in price across retailers on the same day, and prices shift over time with manufacturer promotions, retailer inventory levels, seasonal demand, and upstream input costs. A caliber’s cheapest price today is not necessarily its cheapest price next week.
IronScout tracks listings across tracked online retailers and computes rolling per-caliber summary statistics — the median cost per round and the observed price range over the recent window. The page above reports what the data shows; it does not rank retailers, score listings, or flag prices as deals.
Three habits tend to help shooters who buy regularly: buying in bulk to reduce cost per round (see our bulk ammo guide), setting price alerts for calibers you shoot so you are notified when prices change, and comparing across retailers before each purchase. For broader market context, see why ammo prices keep rising in 2026.
When Is the Best Time to Buy Ammo?
Ammunition prices follow loose seasonal patterns. Demand typically peaks before major holidays, hunting seasons, and election cycles. The best buying windows tend to be late winter and early spring — after holiday demand subsides and before summer shooting season picks up.
That said, manufacturer rebates and retailer clearance events can create deals at any time. The most reliable strategy isn’t timing the market — it’s setting a target price per round for each caliber you shoot and buying whenever the market hits your number. IronScout’s price alerts automate exactly this.