Rifle Ammo
Find the right rifle ammunition by browsing by caliber below. Each page covers in-stock loads for that cartridge—hunting loads, match-grade options, and practice ammo—along with ballistics, compatible platforms, and guidance on choosing the right load. Whether you’re stocking up on .223 for your AR-15, selecting a hunting load in 6.5 Creedmoor, or looking for subsonic .300 Blackout for suppressor use, use the caliber pages below to go straight to what you need.
Read our full Rifle Ammunition Buying Guide ↓
Choosing a Rifle Caliber
Rifle caliber choice depends primarily on application. For general-purpose AR-15 use, .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO are the standard. For longer-range precision and hunting past 400 yards, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester are the most common choices. For AK-platform rifles, 7.62x39mm is the native caliber. For compact suppressed builds, .300 Blackout is purpose-designed. For extreme long range, .300 Win Mag. For lever-action hunting in timber, .30-30. Each caliber page covers the specifics for that cartridge and its primary platforms.
Brass vs. Steel Case
Brass-case ammunition is more expensive but reloadable, more consistent, and gentler on extractors. Steel-case ammunition—common in 7.62x39mm and .223—is significantly cheaper and fine for high-volume practice, but not reloadable and produces more extractor wear over time. For most shooters, steel case for practice and brass for hunting or precision work is a sound approach. Running exclusively steel case in a semi-automatic over many thousands of rounds will eventually accelerate extractor and extractor spring replacement.
Hunting vs. Match vs. Practice
Hunting loads use controlled-expansion projectiles designed to expand reliably at a range of velocities—Nosler Partition, Federal Trophy Bonded, and Hornady CX are proven choices. Match-grade loads prioritize consistent velocity and bullet construction for accuracy, using high-BC projectiles like Hornady ELD-M or Berger Hybrid. Practice loads (FMJ or FMJ-BT) are affordable for volume training. Use the right category for the application—hunting loads for hunting, match for precision, practice for volume training.
Supersonic vs. Subsonic
Most rifle calibers are loaded supersonic by default. Subsonic loads—most commonly available in .300 Blackout and .22 LR—travel below the speed of sound, eliminating the supersonic crack when used with a suppressor. Subsonic loads produce significantly less energy than supersonic loads, which is a worthwhile tradeoff when sound suppression is the priority. For .300 Blackout, supersonic and subsonic loads are interchangeable in the same platform without any modification.
Buying in Bulk
Rifle calibers like .223 and 7.62x39mm are commonly sold in case quantities of 500–1,000 rounds, and buying in bulk is almost always the most cost-effective approach for practice ammo. Keep bulk ammo in a cool, dry location in sealed original packaging or quality ammo cans. Centerfire ammunition stored properly has a virtually unlimited shelf life under normal conditions. Check current pricing across load types on individual caliber pages—pricing fluctuates with demand and manufacturing cycles.
Related Pages
Browse our full ammunition selection or visit our rifles page to find a rifle. See our handgun ammo page for pistol and revolver calibers, or our .22 LR page for rimfire options.