This is a free site, with user-submitted data. There are almost 10,000 registered users adding new info, and flagging info they find to be inaccurate. Just select the caliber you're interested in. In the resultant display, you can click on the column headings to sort the listing by that field. The results will also include an estimate of shipping costs (and no- or flat-rate-fee if applicable) if you enter your zip code.
Years ago, I used to try to maintain an Excel spreadsheet with a history of commercial ammo pricing that I'd found, by manufacturer, for the calibers I use. Once Gun-Deals.com got up to speed, I gave up on the labor-intensive spreadsheet...though I do admit having a multi-year history of retail pricing would be interesting. I still wish I'd cashed out my 401(k) eight or 10 years ago and sunk it all into ammo.
But I always check Gun-Deals.com before any retail purchase that will total over a hundred bucks or so. It's the most accurate barometer I've found to see what's selling for how much during the past few days and weeks.
'Course, when evaluating total cost, I recommend you always use the final, includes-everything figure. As x007x experienced, you have to factor in not only sales tax but also your personal time and travel expenses when you buy local. The current IRS allowance is 55.5 cents per mile for business miles driven; 23 cents per mile for medical or moving purposes. Take your pick. Take your pick, too, on how much your personal time is worth. You may want to wash it for supporting local retail, or just count it as minimum wage; that's your choice.
Oh, and BTW, there is no HazMat fee on loaded, commercial ammo. Shipping and handling is levied by the seller, and that's all there is; no federal fees.
I look at the total, includes-everything cost, and break it down to cost-per-round for comparison. For example, a couple of weeks ago Sportsman's Guide ran an ad for $4.99 flat-fee shipping, and I had a $20 discount code. I picked up 1,000 rounds of Fiocchi .45 ACP ball ammo for $320.76 (including shipping, the discount, and a 99-cent optional package protection fee). That worked out to 32 cents per round. Best price for the same ammo listed on Gun-Deals.com was at ABLE's for $336.40 plus $25.33 shipping, or 36.2 cents per round. So I snagged the deal from Sportsman's Guide.
And compare apples to apples. For example, a lot of ranges will not allow you to shoot .223 green-tip penetrators. I would put the "penetrators" part in quotation marks because, well, they really ain't all that penetrating when you consider the same range will probably allow you shoot much heavier--and more penetrating--supersonic rifle rounds. But range rules are range rules. If you buy a case of green-tips and find you can't shoot them at the range you normally use, they may simply sit in your closet awaiting TEOTWAWKI.
And though I might be able to, I never use steel-cased ammo in my AR-15s or my Stoner-like gas-piston rifles. Just a personal choice. Kalashnikovs, absolutely: they were made for it. So price-comparisons between a Wolf or Brown Bear or Tula steel-cased 5.56 ammo and brass, reloadable ammo is, well, like comparing Granny Smith and Red Delicious apples at the least.
