Firearm Data Lab Ammo Price Index
A monthly, methodology-published measure of U.S. ammunition street prices, built from tracked in-stock retailer listings. Released on the first business day of each month.
The index follows the median cost per round of a fixed basket of calibers. A caliber-day is one caliber's median price on one day. Basket weight is the share of the index a caliber carries (0.25 means 25%).
Index History
| Month | Index (May 2026 = 100) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | 100.0 | — |
| June 2026 | 101.5 | +1.5% |
| July 2026 | 96.8 | -4.7% |
| August 2026 | 89.3 | -7.7% |
| September 2026 | 88.0 | -1.5% |
| October 2026 | 86.1 | -2.1% |
October 2026 by Caliber
| Caliber | Median CPR | MoM | Basket Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9mm | 59¢/rd | -4.5% | 0.25 |
| 5.56 / .223 | 80¢/rd | -3.3% | 0.20 |
| .22 LR | 12¢/rd | -1.4% | 0.10 |
| 12 Gauge | 79¢/rd | +1.1% | 0.08 |
| .308 Winchester | $1.86/rd | -0.3% | 0.07 |
| .45 | $1.04/rd | -1.3% | 0.07 |
| 7.62x39 | 82¢/rd | 0.0% | 0.06 |
| .380 ACP | 87¢/rd | -0.2% | 0.05 |
| .40 S&W | 68¢/rd | -2.8% | 0.04 |
| 30-06 | $1.94/rd | +0.2% | 0.03 |
| .357 Magnum | $1.18/rd | -1.9% | 0.03 |
| 6.5mm Creedmoor (6.5x48mm) | $2.03/rd | 0.0% | 0.02 |
| 10mm | $1.20/rd | +0.3% | — |
| .17 HMR | 36¢/rd | -2.2% | — |
| 20 Gauge | 80¢/rd | +0.5% | — |
| .22 WMR | 36¢/rd | +1.1% | — |
| .243 Win | $1.90/rd | 0.0% | — |
| .270 Win | $2.02/rd | -0.6% | — |
| 28 Gauge | 83¢/rd | +0.7% | — |
| 300 Blackout | $1.45/rd | -1.4% | — |
| .300 Win Mag | $2.74/rd | -0.3% | — |
| .338 Lapua | $4.04/rd | 0.0% | — |
| .350 Legend | $1.52/rd | 0.0% | — |
| .38 Special | 72¢/rd | +1.4% | — |
| .410 Bore | 84¢/rd | +4.3% | — |
| .44 Magnum | $1.46/rd | +2.7% | — |
| 5.7x28mm | 96¢/rd | -1.6% | — |
| 6.5 Grendel | $1.61/rd | +2.9% | — |
| 7.62x51 NATO | $1.31/rd | -0.8% | — |
| 7mm Rem Mag | $2.58/rd | +1.2% | — |
Calibers without a basket weight are reported for reference but do not enter the composite.
Methodology
Each caliber's monthly value is the median of daily median advertised cost-per-round across tracked, in-stock retailer listings — the same guarded series shown on our caliber tracker pages. The composite index chains month-over-month changes per caliber against a fixed, published basket (9mm 25%, 5.56/.223 20%, .22 LR 10%, 12 Gauge 8%, .45 7%, .308 7%, 7.62x39 6%, .380 5%, .40 S&W 4%, .357 Magnum 3%, 30-06 3%, 6.5 Creedmoor 2%). Chaining on month-over-month changes limits how much a shift in the level of a caliber's median moves the index, but it does not remove the effect of retailers joining or leaving our tracking panel: a new low-priced retailer can pull a caliber's median down and the index with it. A caliber contributes to the composite only in months where it has data in both the current and prior month.
Prices are advertised in-stock prices before shipping, taxes, and fees. Firearm Data Lab is a price tracker, not a seller; the index measures street prices shoppers actually see, not manufacturer list prices. Early releases reflect a rapidly expanding tracking panel — caliber medians can shift with coverage as well as with the market, so read early month-to-month changes with that in mind. Basket or methodology revisions will always be announced in a release note.
Questions, media inquiries, or data requests: contact Tommy at Firearm Data Lab. Cite as "Firearm Data Lab Ammo Price Index" with a link to this page.