From my crude calculations, the winners in the economy section of factory loaded ammunition is the Wolf/Barnaul trio of: 7.62x39mm, .223 and 9x19mm (I would acutally say that 9mm Makarov would be the cheapest but it isn't really a mainstream caliber, and other than a Bison, I don't think anyone makes a rifle that could shoot them odd-sized 9mm's).
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I take my coffee how I take my women: bitter and overbearing.