Old West Ammo Prices: What Did Bullets Cost in the 19th‑Century Frontier

When you picture a dusty Main Street showdown, the clatter of a rifle is only half the story - the other half is the price tag on the cartridges that fueled the drama. Knowing how much ammunition cost in the Old West helps you understand why a cowboy might keep a spare revolver, why a lawman stocked up on rounds, and how the economics of the frontier shaped every gunfight.

Quick Takeaways

• Typical bulk prices in the 1860s ranged from 5 to 12 cents per .45‑70 cartridge, depending on location and supply.
• Revolver rounds (e.g., .44‑40) were cheaper per round but sold in smaller packs, averaging 3‑6 cents each.
• Black‑powder and lead were the biggest cost drivers; a pound of powder cost 2‑4 cents in most frontier towns.
• War surplus after the Civil War drove prices down for a few years, then a spike in the early 1880s as demand outpaced supply.
• Adjusted for inflation, a 10‑cent cartridge in 1870 is roughly $2.50‑$3.00 today.

How Ammo Was Sold in the Frontier

Frontier general stores didn’t have shelf‑stable boxes of ammo like modern gun shops. Sellers offered ammunition in three common formats:

1. Cartridges - pre‑assembled rounds for rifles and carbines, usually sold by the dozen or by the box (12, 24, or 36 rounds).
2. Bullets - loose lead projectiles for hand‑loading, priced per pound.
3. Powder - black‑powder measured in ounces or pounds, the essential propellant for every shot.

Because transportation was costly, towns like Dodge City, Tombstone, and Deadwood often relied on freight trains that delivered bulk cases every few weeks. Local merchants marked up prices to cover the risk of loss, theft, or spoilage (black‑powder can become unstable if stored damp).

Price Benchmarks by Caliber and Year

Historical ledgers from the 1860‑1880 period give a surprisingly clear picture. Below are the most frequently cited figures, rounded to the nearest cent.

• 1865 - .45‑70 Government cartridge: 8cents per round (12‑round tin box = $0.96).
• 1870 - .44‑40 revolver cartridge: 5cents per round (6‑round paper pack = $0.30).
• 1875 - .38Special (early version): 4cents per round.
• 1880 - Spencer rifle .56‑20 cartridge: 10cents per round, sold in 10‑round cartons.
• 1885 - Winchester Model 1873 .44‑40 cartridge: 6cents per round.

These numbers reflect the cost of a finished round. If a buyer purchased loose powder and lead separately, the per‑round cost could climb to 12‑15cents after reloading.

What Drove the Cost?

Several forces pushed prices up or down:

Real Ledger Examples

GeorgeH.Cook’s general store ledger from 1873 (FortLaramie) shows a typical purchase:

Date       Item                     Qty   Unit Price   Total
-----------------------------------------------------------
03/12/1873  .45‑70 Cartridge (tin)    24    $0.08        $1.92
03/12/1873  Black Powder (lb)          2    $0.30        $0.60
03/12/1873  Lead (lb)                 1    $0.25        $0.25
-----------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal                                      $2.77

Another entry from a Dodge City shop in 1881 lists a “Revolver round lot” - twelve .44‑40 cartridges for $0.54, which works out to 4.5cents each. These snippets confirm that while prices varied, the range stayed within a predictable band.

Converting Historic Prices to Modern Dollars

Using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a 10‑cent cartridge in 1870 translates to about $2.60 in 2025. Here’s a quick conversion table:

Those numbers help modern reenactors budget for authentic ammunition - a full 12‑round box of .45‑70 would cost the equivalent of a modest dinner today.

Tips for Modern Reenactors and Collectors

• Buy in bulk: Many replica ammo manufacturers price a 48‑round case at about $30, mirroring the economy of scale frontier merchants enjoyed.
• Watch for “wartime” discounts: Some manufacturers release limited‑edition surplus‑style rounds that mimic the post‑Civil War price drop.
• Factor in powder cost: Even with modern smokeless powder, the cost per round can be higher than historic black‑powder equivalents if you load your own.
• Use period‑accurate packaging: Tin or paper boxes add authenticity and often come with a slight premium - just like the original sellers.
• Adjust for inflation when budgeting: If a historical scenario calls for a “typical” daily ammo expense of 3cents per round, plan on roughly $0.80‑$1.00 per round in today’s money for a realistic experience.

Bottom Line

Ammo in the Old West wasn’t cheap, but it was affordable enough that a gunslinger could keep a handful of rounds on hand without draining the purse. Prices hovered between 4cents and 12cents per cartridge, shaped by raw material costs, transport distance, and the ebb and flow of war surplus. By translating those figures into modern dollars, we see that a single bullet cost the equivalent of a few dollars today - a price that still feels stark when you picture a showdown at high noon.