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Guides, comparisons, and price data for ammunition. Whether you're a new shooter or comparing loads for a specific use, start here.
Recently Updated
Ammo search engines, compared
Where to compare ammo prices online. How AmmoSeek, WikiArms, BulletScout and IronScout work, and the six things that separate one ammo search engine from another.
How to find ammo in stock
How to find ammunition in stock online. Search many retailers at once, read stock labels, widen the search, and set a back-in-stock alert.
5.56 ammo types explained
5.56 ammunition-type labels and exact-product verification. Compare manufacturer identifiers without inferring terminal performance, compatibility, or range permission.
Market Intelligence
View all posts →How to Check a Black Friday Ammo Price Against Its History
Check a Black Friday ammo price against the same product's recent history and other current listings: exact product, cost per round, and delivered cost.
Subsonic Ammo Beyond .300 Blackout: What 2026 Sources Confirm
Current PSA launch pages and Federal and Remington catalogs document subsonic products across six handgun and rifle cartridges. Here is exactly what those sources establish.
Correction: The 9mm 'Price Decline' We Published Was a Coverage Artifact
We reported a 38.4% thirty-day decline in tracked 9mm pricing. Re-measured against a stable set of products and retailers, the change was zero. The move was in our coverage, not the market — here is the full accounting.
Ammo Prices by Caliber
Dated price intelligence per caliber: current cost per round, observed range, and recent trend.
Basics
Foundational knowledge for new and experienced shooters.
FMJ vs hollow point
Understand FMJ and hollow-point labels. Compare identified loads without assuming expansion, penetration, reliability, range permission, or a price winner.
What does grain mean in ammunition?
Convert ammunition bullet weight from grains to grams. Compare exact load specifications without inferring recoil, penetration, compatibility, or price from weight.
Steel case vs brass case ammo
Separate case material from bullet construction. Review a published rifle test and compare exact offers without universal safety, wear, or price claims.
What is +P ammo and is it safe for my gun?
+P ammo is loaded to a higher SAAMI pressure limit for more velocity. The psi specs by caliber, how to tell if your gun is rated, and the trade-offs.
Subsonic vs supersonic ammo
Subsonic ammo stays below about 1,125 fps, so it makes no sonic crack. How temperature moves that line, which calibers have subsonic loads, and trade-offs.
How long does ammo last?
How long does ammo last? What manufacturers and SAAMI publish on shelf life, temperature, humidity, corrosion, ammo cans and rimfire vs centerfire.
Rimfire vs centerfire ammunition
Rimfire vs centerfire: rimfire primes the case rim, centerfire uses a separate primer. How ignition, pressure, reloading and common calibers differ.
Corrosive vs non-corrosive ammo
Corrosive vs non-corrosive ammo: what makes a primer corrosive, why surplus is the usual source, how it is identified, and what cleaning involves.
Shotgun shot sizes explained
Shotgun shot sizes chart: birdshot #9 to BB and buckshot #4 to 000 by pellet diameter and pellets per ounce, plus typical pellet counts and shell lengths.
Bullet types explained
Bullet types explained: how FMJ, hollow point, soft point, polymer tip, bonded, monolithic copper, wadcutter, frangible and lead round nose are built.
What is match grade ammo?
What is match grade ammo? Tighter tolerances on bullets, brass, and powder charges — when that improves accuracy, when it does not, and what to look for.
Ballistics & Data
Velocity, energy, and drop tables for common calibers.
9mm ballistics chart
How fast is a 9mm? Federal's published 4-inch data: 115gr 1,180 fps, 124gr 1,150 fps, 147gr 1,000 fps. Velocity, energy and drop tables.
5.56 ballistic comparison evidence
5.56 ballistic comparison boundaries: exact manufacturer identifiers, barrel settings, trajectory inputs, and eligible tracked prices.
.300 Blackout ballistics
.300 Blackout load identities and ballistic comparison boundaries. Check exact-load sources, test conditions, equipment compatibility, and hearing protection.
.308 Winchester ballistic specifications
.308 Winchester load identities and ballistic comparison evidence. Check manufacturer specifications, trajectory inputs, and documented test conditions.
Buying Guide
Methods for comparing ammunition prices, availability, and retailers.
How to buy ammo online
Check current eligibility and delivery requirements, verify exact ammunition identity, and compare listed and delivered cost per round.
Cheapest calibers to shoot
The cheapest calibers to shoot, ranked by observed cost per round across tracked retailers, and the factors that keep some ammo cheap and push others up.
Cheapest handgun calibers compared
Handgun calibers ranked by observed cost per round: why 9mm sits at the bottom, and where .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and other pistol calibers land.
Cheapest centerfire rifle calibers compared
Centerfire rifle calibers compared by observed cost per round for range and target use. Why 5.56 and 7.62x39 sit lowest, and what drives the rest of the order.
Cheapest hunting calibers compared
Hunting calibers ranked by observed cost per round: where .243, .308, .30-30, and .30-06 land, and why hunting loads cost more than range ammo.
Ammo shipping restrictions by state
Ammo shipping restrictions by state: federal age limits, carrier rules, and the states that add permits, checks or dealer pickup, with statute links.
Ammo search engines, compared
Where to compare ammo prices online. How AmmoSeek, WikiArms, BulletScout and IronScout work, and the six things that separate one ammo search engine from another.
How to find ammo in stock
How to find ammunition in stock online. Search many retailers at once, read stock labels, widen the search, and set a back-in-stock alert.
Why ammo doesn't have a single price
Why the same ammo has different prices: how wide the daily price band is for one caliber across retailers, and the structural reasons it never converges.
Deep Dives
Single-caliber deep dives into ammo types and grain weights.
5.56 ammo types explained
5.56 ammunition-type labels and exact-product verification. Compare manufacturer identifiers without inferring terminal performance, compatibility, or range permission.
115 vs 124 vs 147 grain 9mm
9mm bullet-weight comparison evidence: identified Federal specifications and the limits of recoil, subsonic, terminal-performance, and price comparisons.
Caliber Comparisons
Side-by-side breakdowns of how two calibers differ.
.300 Blackout vs 5.56 for home defense
.300 Blackout and 5.56 comparison boundaries: exact-load evidence, barrier tests, suppressor measurements, equipment compatibility, and tracked cost per round.
Can you shoot 5.56 in a .223 rifle?
5.56 and .223 compatibility boundaries: SAAMI's warning, exact firearm-manufacturer confirmation, and tracked price comparisons without ammunition substitution.
9mm vs .45 ACP
9mm and .45 ACP comparison boundaries: exact-load evidence, firearm specifications, documented recoil and terminal tests, and eligible tracked prices.
.308 vs 6.5 Creedmoor
.308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor comparison evidence: exact loads, documented test conditions, equipment compatibility, and eligible tracked prices.
7.62x39 vs 5.56 NATO
7.62x39 and 5.56 comparison boundaries: exact-load ballistics, documented accuracy and recoil tests, equipment compatibility, and eligible tracked prices.
9mm vs .380 ACP
9mm and .380 ACP comparison boundaries: exact-load evidence, firearm dimensions and mass, documented recoil tests, and eligible tracked prices.
9mm vs .40 S&W
9mm and .40 S&W comparison boundaries: exact-load evidence, firearm specifications, documented agency tests, and eligible tracked prices.
9mm vs 10mm Auto
9mm and 10mm Auto comparison boundaries: exact-load specifications, documented recoil and terminal tests, equipment compatibility, and eligible tracked prices.
.300 Blackout vs 7.62x39
.300 Blackout and 7.62x39 comparison boundaries: exact-load ballistics, documented sound measurements, equipment compatibility, and eligible tracked prices.
.308 vs .30-06
.308 Winchester and .30-06 comparison evidence: exact-load specifications, documented test conditions, recoil inputs, and eligible tracked prices.
9mm vs .38 Special
9mm and .38 Special comparison boundaries: exact-load evidence, firearm specifications, pressure compatibility, and eligible tracked prices.
9mm vs .357 Magnum
9mm and .357 Magnum comparison boundaries: exact-load evidence, firearm specifications, documented recoil and terminal tests, and eligible tracked prices.
12 gauge vs 20 gauge
12 gauge vs 20 gauge: payload, recoil, effective range, and ammo cost across target, buckshot, and slug loads, for defense, turkey, upland, and waterfowl.
20 gauge vs .410 bore
20 gauge vs .410 bore: bore diameter, SAAMI pressure, shot payload by shell length, published target-load velocities, pellet counts, and recoil math.
.22 LR vs .17 HMR
.22 LR vs .17 HMR: bullet and case dimensions, maximum pressure, published velocity and energy for named CCI and Hornady loads, recoil math, and rifles.
.243 Winchester vs 6.5 Creedmoor
.243 Winchester vs 6.5 Creedmoor: case and bullet dimensions, SAAMI pressure, published velocity and energy for named loads, recoil math, and rifles.
.270 Winchester vs .30-06 Springfield
.270 Winchester vs .30-06 Springfield: case and bullet dimensions, SAAMI pressure, published velocity and energy for named loads, recoil math, and rifles.
.30-30 Winchester vs .308 Winchester
.30-30 Winchester vs .308 Winchester: rimmed vs rimless, SAAMI pressure, published velocity and energy for named loads, recoil, and lever vs bolt rifles.
.350 Legend vs .300 Blackout
.350 Legend vs .300 Blackout: straight-wall vs bottleneck, SAAMI pressure, published velocity and energy for named loads, recoil math, and AR-15 fit.
.38 Special vs .357 Magnum
.38 Special vs .357 Magnum: SAAMI pressure, case length, published velocity and energy, recoil math, and which revolvers and lever actions fire both.
.40 S&W vs 10mm Auto
.40 S&W vs 10mm Auto: same 0.400-inch bullet, a shorter case, different pressure limits. Published 180gr velocities, recoil math, and pistol frame sizes.
.45 ACP vs 10mm Auto
.45 ACP vs 10mm Auto: SAAMI pressure, case dimensions, published velocity and energy for named loads, recoil math, and the pistols chambered for each.
Ammo by Use Case
How ammunition characteristics and tradeoffs differ across specific use cases.
.22 LR plinking and target load evidence
Compare identified .22 LR loads and published specifications without inferring accuracy, cycling, subsonic velocity, or price from a category label.
.380 ACP self-defense loads for pocket pistols
.380 ACP defensive loads for pocket pistols compared by bullet construction, weight and published velocity, and why short barrels make expansion harder.
5.56 load construction and evidence
Separate exact 5.56 load identity from construction labels, fragmentation assumptions, barrel estimates, and unsupported wall-penetration rankings.
9mm concealed carry load evidence
Identify 9mm loads and published test conditions without inferring compatibility, recoil equivalence, expansion guarantees, or a defensive recommendation.
12 gauge load comparison evidence
Compare identified buckshot and slug loads without unsupported wall-penetration rankings, pattern guarantees, or defensive recommendations.
.300 Blackout subsonic load evidence
Identify .300 Blackout subsonic loads and compare exact specifications, known costs, and test conditions without hearing-safety or cycling guarantees.
.308 hunting load comparison evidence
Compare identified .308 load specifications without inferring hunting suitability, penetration, trajectory rankings, or a permanent price hierarchy.
6.5 Creedmoor match load evidence
Identify exact 6.5 Creedmoor match loads and compare test conditions without unsupported accuracy, velocity-spread, barrel-life, or price rankings.
.45 ACP load comparison evidence
Compare identified .45 ACP loads and manufacturer test entries without universal feeding, expansion, compatibility, or defensive rankings.
9mm range load comparison evidence
Compare identified 9mm loads, package quantities, and known costs without universal reliability, accuracy, or practice-equivalence claims.
AR-15 ammunition comparison evidence
Verify exact AR-15 chamber requirements and load identifiers. Compare manufacturer descriptions without universal reliability, fragmentation, or price claims.
Glock 19 ammunition comparison evidence
Verify Glock 19 manufacturer requirements and exact ammunition identity. Compare load evidence without universal cycling, expansion, or price claims.
Turkey load comparison evidence
Compare identified turkey-load specifications without unsupported effective-range, choke, recoil, or permanent price rankings.
Browse Calibers
Compare ammunition prices across 27 calibers and multiple retailers.