What’s The Cheapest Rifle Caliber To Shoot?

(Most Bangs For Your Bucks)

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#2 Dry Fire Training Systems

Up your dry fire game by using a laser training system such as the LaserLyte Laser Trainer.

These systems make any instability in your aim more obvious. That dot can bounce all over the place!

You can also add targets that react to the laser, though this increases the initial expense.

#3 Use a .22 Long Rifle Adapter

Remember how .22 lr is much cheaper than even the crappiest, cheapest rifle cartridge?

If you have a specific type of gun, you can adapt it to use .22 lr.

I use a CMMG .22 Chamber Adapter, which replaces my... bolt carrier group so I can use the cheap stuff while getting real trigger time with that rifle.

You can find .22 adapters for other guns, such as the Advantage Arms Glock 17/22 adapter, or pick up a dedicated .22 lr version.

#4 Accurize Your Cheap Ammo

If you need inexpensive long-range ammo but don’t have the components to load your own, you can apply the “Mexican Match” concept to make lower-quality ammo more accurate.

Much of a cartridge’s contribution to accuracy comes from consistency. Consistent powder throws consistent bullet weights consistent seating pressure. And consistency is where they cut costs...

#5 Have a Secondary Gun in an Uncommon Caliber

As we’ve seen in the past few years, the common cartridges can get bought out quickly. Then the price increases. Less common cartridges will experience the same phenomenon but more slowly.

There was a time when I couldn’t find .223, 7.62x39mm, or .308, but I could find 6.5 Grendel—and for less than the inflated prices of those other rounds!

Grendel’s price eventually rose as well, but that was well after people with only .223 and .308 rifles cursed me for being able to find cheap ammo.

Conclusion

.22 LR is the cheapest ammo you can buy for a rifle, but it’s not the best choice for many shooters.

Even after prices have inflated, .223 and 7.62x39mm tend to jostle each other for the cheapest intermediate rifle ammo you can buy.

If you want a full-power rifle, then .308 is the cheapest choice

Don’t be that poorly-practiced hunter I mentioned back at the beginning, by the way.

Shooting is a skill and, like any skill, needs consistent practice for you to be effective. Confidently placing your shot wherever you want will make you a better hunter and increase your chance of a swift one-shot kill that drops the deer where it stands with minimal damage to meat and hides.