Cheapest Rifle Cartridges to Shoot (In a handy table)

It’s no secret to anyone that the price of factory ammunition has skyrocketed over the last few years–like most everything else in life due to inflation and lockdowns.

Selecting a rifle cartridge that has cheaper ammunition means you can train more and shoot more. Right now, ammo price is one of the first things I look at before purchasing a rifle. It has me shooting a lot more .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor.

The following lists and table contain the average pricing of various rifle cartridges. Hopefully, it’ll help you to pick a cartridge that meets your needs while also saving you some money.

Overall, the cheapest centerfire rifle cartridges to shoot are:

  • .223 Remington
  • .222 Remington
  • .22-250
  • .243 Winchester
  • .22 Creedmoor

If you’re looking for the least expensive big game hunting rifle cartridges, they are:

  • .308 Winchester
  • .30-30
  • .270 Winchester
  • 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser
  • .30-06 Springfield
CartridgeAverage Current Price (Box of 20)Price Increase from 2019Average 2019 Price (Box of 20)Percent Increase
22 Long Rifle$10.24$2.98$7.2641%
22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire$25.66$8.80$16.8552%
223 Remington / 5.56$28.66$5.96$22.6926%
222 Remington$31.49$8.50$22.9937%
22-250 Remington$37.49$9.50$27.9934%
22 Hornet$39.66$15.46$24.1964%
22 Nosler$43.99$11.40$32.5935%
22 Creedmoor$52.32$13.33$39.0034%
220 Swift$52.99$22.33$30.6673%
243 Winchester$47.99$17.50$30.4957%
6mm Creedmoor$53.99$24.80$29.1985%
240 Weatherby Magnum$73.49$23.50$49.9947%
6mm Remington$53.66$23.22$30.4476%
25-06 Remington$49.32$18.58$30.7460%
257 Weatherby Magnum$93.32$45.33$47.9994%
6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser$47.41$17.22$30.1957%
260 Remington$51.62$14.30$37.3238%
264 Winchester Magnum$65.28$14.29$50.9928%
6.5-284 Norma Match$76.99$13.40$63.5921%
6.5 Precision Rifle Cartridge$77.99$30.33$47.6664%
6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum$77.99$21.75$56.2439%
6.5 Weatherby RPM$96.66$39.17$57.4968%
6.5 Creedmoor$54.66$26.92$27.7497%
26 Nosler$95.99$32.20$63.7950%
6.8 Remington SPC$37.49$14.50$22.9963%
270 Winchester$46.74$19.75$26.9973%
270 Winchester Short Magnum$71.66$31.17$40.4977%
270 Weatherby Magnum$82.32$37.33$44.9983%
27 Nosler$103.49$43.90$59.5974%
7mm-08 Remington$53.66$23.92$29.7480%
7mm Remington Magnum$59.66$11.07$48.5923%
280 Remington$61.66$29.82$31.8494%
280 Ackley Improved$74.66$27.42$47.2458%
7mm Weatherby Magnum$85.99$32.33$53.6660%
28 Nosler$97.99$38.40$59.5964%
7mm SAUM$99.32$42.33$56.9974%
7mm Winchester Short Magnum$102.99$63.50$39.49161%
7mm STW$107.32$42.73$64.5966%
7mm Mauser$61.32$31.33$29.99104%
7.62 x 39mm$24.32$18.25$6.07301%
300 AAC Blackout$33.32$3.87$29.4513%
308 Winchester$38.32$3.67$34.6611%
30-30 Winchester$42.32$8.13$34.1924%
30-06 Springfield$47.66$13.00$34.6638%
300 Winchester Short Magnum$61.66$13.95$47.7129%
300 Winchester Magnum$63.66$11.63$52.0322%
300 Ruger Compact Magnum$72.99$33.00$39.9983%
300 Precision Rifle Cartridge$77.99$21.75$56.2439%
300 Weatherby Magnum$83.44$23.05$60.3938%
30 Nosler$98.66$34.55$64.1154%
300 Remington Ultra Magnum$106.99$32.60$74.3944%
30-378 Weatherby Magnum$143.66$38.27$105.3936%
338 Federal$77.66$43.07$34.59125%
33 Nosler$98.32$30.78$67.5546%
338 Winchester Magnum$100.99$46.56$54.4386%
340 Weatherby Magnum$113.99$37.80$76.1950%
338 Lapua Magnum$115.99$21.80$94.1923%
338 Remington Ultra Magnum$129.99$58.92$71.0783%
338-378 Weatherby Magnum$159.66$40.66$119.0034%
50 Browning Machine Gun$89.99$36.33$53.6668%