5.56 NATO Ammo Prices

5.56 NATO ammo: prices, trends and what people build

Cheapest 5.56 NATO confirmed in stock today

1Nosler 60011 Trophy .223/5.56 NATO 77 GR Custom Competition - 20rd Box$8.99 / 20 rds$0.45/rd
2Fiocchi 556M193L Range Dynamics 5.56x45mm NATO 55 gr Full Metal Jacket Boat-Tail (FMJBT) - 50rd Box$22.99 / 50 rds$0.46/rd
3Frontier Cartridge FR260 Frontier .223/5.56 NATO 62 GR Full Metal Jacket - 20rd Box$9.79 / 20 rds$0.49/rd
4Global Ordnance M193 5.56X45MM 55GR FMJ 1000RD Case$499.99 / 1000 rds$0.50/rd
5Winchester Ammo WM8551000 USA 5.56x45mm NATO 62 GR Full Metal Jacket Lead Core Green Tip (FMJLC) (Sold by Case) - 1000rd Case$499.99 / 1000 rds$0.50/rd

Stock and prices re-checked against today's merchant data; cost per round includes each merchant's estimated shipping.

5.56 NATO cost per round, last 80 daysMedian $0.67 · -43% since Jun 13

Median of in-stock listings Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile)

What people build in 5.56 NATO

446 complete builds of 957 shared

Barrel length

16" 43% of builds

Gas system

Mid-Length 42%

Twist rate

1:7 59%

Typical build cost

$1,414–$3,209 median $2,089

78% of parts in stock today

Most common parts in 5.56 NATO builds

LowerWilson Combat Ar-15 Lower Receiver Forged$43
UpperGeissele Automatics Ar-15 16 Super Duty…$1,093
BarrelRosco Manufacturing Rosco Bloodline 5.56…$148
BCGBravo Company M16 Bolt Carrier Group Black$199
HandguardTacfire's 15" ACE M-LOK Handguard - Black…$42
TriggerGeissele Automatics Ar-15 Ssa-E X Lightning…$335
Charging handleRadian Raptor Charging Handle & Talon…$155
Muzzle deviceZev Technologies 5.56 Muzzle Device - 1/2x28$48
Gas blockWilson Combat Ar-15 Lo-Profile Gas Block…$33
StockDaniel Defense Collapsible Mil-Spec…$82
Optic (41% of builds)Eotech 3x30.5mm x 21.6mm Holographic Hybrid…$1,289

Complete means all core parts from lower to muzzle device plus a stock or buffer. Cost is today's cheapest in-stock merchant per part. All 5.56 NATO builds.

5.56 NATO ammo prices, explained

How much does 5.56 NATO ammo cost right now?: The cheapest in-stock 5.56 NATO we track is $0.45/rd shipped (Nosler 60011 Trophy .223/5.56 NATO 77 GR Custom Competition - 20rd Box). 164 listings were confirmed in stock by their merchant today.
Is 5.56 NATO ammo getting cheaper or more expensive?: Over the last 80 days the median in-stock price has fallen about 43%, from $1.17 to $0.67 per round. The chart above tracks it daily.
Does the per-round price include shipping?: Yes. Cost per round here is landed: the merchant's price plus its estimated shipping, divided by the rounds in the box. A cheap sticker price with $15 shipping usually loses to free shipping on a bigger case.

PMC 5.56X X-Tac XP 193, 5.56 NATO - Full Metal Jacket Boat-Tail 55 GR, Brass, Boxer, N/C, Reloadable - 1000 Round Case

Winchester Ammo X223DS Deer Season XP .223/5.56 NATO 64 GR Extreme Point - 20rd Box

Hornady BLACK, 5.56x45mm NATO, Interlock HD SBR, 75 Grain, 20 Rounds

Frontier Cartridge FR320 Frontier .223/5.56 NATO 75 GR Boat Tail Hollow Point Match - 20rd Box

PMC 556K X-Tac 5.56 NATO LAP M855 62 GR Ammunition, Green Tipped, Brass Cased, Boxer Primed, Reloadable, Non-Corrosive - 1000 Round Case

American Eagle 5.56x45mm NATO 55gr FMJ 100/Box

Hornady 81263 Black 5.56x45mm NATO 62 gr Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) - 20rd Box

USA White Box 5.56mm NATO 55gr Full Metal Jacket 20/Box

Frontier Cartridge FR200 Frontier .223/5.56 NATO 55 GR Full Metal Jacket - 20 Round Box

Hornady 83266 Superformance Varmint .223/5.56 NATO 35 GR NTX - 20rd Box

5.56MM NATO 55GR FMJBT W Bandoleer 840 RD Metal Box 2 Metal Boxes 1680 RD

Hornady Superformance, 5.56x45mm NATO, CX, 55 Grain, 20 Rounds

Federal GM223BH73 Gold Medal .223/5.56 NATO 69 GR Boat Tail Hollow Point - 20rd Box

5.56 NATO 62GR Gt W Bandoleer 840 RD Metal Box 2 Metal Boxes 1680 Rds

American Eagle 5.56x45mm NATO 55gr FMJ 3240 FPS 20/Box

NORMA AMMO 5.56x45 55Gr FMJ 250rd