r/canadaguns • u/Severe_Assumption_87 • May 12 '26

Buy recommendations Will 30-06, 308 ammo ever going to be cheaper?

I’m planning to get 30-06 bar or 308 rifle. I’m stuck in between, i’m a frugal guy with sports shooting passion in indoor rage

8 Upvotes

64% Upvoted

63 comments sorted by

53

u/[deleted] May 12 '26

[deleted]

8

u/SpinachStunning5547 May 13 '26

With most calibers, especially really common ones like .308 and 30-06, reloading does not really save money. Especially when you concider the price of the equipement. Its a nice hobby though!

14

u/Parratt Garand Guy May 13 '26

Thats just not even true lmao. You can reload 308 with Campros and range brass for .90/rnd easily.

Especially with bulk 308 nearing the $1.5rnd mark.

5

u/BlandRusk06 May 13 '26

That is probably just the price of the components. The equipment to begin can cost $1k+.

4

u/[deleted] May 13 '26

[deleted]

4

u/Q-Ball7 In the end, it's taxes all the way down May 13 '26

"Doing enough" can be misleading, though.

If you save 100 dollars per thousand rounds by reloading, you will to reload 15,000 rounds for a press that costs $1500 to pay for itself (which is the cost of a good progressive press- yes, the single-stage ones cost less, but they're not practical in any way with that kind of volume).

Right now, .308 (assuming your brass is free) will cost you about $900 to load 1000 rounds (150 for primers, 300 for projectile, 450 for powder), as opposed to buying 1000 rounds for $1400. So sure, that's $500 saved every time, but you need to load 3000 rounds (and spend the time to do that) before you're breaking even on your initial investment.

There are very specific cases where doing it makes sense- mostly for revolver calibers, but for ammunition that's either very difficult to find (like 7.7 Japanese), ammunition that doesn't exist on store shelves (like 150-180 grain hunting loads in 7.62x39), or on a single-stage for match ammunition (where the number of rounds to break even is covered by a few matches; 1500 per thousand vs. 2500 for store-bought = 750 rounds to break even on a press that costs 750).

Generally speaking, if you have to ask "but what about reloading?", it won't help you.

2

u/SpinachStunning5547 May 13 '26

This ☝️. Often times you need huge amount of rounds to pay for the equipment. Most times more rounds than the life of the barrel. On a tikka .308 the barrel life is around 5000 to 8000 rounds. So you burn you barrel before having justified the reloading equipment. For OP best option is still .308 in my opinion since shelf ammo is still cheaper but reloading is not a magic option.

3

u/Q-Ball7 In the end, it's taxes all the way down May 13 '26

The only real area where reloading is close to a magic option is revolver calibers- to the point I'd argue it's the only real gateway to reloading- since it requires zero brass preparation (and said brass lasts basically forever), cuts your cost from 500-750 per thousand down to 250-300, and is one of those calibers where specialty loadings are most desired (or straight up required in the cases that tend to lead to you shooting that much).

Once the initial investment is paid for, reloading becomes a much better value proposition since the startup cost for each new caliber is now significantly less. It begins to makes sense to load for other applications once the startup cost is 300 dollars; at that point 3000 rounds of 9mm, or 500 rounds of .308, earns that equipment in.

4

u/J963S May 13 '26

I picked up a single stage lee press kit, and it was 199$ from Cabela's, add in the dies and you can be set for under $300, add in a digital scale for another $50 and that's your starting point. The truth is you won't save money, you will end up shooting more on the same budget.

2

u/prosper_0 May 14 '26

it can, but it's dishonest to say that it will. Look on the buy/sell. You can probably find what you need for a couple hundred bucks, max. Especially if you're patient. Suggesting that someone needs to (or even should) get the fancy stuff is just incorrect.

3

u/i-Hermit May 13 '26

It does if you shoot match ammo. But yeah, it's a nice hobby.

3

u/LOTW_FurFeathersFish May 13 '26

Save lots on premium hunting ammo

1

u/[deleted] May 13 '26

[deleted]

1

u/gnu_gai May 13 '26

I mean, it was adopted by the US military 120 years ago, and hasn't been in service for ~50 years. It's antiquated by most metrics

1

u/SpinachStunning5547 May 13 '26

Antique according to military service but still used by millions of hunters around the world.

19

u/KalashnikovParty May 12 '26 edited May 13 '26

unfortunately full length cartridges won’t be getting any cheaper. This sport i’m general will empty your pockets pretty quick if you aren’t rich or if you don’t plan properly ahead for your shooting budget. I do recommend a 22 lr rifle if you like to shoot a lot. 22 is probably the last cheap round 

6

u/Iokua_CDN May 12 '26

I feel the price ratios for bullets  dictate how much I shoot them

I shoot 10 22lr shots For every 2 7.62 x39 shots And foe every 1 308 shot.

Solid 10-2-1 ratio.

6

u/KalashnikovParty May 12 '26

I highly recommend a good 22 lr. It’s a excellent target training tool and it’s also a good cartridge for small game if you are a hunter

2

u/epnk420 May 15 '26

That’s why I mostly have 22LRs lol but they leave something to be desired after a while

10

u/Top_Importance6216 May 12 '26

I havent started reloading yet but I'm saving ALL my 308 brass

8

u/CurlyWurly61 May 12 '26

Same here 🤣 i have around 160 brass casings waiting for me to buy the equipment

1

u/epnk420 May 15 '26

Same with my 300 win mag brass and I got some spent ones given to me lol

1

u/DryF1re May 16 '26

or sell it to someone who reloads

6

u/Iokua_CDN May 12 '26

Not likely 

308 has the cheap norinco ammo, which is why I bought it. Ammo used to be 1$ a bullet, but now it's crept up more to like $1.20 a Bullet.  Even then, you can't get much full power rifle ammo for cheaper. I'm pretty sure it's the cheapest full power rifle ammo out there, with 223 and 7.62 x39 being cheaper Intermediate options. 

2

u/Severe_Assumption_87 May 13 '26

Can I use 7.62 NATO ammo with 308 rifle?

2

u/Iokua_CDN May 13 '26

Yup, I do. That's all I shoot out of  my bolt action  unless hunting

-1

u/MrWrock May 13 '26

I think 308 is 7.62x42 and NATO is 7.62x39 or something, but they're not interchangeable

Edit, I'm wrong you can swap them apparently

1

u/DryF1re May 16 '26

nato (.308) is 7.62x51 and SKS is 7.62x39.

5

u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn May 13 '26

No, i got emails from federal, hornady and winchester all saying to expect 5-9% increases by the fall. European brands will be more price stable than american ones due to the lack of tariffs on the components.

3

u/Flat-Dark-Earth Big Bore Specialist May 12 '26

Nope, if you are cost conscious go with 308 as bulk ammo is available for plinking and factory ammo is generally a bit cheaper than .06.

1

u/Severe_Assumption_87 May 13 '26

There are some 7.62 Nato around here with bulk. Can I use 7.62 NATO ammo with 308 rifle?

1

u/Flat-Dark-Earth Big Bore Specialist May 13 '26

Yes.

1

u/Severe_Assumption_87 May 13 '26

Oh thank you, there are semi auto turkish rifles for 308, i was thinking to get one or mra maverick.

3

u/swift_gilford May 13 '26

Ammo won't go down in price. Best case scenario is our dollar becomes stronger so we have better buying power but a) i don't see that happening under the current Feds and b) things just always get more expensive.

In any case, 308 is the play. You'll always find it on the shelf and if you get into reloading you can make it do anything you'd want the 30-06 to do for hunting scenarios.

15

u/JBOYCE35239 May 12 '26

Never, in the history of exchanging currency for goods and services, has a company voluntarily lowered the price of something after consumers got used to paying the higher price

10

u/CanadaFootyFan May 13 '26

Bought a flatscreen TV lately? They are like $6.

5

u/Cager_CA May 13 '26

Yeah because they're full of spyware and ads that subsidize the price.

3

u/Beginning-Marzipan28 May 12 '26

That’s so false

3

u/cattabliss bc May 12 '26

i am impressed @ indoor range that can handle 3006 / 308

2

u/Severe_Assumption_87 May 12 '26

I just called them, they told me okay to shoot with them:) are they usually bad for indoor?

3

u/dgod40 May 12 '26

Target sports? I was beside a guy shooting 308 one day and it was like a fucking grenade going off beside me every time they shot.

2

u/16gaugeguy16 May 13 '26

The 10.5" barrel AR15s with nasty muzzle brakes were the worst. I swear with the right rhythm you could perform CPR on a person from the concussion lol

Edit: Specifically at indoor ranges

2

u/Cager_CA May 13 '26

I popped off on my Garand at the range once with two other guys plinking on 22s. One guy had to put his hands over his ear pro lmaooooo

1

u/HankHippoppopalous May 12 '26

Just picked up a 308 last week, and yea. Welcome to the suck.

The AXIS FDE 308 is sub-500 bucks once a month. Seems like a good gun for the money

1

u/Severe_Assumption_87 May 13 '26

Oh cool. Can I use 7.62 NATO ammo with 308 rifle?

1

u/Birdybadass May 12 '26

Everything always goes up

1

u/Vituperate250 May 12 '26

Every now and then some surplus .308 appears on the Canadian market. It's still expensive, but less so than factory stuff. I doubt either cartridge will ever get less expensive though.

A few more thoughts, while I'm at it:

Comments about reloading are accurate. The cost goes down sharply, but then you also shoot more because more ammo. So it's a wash, but a good wash because more shooting = more fun.

If you're at an indoor range, consider other cartridges. .22LR is the best all-around shoot-for-fun cartridge there is; it's cheap, plentiful, and great for practice. Rifles that shoot pistol cartridges, like .357 Magnum/.38 Special or 9mm Luger, add more recoil without adding too much extra cost as those rounds are usually available below $1.00 a shot. 7.62x39 and .223/5.56 can be a good idea, but cheap 7.62x39 has corrosive primers that make thorough cleaning a necessity, .223 isn't as cheap as it used to be, and

1

u/Severe_Assumption_87 May 13 '26

I’ve actually have RIA tm22 and I don’t like the accuracy. Maybe I couldn’t adjust the settings.

Thank you for your detailed reply. There are some 7.62 Nato around here with bulk. Can I use 7.62 NATO ammo with 308 rifle?

I got an sks as well but my indoor range wont allow me to use cheap steel core ammo. So i gave up my norinco ammo. Otherwise nearly it’s same price with 308 if i go with the expensive stuff that they wanted me to use

1

u/Vituperate250 May 13 '26

A lot of semi-auto .22 rifles are relatively inaccurate. Between being blowback operated and of simple construction they're not often tack-drivers unless you spend a lot. An upgraded chassis might help?

7.62 NATO is interchangeable with .308 Winchester. The cartridge case is the same dimension, the bullets are the same diameter, and ball loadings of 7.62 NATO develops less pressure than .308. It's worth mentioning that 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington are opposite of that: they are dimensionally the same but the military loading is generally higher pressure, so be sure a firearm is chambered for 5.56 before interchanging those two cartridges.

Ruag and MFS 7.62x39 has appeared in Canada recently. Some of the MFS is steel jacketed. I believe Ruag is not. It's less expensive than most other modern factory 7.62x39, great for plinking, though definitely not as well made as Federal or PPU or such.

1

u/julienjj May 13 '26

It will go down once rearmament of nato countries is over and russia is defeated. right now manufacturers are fullfilling lucrative order for shells and ammo to rush supply to ukraine and eu countries. Consumers go second.
The amount of nitrocellulose needed weekly by a millitary engaged in combat is WILD.

No one knows how long that will take.

1

u/Frreed May 13 '26

Why would it get cheaper?

Nothing gets cheaper

1

u/umbellus May 13 '26

If you're just shooting indoors and you're frugal, do not buy a .30-06.

1

u/Penguinbotxv May 13 '26

I know you said 308 or 30-06 but maybe 6.5 creedmoor if you're not hunting big game and generally want to target shoot? But depending on how far you are shooting since you said indoor range, maybe a 223 bolt gun would be more suited to you or just wait for the makasi 15? More details would be nice

1

u/Severe_Assumption_87 May 13 '26

I was thinking deer hunting next season but I don’t have many hunting groups around my area. I don’t want to go alone for a big game. So only for target shooting purposes. Maybe in the future for deer, we don’t have many big animals in Nova Scotia, expect some coyotes.

1

u/Penguinbotxv May 13 '26

223 is a better choice for you in my opinion.

1

u/BI0WEED May 13 '26

No till the wars are over

1

u/Severe_Assumption_87 May 13 '26

I’ve seen lots of ammo boxes in Ukraine videos, 7.63 nato and 7.62x39 spam cases

1

u/epnk420 May 15 '26

Nothing with firearms will ever get cheaper stock up while u can, reason I don’t fire my 300 win mag it’s an arm and a leg and I don’t have all the gear required to hand load myself yet

1

u/Severe_Assumption_87 May 16 '26

What do you mean mean by the gear to hand load?

1

u/epnk420 May 16 '26

The gear to reload ammo u need a press as well as multiple other items

1

u/epnk420 May 16 '26

I have a single press so far as well as dies for my 300wm and 270win but still need more to make it happen