Went to a gun show in Charlotte, NC today and found the 22 ammo prices still out of sight. Bucket of bullets $165.00 . Brick of thunderbolts $65.00. I wasn't looking for any since I have enough right now but it was interesting checking out the prices.

I'm convinced that much of what we see at shows these days is ammo that is been purchased at panic prices by folks who now are trying to make a profit on it. As a result, it is even more out of sight expensive than it would be otherwise.

Right now, I'm finding acceptable amounts (and prices) on .22LR at my gun shop, and I am confident that this will continue. I doubt if prices will ever come back down, but I think supply is much more available and the "new normal" is being established in both supply and demand.

No need to pay double-scalper prices at a gun show, online, or anywhere else anymore.

__________________
Ukraine -- now more than ever

I have bought many thousands of rounds@ 6-7 cents a round this year online. BiggB

I think you are correct. I'm seeing some at Academy and LGS's.
I have found on-line availability and prices that I can live with.
But none at our local Wall*Mart. I was in there the other day
and was told they had not received any in the last three weeks.

__________________
CSM, U S Army(Ret) 1963-1990

I went to a show last Saturday and saw 50 rd boxes of wildcats for $10/ea. Bricks for $60/$70.............Personally they can stick it where the sun don't shine........I hope they choke on it. I really don't need any but I've been buying my "allotment " at Academy when I go for reasonable prices.

__________________
S&W Accumulator

I bought 300 mini mags at a LGS today at $9 per hundred, 300 limit. I've paid more. MEH.

$59.00 for 500rd box of aguila yellow box at my LGS (near Boston) today. Still kind of off if you ask me :-)

Sounds like the seller has fallen off the rocker.

Cabelas just delivered me three lots of 500 MiniMags apiece, backordered since winter, purchased for around $0.08/rd. including shipping. There's another 1,500 on the way. That will give me about 7,500, for none of which I paid more than $0.10/rd. shipped, most significantly less. I've just kept an eye out for reasonable online prices. BTW, I gave away a considerable quantity of Thunderbolts - after a couple of very distressing experiences with excessive leading and downright bullet disintegration, I will not shoot it out of any of my guns anymore.

Pre-2008 a brick of 22LR ammo was @ or under $10.
After the first shortage the normal price doubled and was ~$20/brick.

Then the 2012 shortage hit and prices in excess of $100/brick were seen and sadly being paid. Since the manufacturers and Retailers now know how much some shooters are willing to pay for a $10 box of ammo I fear the price of a brick will never be below $30/brick ever again, if that low. If you told me before 2008 I would be hoping for a brick of 22LR ammo to be $20 I would have thought you were nuts but I now hope to see $20 but highly doubt it will happen.

I can't believe some shooters were actually willing to pay well over $100 for a $10 box of ammo. Right now I see bricks of plain old 22 ammo for $49.95/500 rounds. (Thunderbolt ammo no less)

__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Last week, the local Dick's Sporting Goods had Winchester M-22, 2000 rounds in a nice Plano ammo container for $129. I signed up for their credit card and got an additional 10 percent off. The salesperson said they had several containers left and were starting to see more 22lr arriving at the store. Just looked at their add in Sunday paper, Federal Champion 325 ct. for $19.99.

Friday at a Wal-Mart in south central Pa.

Federal balk 550 packs were $23 they had 2

Remington balk golden bullet 525 packs were $21 they had 5

Limit of 3

Local Wal-Mart here just north of Pittsburgh..... no .22 in...... ...forever!!

I found a nice supply of 22lr at my local Bass Pro.
Bought my limit (1 box) of Federal auto match 325 for $19.99.
It's the largest brick they had. They also had a variety of CCI in the 100 round plastic sleeves.
I don't go there that often, but the last few times they had no 22lr, and the salesman said they are seeing more and more.

Is this true 22lr less than $10 a brick in 2007? I am new again to shooting after a 25 yr break. I am happy with $30 a brick, and will shoot 500 a week at this price. 1 in 20 people are millionaires in this country. I don't understand this mentality of $10 a brick 29 cent bread, a new pickup truck for under 10 grand. Wake up time marches on and no man is going to get in its way. He will only be left behind, living in denial. BiggB

The frog is completely boiled now. It took awhile but the "new normal" is taking hold. Same thing with gas prices or any other commodity. Paying more to get less. 555-pack bricks have gone the way of the dinosaur. Now the new "bricks" will come in 200-round packages and sell for 50 bucks and most people will be happy they can get the product no matter how much they're gouged. The profiteers always win.

Supply and demand.

If production catches up with demand, and crazed people aren't buying anymore, prices may very well return to normal. It may take some time, but it could happen.

Gasoline is a volatile commodity, affected by global conditions, ammunition is more affected by internal politics. Remember, gas was almost $5.00 a gallon in summer of 2008, (see chart below)than dropped to closer to $2.00. Gas prices are where they are now because of the shortsighted, anti production policies. They could go down to the low $2.00 again. Same with ammo.

Attached Images

gas history.jpg (21.4 KB, 31 views)

Checking Wikipedia........... there are only about 3.4 million "High net worth individuals" (HNWI = a person w/ $1,000,000 in (liquid) assets not counting equity in their principle residence ) in the US in 2012 ..... or about 1 person in 100.

So for most of us a $30-50, and more, brick of .22 shells is quite a leap from the IIRC 2010 prices were at $14 and 2012 were at $18-19.

I am talking net worth. This does include real estate. It is very easy to extract 80% equity of your home and turn it into liquid (cash). What is IIRC?

IIRC = if I recall correctly


Not really......Home equity as an "usable asset" is tricky .... If you take out equity in a "loan/reverse mortgage" it is offset by the "debt/new mortgage" you now have; which is secured by the Home.

Given that you need a place to live...........

most financial planners will tell you to safely get equity out of your existing home is to sell and down size (or rent)........ sell a $500,000 home and move into a $250,000 house and you realize your additional equity minus the realtor fees (6%) $30,000 on the sale, plus moving expenses and closing costs.


IMHO "net worth" is just a way to make you feel wealthier than you really are......LOL..... much of what makes up most people's net worth ......one's home, cars , S&W firearms...... are things you can't really live without..... shelter, transportation, S&W firearms.......... LOL

In the last month I've bought 1000 rounds of Winchester for just under $50'with tax. Also bought 500 rounds of CCI mini mags for just over 7 cents each. Both at Walmart.

Yes, 2007 a brick was only $9.99 and on sale you could get them for an amazing $6.99. I clearly remember when the prices started inching up Cabela's had a sale and they had 525 round Federal bricks on sale for $6.99 and if I knew what was going to happen I would have bought a case instead of only 3 boxes. A brick was only $10 for a very long time with small fluctuations here and there but never high prices like this. The prices were pushed up by politics, not time marching on.

IMO you should not be happy with $30/brick and while I know the prices will never be $10 again thanks for those would paid $100+ for a brick all over the Internet I hope for $20/brick when things settle down...

__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I think $20.00 a brick is just wishful thinking. Ammo companies and retail stores are in business to make money. They see what people are willing to pay now so the reality is they will keep the prices up to whatever the general public will pay. I'm thinking you will find that $30.00 the normal price when things quiet down. Also people are brain washed very easily. Think about it, when gas prices were over $4.00 a gallon we were all complaining. Now we see a station at $3.49 and we say wow what a deal, and pull in because we think we are getting a great price.

See post #12 above....... Walmart $22-23 for a 500+ round balk pack last Friday..........

Was in a local gun shop yesterday ........ stocked with more new handguns than I've ever seen there...... and a fair amount of used ones ........ they actually were having a "SALE" ;some guns marked down 7-10 % some off $75. Never seen that there before........

Maybe the tide is turning........................

When I bought .22's at WM a few weeks back for just under a nickel per round, the sporting goods manager told me that the regular hoarders/resellers had been fewer and farther between in recent weeks. That will eventually be the key. Once everyone can go buy ammo on the way to the range and doesn't think they have to have a lifetime supply at home, sanity will return. At least until the next time.

A few months back I saw three bricks of thunderbolt's for that price, I can't believe people are paying that much for 22's.

__________________
Don

I completely agree and have been saying the same for a while. Now that they know what some shooters are willing to pay that's what they will charge. Unfortunately I think $30/brick is the new normal. (darn shame too)

__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Re: OP. In my area I have not seen any .22 LR for sale at popular prices. I have seen RWS-50 and Fiocchi ... all standard velocity, at $89/500 rds. There is no .22 LR ammo available at Walmart or any of the various hardware stores which carry ammunition. The only ammunition I've been able to find is online. Cabela's is now hit or miss. Palmetto and other similar places have .22 LR ammo of various types. You just have to keep checking and buy what you can find when you can find it. FWIW, given the prices being charged for Remington GB's, Thunderbolts, etc., one is better off buying the Aguila. The price is often identical or even a bit less for the Aguila. The Aguila has given me superior performance in my 18-3, Marvel .22LR 1911 conversion and my various .22 LR rifles. HTH. Sincerely. brucev.

__________________
<><

Prices are crashing, it will take a while, but the flippers are leaving it on the shelves now. I probably will not buy anymore till next year. This year to date I have had the chance to buy 40,000 rds of 22lr. Mostly @ 5-8 cents a rd. 99% online, be patient its coming back , just like .223 and ARs. BiggB

Today I happened by my sort of local (30 mile trip) gun super store. They had 500 rd bricks of Aquila for $59.95. I chuckled to myself. Just last week I bought a 400 rd brick of American Eagle from Cabelas for $23.95.

A 400 rd "brick" is like one of those used- to- be "half gallon" containers of ice cream that are rapidly approaching a quart.

__________________
Sure you did

I can't remember the last time I was able to find 22LR or any other rimfire caliber at Walmart. The local gun stores seem to have a decent supply lately but, their prices suck!

Most are selling it @ $5.00 for 50 or $50.00 for the 500 rnd bricks, which kinda eliminates the whole "save money by buying in bulk" aspect. The last 2 500 rnd bricks I bought, were from Cabela's at $23.99 for Remington Thunderbolts and $27.99 for CCI Blazers.

I happened into getting four 500 rnd bricks @ Dicks the other weekend @ $24.99 each over two days. I guess they got a bunch in and only put out so much each day on Sat, Sun, then into the week to spread it out. They are opening a Gander Mountain in the fall this year in town so I hope that brings in a better supply.

I saw a good one the other day. A new "hardware/ gun"store opened here in my area, they had a lot of guns at a fair price. I thought a new store wanting to get off to a good start.. With 22 lr being a rarity around the country. Low and behold they had a pile of "Federal American Eagle Red Box"...They will go bang but that's about it....The sticker on the box of 40 rounds was $8.50. I couldn't help but give the guy a funny look...I'm thinking they will corrode before they sell those rounds at that price....lol

I stopped in at Hyatt's Gun Store in Charlotte, NC, a few weeks back A 100-pack of Mini-Mags was $26.95. They're still sitting there. I buy them at Bass Pro for $12.

I bought 5 boxes at Walmart about 6 weeks ago for $7.something.

Gander Mountain just put out a flyer good from 8/21 through 9/8 both in store and online with:

Remington Golden 525 ct - $24.99 - online #412491 limit 1
CCI 50 ct. $4.99 - online #756431 limit 5
Federal 50 ct. $2.49 - online #443265 Limit 5.
CCI minimag 300 ct. $29.99 - online #784027 limit 1.
Champion 325 ct. $19.99 - Online #784027 limit 1.
Remington Thunderbolt 500 ct. $24.99 - Online #764259 limit 1.

A flyer is good but what good if they have no rimfire ammo in stock when you go on the site? All they show on the site is 50 round count boxes of CCI rimfire ammo and the only one in stock is the 17 Mag. Nothing in the flyer is on their site and the 17 Mag is $6.99, not $4.99 like they claim.

__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Bought below online at 10:35a.m. from Gander Mountain so it is there you just have to move quick. Had the Choot Ems in my cart also but removed them when I figured it out to be over 10 cents per round.


Products   Status Qty Price
420349 Federal Premium 22 LR Champion Ammunition 525 In Stock 1 $24.99

  Subtotal: $24.99
  Shipping & Handling: FREE
  Tax: $1.69
  Total: $26.68


Picked up below at 12:02p.m. at Gander online. Anyone who says there is no ammo out there just needs to look. 850 rounds for an average price of 5.64 cents per round.


757197 Federal Premium Champion Target AutoMatch Solid Rimfire Ammo, .22 LR, 40 Gr. In Stock 1 $19.99

  Subtotal: $19.99
  Shipping & Handling: FREE
  Tax: $1.35
  Total: $21.34

Federal value pack 525 and Choot Ems back up online and available at Gander right now. Federal automatch and Thunderbolts also have been added.

Thanks for the info!
Looks like I got an actual order in before everything sold out.
All items listed below show as being sold out...


Remington Golden 525 ct - $24.99 - online #412491
CCI 50 ct. $4.99 - online #756431
Federal 50 ct. $2.49 - online #443265
CCI minimag 300 ct. $29.99 - online #784027
Federal Premium 325 ct. $19.99 - Online #757197
Remington Thunderbolt 500 ct. $24.99 - Online #764259
Federal Premium 22 LR Champion Ammunition 525 $24.99 – Online #420349

I still get bricks of 500 rounds for $10.00 of CCI mini Mag.

Really?? You must have a time machine!

No,I pay wholesale and because,of thegun control members of congress that brought this up that is why the prices have gone up. I am a wholesaler. Dealers buy from us and, we give them cost plus 10% on .22's. Even magnums. What ever the dealers do is the problem also. Like I said in a previous thread about the pricings on.22's,DO NOT BUY UNTIL THEY LOWER THE PRICES.These people who bought during the rush to buy and,then sell them at stupid high prices are the problem like the anti gunners in congress. Just watch if in November,the repubs or independants win and the 2nd admendment stays right where its at. So thats all I have to say. I know in the.357 100 rd. boxes by win and remington are to high also.Even there 50 rd boxes are a tad high or lower depending on where or what lgs you go to. I am a wholesaler myself.

That's nothing................I was at a gun show 2 years ago and some idiot was trying to sell 225ct boxes of Remington Golden Bullets (the same ones Walmart sells for $10.97) for $45.00 each.
What I found most intriguing was, Walmart has a limit of 3 boxes per customer, per day. The Walmart closest to the gun show, had 3 boxes the day before which were gone the day of. He only had 3 boxes of the stuff.

I got really lucky this week. My kids wanted to go shooting and my dad over heard our planning conversation. He let us know that my grandfather had sent over about 5k rounds of .22s for the kids! Thanks Pop-Pop!

About 6 months ago I paid 70.00 for a bucket, a dealer five miles away wanted 100.00. Just picked up 3 525 value packs of Federals for 25.00 ea. They were limit one to a customer I asked the manager what the policy is for ammo purchases she said one per transaction you can come back 10 times a day and make another buy. three is enough for me. They must have had a load of them they lasted from Sunday to Thursday before they were sold out. usually they last about 1 hour

Maybe they are HOT no pun intended

Dicks is where I got mine . they seem to be the only honest dealer around

Thats one explantion and yet when I talk to shop owners I'm told their distributors are gouging them simply because they can. They also wondered how these other outlets were getting ammo and now 22 when they are told nothing was available. It's been going on since Jan 2013.

We the consumer have been taken advantage of as a result of political talk and actions which caused a spike in new gun owners that was far in excess of manufacturing capacity. Both old and new gun owners went on a buying binge that is still going on today some 20 months later. The supply chain broke and people from the manufactures to the LGS's have taken advantage of the situation and to absolve themselves of blame they have blamed the end user.

Sorry that I didn't notify you sooner...