About the cheapest you can hand load a quality round for 223 -at todays prices - is about 40cents. To do that you're going to have to invest in some quality reloading equipment, tools, dies, instruments, books, brass cleaners, chemicals, not to mention an assortment of powders, primers, bullets, brass and various sundries that make it all fit and work. I would put a minimum price of a thousand dollars just to get started with base line equipment, nothing fancy.

If tune your barrel to the load...go here for starters..http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/593...saver-_-593560

You can buy cheaper ammo and tune the barrel. Total cost, about ten bucks.

You can find good cheap ammo for under 50 cents a round all day long that'll shoot under MOA without the tuner, but then you miss all the fun you'd get falling down the reloading rabbit hole.

Wait, I just heard a knock at the door.....yep, some guys with a noose wanting to throw me a good ol' fashion Texas necktie party....Something about talking heresy...