If you want to improve your marksmanship or just plink tiny targets for fun, many inexpensive ammunition options are available to you.
Every gun, and every round of ammo, is not made equal, as any gun aficionado can tell you.
Ammo prices vary substantially from caliber to caliber. Thus budget-conscious gun owners looking for the biggest bang for their buck frequently choose weapons chambered in less costly, more popular calibers.
Even within the same chambering, the broad range of brands available provides a wide price range, ranging from low-cost target ammunition to high-priced, high-performance ammunition.
In this article, we will focus on the characteristics of different cheap ammo so that you can easily select the ammo you need.
Contents
Think About Cheap Ammo
If you’re looking for factory ammo, here are a few pointers to help you obtain the greatest deal.
Perhaps the most important consideration is the expense of each round (CPR).
Although a low-priced box of ammunition may be enticing, pay special attention to the cost per round in relation to the number of rounds per box.
It’s also important to know if your ammo is brass- or steel-cased.
Military surplus steel-case ammunition from Eastern European countries often has non-reloadable steel cases and corrosive ammo, keeping it significantly cheaper cost.
If you shoot this sort of ammo frequently, you may need to clean your weapons more frequently.
Another option is to purchase in bulk. Bulk ammunition is usually delivered in packs of 500 or 1,000 rounds.
Bulk ammunition purchases, despite their high cost, have a smaller CPR versus separate packets, offering them highly tempting for lengthy benefits.
While more expensive hollow points (HP) ammo is required for home defense or concealed carry, practicing or plinking with less expensive full metal jacket (FMJ) bullets is more cost-effective.
The 8 Cheapest Ammo
The eight numbers of cheapest ammo are explained with its attributes as follows.
1) 9mm
Characteristics
The 9mm, 9mmP, 919mm, or 919mm parabellum (abbreviated 9mm, 9mmP, 919mm, or 919mm) is a parabellum with a diameter of 919mm.
The 9mm cartridge is used in the majority of self-defense and concealed carry weapons in the United States today.
Cost
One package of 50 for much less than $9, while a 50-count package of 115 counts full metal jacketed rounds on the market is closer to $12 to $15.
- 115-grain FMJ PMC Bronze (case of 1,000 rounds)
- 115-grain FMJ Winchester “White Box” 9mm Made in USA Value Pack (200 rounds)
- Steel-cased 115-grain FMJ from TulAmmo (case of 500 rounds)
List Of Guns
Pistol, a semi-automatic pistol, etc.
2) 5.56 x 45 mm / .223 Remington
Characteristics
Chances are if you possess an AR-15, it’s chambered in 5.56mm. All 5.56mm guns are safe to use. Also available is the 223 Remington, which is generally less costly.
Steel-case ammo is usually often the cheapest option in this chambering. Brass-cased ammunition is pricier, although exceptional discounts can be found on occasion, especially with military surplus ammo.
Cost
The cost of this ammo is from 600 to 670$ per 1,000 rounds.
- 55-grain FMJ Winchester Lake City.223 Remington Loose-Packed (case of 1,000 rounds)
- 55-grain FMJ Wolf Gold.223 Rem Brass Case (case of 1,000 rounds)
- MaxxTech Essential Steel, 56-grain FMJ,223 Remington (case of 1,000 rounds)
- Wolf Performance 55-grain FMJ in.223 Rem Steel Case (case of 1,000 rounds)
List Of Guns
Fara 83 Assault Rifle, Steyr SCOUT Bolt action sniper rifle, and Steyr AUG Bullpup assault rifle.
3) 7.62 x 39 mm
Characteristics
In the United States, the Kalashnikov platform has a devoted following, and 7.62x39mm ammo is generally cheaper than.223 Remington.
The best deals are usually found in bulk quantities of military surplus steel-case ammunition imported from Europe, such as.223 Remington.
Fortunately, most 7.62x39mm guns can consistently and securely discharge steel casings.
Cost
The price is around $300 to 350 per 1,000 rounds.
- 122-grain FMJ Wolf Performance Steel Case (case of 1,000 rounds)
- Barnaul 7.6239 FMJ, 123 grains (case of 500 rounds)
- Moscow Russian Army Standard 122-grain FMJ (case of 1,000 rounds)
List Of guns
Century Arms VSKA, Ruger M-77, Romanian Under-Folder Straight Assault Model AK 47, Rock River Arms, Ruger Mini 14, CZ 527, Century Arms AES10B Semi-Automatic, and Russian Ak 47.
4) 40 S&W
Characteristics
Despite its recent decline in popularity, the 40 S&W round remains extremely inexpensive, and a wide range of weapons are available for this mid-sized caliber.
Although there aren’t many long guns chambered in 40 S&W, if you prefer Glocks, Sigs, Steyr’s, H&Ks, and, of course, Smith & Wesson handguns, you’re likely to find one.
Cost
The average retail price for 9mm is somewhat more than 9mm.
- Fiocchi.40 S&W Ammo / 180gr JHP | 1,000 Rounds
- Fiocchi.40 S&W Ammo / 180gr JHP | 50 Rounds
- Fiocchi.40 S&W 170gr FMJ Ammo | 50 Rounds
List Of Guns
Hands gun, pistol, caliber pistol, etc…
5) 5.45 X 39
Characteristics
I was hesitant to include this one, but I’ve been tempted to buy an AK-74 version only because I spotted boxes of this ammo with more than 1,000 rounds for approximately $100 shipped on many occasions.
That may no longer be the case, but I still believe it is less expensive than 5.56 or 7.62 X 39. It’s unclear whether this trend will persist for the foreseeable years.
Cost
I saw boxes of this ammo with over 1,000 rounds shipped for approximately $100.
- Wolf WPA 5.45x39mm 60gr FMJ Ammo – 750 Rounds
- 1000 rounds of Red Army Standard 60gr FMJ 5.45×39 ammo
- Tula 5.45x39mm 60gr FMJ Ammo (20 Rounds)
- Wolf 5.45×39 Ammo – 60gr FMJ – 1,000 Rounds
List Of Guns
The majority of rifles in this caliber are AK versions, but I occasionally see an AR-15 or bolt gun.
6) 20 gauge
Characteristics
Because of its flexibility, I chamber most of my shotguns in 12 Gauge, but I recently purchased a 20 gauge at an estate auction and was astounded by the price difference in ammo.
In addition, the decreased recoil is a plus.
Cost
I got 25-round packs for as little as $5.5 when shopping around. 7.62x54R
- 15 rounds of Winchester Super-X 20ga ammo – 20 pellets #3 buckshot
- 5 rounds of Remington Slugger 20ga Ammo – 5/8 ounce Rifled Slug
- 250 rounds of Remington Slugger 20ga Ammo – 5/8 ounce Rifled Slug
- 25 rounds of Sellier & Bellot 20 gauge ammo – 12 pellet #2 buckshot
List Of Guns
Remington 11-87, Remington 870, Benelli Ethos, and Stoeger Uplander
7) 7.62x54R
Characteristics
When a package of 440 full-sized rifle bullets for much less than $80 shipped appeals to you, the 7.62x54R round is for you.
Ballistically, it’s comparable to the legendary 30-06, although it’s a lot less expensive.
In the caliber, the Mosin-Nagant bolt action rifle is by far the most popular gun. That isn’t the only choice, though.
Cost
The price of this ammo is from 280$ to 300$ for rounds of 500.
- Wolf Military Classic – 7.62x54r – 148 Grain FMJ – 500 Rounds
- Red Army Standard – 7.62x54r – 148 Grain FMJ – 20 Rounds
- 7.62x54r – 148 Grain FMJ – 500 Rounds
- 7.62x54r – 148 Grain FMJ – Red Army Standard
List Of Guns
The Dragunov, SVT-38, and SVT-40 were all semi-automatic rifles that utilized this cartridge. For the Russian army in 1915, Winchester made 300,000 lever-action Model 1895 rifles in this caliber.
8) 22 Long Rifle
Characteristics
The.22 Long Rifle is the gold mark for low-cost shooting, with both weapons and ammunition available at low prices.
If you fire with a standard semi-automatic rifle, a centerfire conversion kit, or an extreme long-range (ELR) bolt-action platform, 22 LR is suitable for everyone.
Look for large quantities of.22 LR ammo dubbed value packs or range packs, which include anything from 525 to 1,400 rounds.
Cost
The cost for this is 12 to 14$ for 50 rounds while 29$ for 100 rounds
- 36-grain copper-plated Federal Champion Value Pack HP (525 rounds)
- Golden Bullet, 36-grain copper-plated Remington “Bucket O’ Bullets” HP (1,400 rounds)
- 40-grain LRN Federal Range Pack (800 rounds)
List Of Guns
Marlin Model 60, Browning 22 Semi-Auto Rifle, Ruger 10/22 Takedown, Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 Sport, and the Henry AR-7 Survival Rifle.
Sheffield 12629 Field Box, Pistol, Rifle, or Shotgun Ammo Storage Box
- Versatile Storage Solution: Protect and organize your 9mm ammo, 5.56 ammo, emergency supplies, tools, and electronics. Ideal for prepper gear and supplies.
- Superior Stackability: The base-to-lid interlocking system allows easy stacking and prevents tipping. Perfect for efficient outdoor gear storage and transportation in any setting.
- Secure and Tamper-Proof: Plastic ammo box be used as a 9mm ammo case featuring three locking options, including a durable steel staple, ensuring your shooting accessories and equipment stay safe from prying and tampering.
Some Tips When Buying Ammo
- Pay special attention to the pricing per round vs the number of rounds in each box.
- Identifying whether ammo is brass- or steel-cased can have an impact on price.
- Purchase in bulk at a lower price.
Silhouette Shooting Target
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Conclusion
- Because ammunition is not imported on a regular basis, its prices fluctuate. So don’t be surprised if you locate ammo that is less expensive than the ones described in this post.
- Thank you, as usual, for taking care of “Emoffgrid” in your life! Thank you for taking the time to read this post, and we hope you found the information beneficial.