The ammo shortage of the last few years has gotten better, but why it is it still hard to find .22 LR in some places?
Three reasons, according to this Sierra Bullets blog.
Some gun owners are hoarding bricks of .22 in basements, garages and “prepper” bunkers, fearing they might not be able to get the ammo again in the near future–or ever. The blog’s writer, Matt Reams, says this is a “minor factor.” But I think it is a big factor. People know about President Obama’s and Holder’s views on guns (should I say hatred of) and then they envision 4 to 8 years of Hillary out there. No wonder people are hoarding ammo.
Then there are the gougers who prey on the anxiety of the hoarders. From the blog: These are the guys that wait in line at Wal-Mart at 3 a.m. to buy up the daily allotment that Wal-Mart puts out at normal retail prices and then double or triple their price on the weekend gun show circuit ($75 to $100 a brick). Again, not a huge factor, but keeping the shelves looking empty which keeps the panic level higher for those that are looking.
But the main reason is good old supply and demand. Reams notes that there are conservatively 35 million gun owners in the U.S., and that number may be as high as 70-80 million. Many if not most of those people own at least one .22 rifle. Do you know any (of these owners) that are not looking for .22 LR ammo or would at least buy some if they saw it for normal prices? How many would they buy when they found it? A lot – right?
Reams points out that major ammunition manufacturers are running 24/7 on their rimfire lines, cranking out an estimated 25-30 million .22LR rounds PER DAY. And they still having trouble keeping up with the demand.
What about where you live and hunt? Can you get .22LR at normal prices, or is it still hard to come by?
still next to impossible to find here in colorado as well.I’ve picked up a few thousand rounds the past few weeks online at retail prices from retailers. But you have to be quick on the draw 10 minutes and you’re 5 minutes too late. Some LGS have it but they want a premium I’m not willing to pay. When it does hit the local retailers, big box types, it’s gone in 5 minutes as well. I think the current consumption rate is the new norm. Until one of these manufacturers takes a risk and establishes some new lines this situation will continue. With all the new conversion kits and ar type 22’s and new shooters with a little bit of panic sprinkled in, the consumption rate has dramatically increased. As soon as people stop paying 3 times the value to the gougers, they will go away. That will help some but we are still consuming way more than they’re producing. When one of these manufacturers takes the risk, we as shooters must stand behind them and purchase their product
Nearly impossible to find here, and if you do it’s limited to a couple boxes of 50. Only two stores in eastern MT still sell them in the brick when they come in and they are gone so fast good luck at that.
I have three kids. I told all my family and friends to stock up while they could get some (after the last election) and most of them laughed. 2 months later you couldn’t get any, unless it was online for $100 a brick. I spent my savings buying as much as I could and traveled across the state to buy it. I’m sad about this shortage, but glad to say my kids will be plinking away this summer. I give some to some friends for their kids to learn with. I plan on having enough for my grandkids as well…some say that sounds absurd, but they have way more faith in the times and future gov’t than I do. I remember when I was just ten years old being able to buy a brick over the counter at Hardware Hank and Coast to Coast for less than ten bucks.
In GA hard to find unless you know when the deliveries are made. Retailers are limiting sales to spread it out, then the customers bring inall the family to “Get their alottment”. Hope they loose their respective hind ends……………
Need to be pretty lucky here to find some. Soon as it hits the shelf it’s gone real quick. Just have to hit the right day and time
I think it’s ridiculous that stores like Wal-Mart allow the same people to come in day after day and buy up as much ammo as they can, just so these people can turn around and gouge the hell out of other people. I remember when I was able to take friends who had never been shooting out and let them pop off as many 22 rounds as they wanted all the while joking about how cheap it was to have that much fun..oh how the times have changed.
I come across .22s a little easier than before. Prices in box stores like BassPro or Dicks hasn’t gone up terribly. While there are a few exceptions….pricing in my local gun stores has gone sky high. Bricks of .22s that you could buy for $20.00 before Sandy Hook are now priced @ $70.00 (or more).
I read where the companies that manufacture .22s are running full tilt, but due to low margins, the manufacturers won’t put in more equipment to increase production.
Regardless….the hoarding and the gouging are definitely keeping 22s off the shelf.
I will say this…..I won’t purchase another firearm chambered in .22lr until this mess straightens out. Why buy a gun you can’t find ammo for?
“I will say this…..I won’t purchase another firearm chambered in .22lr until this mess straightens out. Why buy a gun you can’t find ammo for?”
I agree. I wonder what the data says about this. How large of a drop has there been in 22 sales due to the ammo situation?
In southern Indiana, it is still tough finding .22 shells. Lucky for us we still have a few boxes, but if I find some that aren’t 8 bucks for 50, I will pick some up. Hunting squirrels with pellet guns the past couple of years after we get enough to eat. Sure miss when you didn’t have trouble getting .22’s, that’s for sure!