you gotta shop around like i do i get 223 dirt cheap
example i got 400 rounds off ss109, and 50 cal can full of 55 grain 223 total from gunshops that had loose ammo in boxes for maybe 120 bucks total is i thought about how much i spent each time i went in
most of it was trade ins that came with the guns so the owner of the store pretty much had it in little bins on the floor i picked threw it and gave him a low ball ammount cash ( i claimed it was all i had on me each time) and since he didnt really pay for it he took it. i think i walked out with 267 rounds of ss109 for like 45 bucks
i got just 200 rounds of 55 grain 223, and 100 rounds of 76.2 belted, and 100 plus loose rounds of 308 (some where federal spot point) all for 80 bucks

on i forgot and one 50 cal can as well in that last stop i check back in with him once a month to see if he got more loose ammo traded in with firearms. i will check with him next weekend when i get paid to see if anyone traded in anything as well ( i also check each round by hand if i dont like how it looks i wont get them) incase you wondered about the ammo either way i been super lucky lately the real test will be if i can get belted 50 cal ammo someone kept from the army and brought home he had some at one time but i didnt buy it and i regret it now