15 Overpriced Calibers and Ammo That Aren’t Worth It This Holiday

Written by Matt Staff on
A black bolt-action sniper rifle with a scope attached is displayed horizontally on a slatted tan wall. The rifle features a camouflage pattern on the stock and a long barrel.

The holiday shopping season is ripe for emboldened opinions. I can’t believe how many confusing reviews there are out there when it comes to any kind of item that you can think of. When it comes to caliber enthusiasts, though, while some of these rounds might go so far as to promise power or nostalgia, all they really ever end up doing is draining the wallet much quicker than they were ever going to deliver any real value. From the difficult-to-find cartridges to options that cost more than they perform, plenty of calibers simply aren’t worth the hassle this time of year.

1. .300 Winchester Short Magnum (WSM)

A bolt-action rifle with a wooden stock and scope rests against tree bark. Three rifle cartridges stand upright on a box labeled Remington Core-Lokt .300 Win. Short Mag., 150 GR Core-Lokt Tipped.
Via Anonymous91

Sure, hunters out there are all for the punch that it packs. However, the sticker shock around the holidays ends up hitting harder than the actual recoil. Boxes might vanish fast, but there is rarely ever a dip in the price point.

2. 41 Magnum

Two silver revolvers with wooden grips are placed side by side on a light wooden surface, both angled slightly to the left.
Via Anonymous9182

Cherished by an increasingly smaller circle, but the niche demand continues to keep the prices sky-high and the shelves sparse. Most shooters only end up wondering why they didn’t just grab a .44 Magnum instead.

3. .338 Lapua Magnum

A black bolt-action sniper rifle with a mounted scope is displayed horizontally on a slatted tan wall. The rifle has a camouflaged stock and an adjustable cheek rest.
Via Deleted019

A true precision powerhouse that feels more like a financial commitment than an actual hobby. Unless you’re shooting at very long ranges, its true overkill in every sense.

4. 5.7x28mm

A black semi-automatic handgun with a textured grip and mounted optic sight is shown against a blurred, autumn-colored background.
Via Deleted901

It has all the hype, the flash, and the futuristic energy, but the cost-per-round still feels stuck back in its launch-day pricing. Holiday sales just barely put a dent in it.

5. .45 GAP

A black Glock 39 pistol is resting on a textured black case. The pistol has markings indicating it is chambered in .45 GAP and manufactured in Austria.
Via Anonymousikd

Officially alive, but spiritually put to rest. You end up paying boutique ammo prices for performance that you can get cheaper elsewhere.

6. .300 AAC Blackout Supersonic Loads

Three rifle bullets with brass casings and pointed copper tips are standing upright on a gray surface, closely aligned side by side.
Via Deleted91892

The demand for subsonic BLK keeps supers weirdly overpriced. Holiday buyers chasing a deal only ever end up walking away that much more irritated.

7. .260 Remington

Six rifle cartridges of varying sizes and bullet tips are lined up vertically against a wooden background. The cartridges have brass cases and pointed copper-colored bullets.
Via Anonymous901892

An exceptional cartridge that ends up being overshadowed by its more appealing 6.5 counterparts. Low production only ends up meaning high holiday prices as well as longer waits.

8. .32 H&R Magnum

Two brass-colored handgun bullets with copper-colored tips standing upright on a wooden surface against a plain, light gray background.
Via Deleted9192

Charming? Sure. Cost-effective? Absolutely not. The price per box practically feels like a tax on nostalgia.

9. .257 Weatherby Magnum

Three rifle cartridges of varying sizes are standing upright next to a metal ruler showing centimeters and millimeters, with the tallest cartridge measuring about 94mm. The background is a brown, blurred surface.
Via Deleted91832

Weatherby loyalists might swear by it, but wallet damage around December in particular is quite brutal. Brass and factory loads remain some of the priciest out there in the magnum world.

10. 10mm Defensive Loads

Five different types of handgun ammunition cartridges are lined up side by side on a light surface, each with a distinct bullet tip design and coloring.
Via Deleted019

Standard 10mm isn’t cheap, but the boutique hot loads get especially wild this time of year. The “bear-stopping” mystique doesn’t help your bank account.

11. .500 S&W Magnum

A silver revolver with a black grip is resting on a black case on a wooden surface, surrounded by several .500 S&W Magnum cartridges.
Via Anonymous9182

A truly hilariously powerful round that is equally hilarious at checkout. Few things are able to ruin holiday joy like a single box that costs the same as a small gift.

12. .327 Federal Magnum

A silver revolver is lying on its side, with four different types of ammunition standing upright in front of the barrel. Each bullet has a brass casing and varies in size and tip material.
Via Anonymous9183

It’s a clever enough round that’s also stuck in its own price limbo. Too niche to be affordable and also too expensive to justify for casual range time.

13. 6.5 PRC 

Three 6.5 PRC rifle cartridges with red-tipped bullets stand upright in front of a black and gray Hornady Precision Hunter ammunition box.
Via Anonymous9182

Long-range shooters adore its accuracy, but come every December, the price tag jumps like clockwork. Finding consistent stock is almost as difficult as swallowing the cost.

14. .300 Weatherby Magnum

Two rifle cartridges stand upright on a wooden surface with a wood-paneled background. The cartridge on the left is shorter with a red-tipped bullet, while the one on the right is significantly longer with a pointed tip.
Via Deleted9182

Another Weatherby that puts a demand on both admiration and financial sacrifice. Holiday-season ammo budgets are rarely able to survive t.

15. .35 Remington

A close-up of a hand holding a metallic rifle cartridge outdoors, with a blurred brown and green background.
Via Anonymous9182

This is a classic that refuses to pipe down and be forgotten about. However, the limited production of this class also manages to keep the prices quite, quite painful. Sure, a great history, but also very rough holidays.