Where Has All The .22LR Ammunition Gone?

[HorizontalMike]

I was at my local BPS stocking up on my .357 ammo for my 686, and I thought I would pick up some 22LR while I was at it... WRONG! There was no .22 ammunition to be had, other than bird shot.

I got home, went on line and ZILCH, NADA, NONE to be found.
All "sold out".

What gives? ! Where has all the .22 caliber ammunition gone to?

 

[cbr600f3]

Where have you been? Ammo has been scarce for some time. Mostly .22 and 9mm.

 

[HorizontalMike]

Where have you been? Ammo has been scarce for some time. Mostly .22 and 9mm.

I have been on a long sabbatical, 40-45yr to be precise. No kidding when it comes to my little 1947 Remington 121. Just started dusting my rifles off to get back in to the game. So please explain, as it is news to me. Bring me up to speed.

I have ~450rd stored, but was looking to shoot this older stock and replenish, but that now looks in doubt.

 

[diamonback68]

22 ammo has been nearly absent from the market for close to a year maybe more. Nothing new.

 

[rwsmith]

What happened??

Sandy Hook happened. It's almost year ago now. Every gun grabber in the union has been howling to get all kinds of restrictions on guns up to and including banning guns altogether. People bought up everything in sight. Guns (As long as it looked like a combat weapon), ammo and reloading supplies. Some states have imposed some tough restrictions. Better check the laws in you state and see if they haven't changed something since the last time you were shooting. I (we) strongly recommend that you join the NRA and any other shooting groups and make your voice heard.

 

[billwill]

There is a big sinkhole somewhere that is sucking it all up. Just a trickle round here. Last I bought a bought from a police friend that patrolled the big box places

 

[wyccad915]

I thought this was a zombie thread at first. .22 slowly coming back recently, but it usually doesn't last long. I can usually count on getting my 2 boxes (I've only seen 50rd boxes so far) at Academy Sports on Mon, Wed, Fri, but I have to get there early. I wish I would get there and see some bulk so I could get my 2 box limit with that.

 

[Grayfox]

Saw a Black Friday flyer from Bass Pro today. Six hour sale begins a 5:00am Black Friday morning. Among the items listed was Winchester Super X HP .22s in 500 round bricks for $25. Guaranteed that each store will have at least 300 bricks. Limit one per customer.

I'll guarantee it'll be sold out by 5:05am.

Here's the link for those who are interested:
Bass Pro Black Friday Sale

personally, I ain't going near the place.

 

[USMCHEROS]

It went bye bye. I am lucky enough to left over 3,000 worth of Winchester M22 rounds that I bought three months off a local guy who was hurting for the cash dollar signs!

 

[BigBill]

I was buying 5,000 round cases of cci blazer 22lr for $225 delivered not too long ago. You can do a lot with a 22lr as far as putting meat on the table.

 

[Hack]

What gives? ! Where has all the .22 caliber ammunition gone to?

.22LR was selling after 2008 election at a small premium. I managed to snag 2-5K cases (one Blazer, one Federal) for $225 a piece in the summer of 2009 when some of the election hysteria cooled.

Then came Sandy Hook, and everything disappeared. Prices have come down some. However, you still can't touch a case for under $600. CCI Mini-Mags are obscenely priced. Amazing since the price of .223/5.56 is coming back down to 'almost' reasonable levels.

I'm not a buyer of either caliber. Yet. And I shooting what I have sparingly, waiting for prices to bottom.

 

[thebeamanater107]

I was buying 5,000 round cases of cci blazer 22lr for $225 delivered not too long ago. You can do a lot with a 22lr as far as putting meat on the table.

In an apocalyptic situation, or government shutdown, 22lr may still feed you.

the original point and click interface, by Smith and Wesson

 

[Wee Hooker]

Funny, .22 used to be the caliber of choice for people just getting into shooting. Now people have to go out and learn on a 9mm -45ACP while they wait for .22 ammo to free up !

 

[Steely Dan]

Back in August, a salesman at a Dunham store came up and asked if I was interested in three 50 count boxes of .22's!!

Of course I bought them.

Then a few weeks later, I found a 225 count box at Wally World.

Haven't seen any since.

But, I am finding .38, .357 and .40 SW

 

[Hobie1]

I used to buy .22lr when I was shooting in Bullseye competition and picked up what I could afford. When I took this pic., there was about 11K rounds. Less now since I got my 15-22s.

 

[HorizontalMike]

Back in August, a salesman at a Dunham store came up and asked if I was interested in three 50 count boxes of .22's!!
Of course I bought them.
Then a few weeks later, I found a 225 count box at Wally World.
Haven't seen any since.
But, I am finding .38, .357 and .40 SW

No kidding. I was able to snag .357, .38+P, and .222 boxes today at the local BPS for what I would say were "normal" markup of about +-$1/bullet, however NO .22LR were available, with the sole exception being boxes of 50 for $9.99 each. I refused. Screw this paranoia buy out!

 

[LVSteve]

My buddy was at a local range this week and the place was full of ammo, pallets even out in the aisles, but NO .22. Every other kind of rifle ammo was there in bulk and even 9mm was plentiful.

 

[jframe]

Most of the .22 ammo is going to the price gouging pukes who don't really need or want it, but recognize a good opportunity to screw someone who does. I still love guns, but I've all but quit shooting since Sandy Hook, and the advent of the gougers.

 

[HorizontalMike]

Gouge the Gougers!

Most of the .22 ammo is going to the price gouging pukes who don't really need or want it, but recognize a good opportunity to screw someone who does. I still love guns, but I've all but quit shooting since Sandy Hook, and the advent of the gougers.

Yep. And that makes me want to put my 1947 Remington 121 w/first-year 1947 Weaver K2.5x for sale for $2500, to one of those "poor" souls who think they "need" it.

 

[zzzippper]

More and more ammo is finally showing up, especially 5.56 and 7.62x39. When our new Cabela's opened they were pretty well stocked with .22 but they limited everyone to 100 rounds per person. Now I haven't seen any there in weeks.

Bass Pro is having a sale next week and is offering 250 bricks for $25, a minimum of 300 boxes are at each store, one box per person.