Cancelled backorders for Federal 22LR on MidwayUSA

[Cabadam]

Just an FYI -

I've had a backorder placed with MidwayUSA for the Federal Champion 22LR ammunition since Dec 2012. I got an email yesterday from Midway indicating they were cancelling my back order.

I followed up with a chat session to find out why it was cancelled and the agent indicated Federal had informed them "they were not going to be able to deliver the ammunition", and so Midway cancelled all their back orders for it.

I know 22LR is still hard to find, but this seems like more bad news if true. It's hard to believe Federal isn't even going to TRY to deliver any of it in the foreseeable future.

 

[rwsmith]

Something is wrong.....

Something is wrong in world of .22 ammo. Other ammo is getting back in stock and now a major factory says they can't deliver product.

One theory: Are manufacturers are creating shortages like in the past has happened with gasoline, sugar, toilette paper. There was a buzz term when I was working about 'value-added' products. Turning the same product from a commodity item into a specialty item.

 

[Mcwsky09]

I would think that "not going to be able to deliver" means something more along the lines of unable to provide the quantity requested in the allotted time rather than sorry no idea when or if we will have any.

Can't even guess whether it is just their standard policy - or an executive decision based on prevailing conditions - but imagine you are the manufacturer and you accept backorders for a given product and over a period of time the rate at which those backorders stack up grows at a rate that exceeds your capacity to produce the item. It makes sense to cut off pre-orders or back-orders until your production catches up.
For me I would think that maybe 6 months would be the longest I would ant an item to be on backorder - sure would not want to be surprised a year or two after I placed an order with a charge on my credit card for an order that I had forgotten that I had even ordered it.
While I would not say that I expect to see an end to the demand any time soon - perhaps this will recalibrate the demand. In other words if everyone buying wants 10,000 rounds now - but cannot put that much on order - and backs off to 2,000 rounds - then the factories catch up and you can place your order for 2,000 rounds every few months with only occasional slips to back order status.

 

[redneckemt]

Price change, were they required to sell at old prices? Why sells 100K rounds at last years prices when todays prices have gone up.

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[Krogen]

If it's a price increase, I'd like to see them honor the backorder itself, but advise the customer of the price increase. Give the customer the option to get the item at the increased price. Better than dumping orders. But then, there are those folks that would complain that they already had a commitment at the earlier price. Whatcha gonna do . . . .?

 

[varmint243]

I wasn't 100% convinced there was a conspiracy until I read the big article in American Rifleman trying to explain it.
The "shortage" has been going on way too much for way too long.

Magazines are paid for by advertisers and in this case advertisers include Ammunition and parent/related companies.
The Rifleman ran that article because that's what their advertisers wanted.

The NRA is the parent company behind the Rifleman and also receives support from the ammunition parent/related companies.

Why are they trying so hard to convince us this is normal given the circumstances ? It in not normal, even given the current political situation.

 

[opaul]

They are taking orders for Remington 22lr as a back order.

 

[fyimo]

I wasn't 100% convinced there was a conspiracy until I read the big article in American Rifleman trying to explain it.
The "shortage" has been going on way too much for way too long.

Magazines are paid for by advertisers and in this case advertisers include Ammunition and parent/related companies.
The Rifleman ran that article because that's what their advertisers wanted.

The NRA is the parent company behind the Rifleman and also receives support from the ammunition parent/related companies.

Why are they trying so hard to convince us this is normal given the circumstances ? It in not normal, even given the current political situation.

+1 one on what he said and that is this has gone way to long to be normal.

 

[gdnagle]

Or could it be that they feel, why sell ammunition that should sell for .04 a round when they could sell ammunition that sells for .20 a round or more. I saw the youtube video on making .22 ammunition and it looked more labor intense then center fire ammunition which was fully automated. Am I right I don't know only the manufactures know for sure and I'm wrong a lot of times. It just seems like if they are working 24/7 then there should be .22 showing up. The hoarders and hucksters can't be buying it all especially with limits on the amount you can purchase. I've seen it trickle into some stores and some not getting any, but centerfire is showing up in larger quantities now, but a lot of import ammunition is showing up and over priced ammo is staying on the shelf.

I didn't get to read the American Rifleman article I think the mail person has my copy reading it as with my copies of H.O.G. and Enthusiast magazines as well but she is cute so I don't complain.

OH NO a conspiracy theory get out the tin foil hats look out for the zombies, the government is stock pilling it to deal with public unrest. Some say .22 is the best survival round so load up the bunkers.

 

[model70hunter]

I used to buy bricks upon occasion prior to the shortage. I would use those $12-14.00 bricks as gifts or stocking stuffers for my son and older Grandson.

Growing up a full box of 22 LR in our house was a luxury. Some days my brother and I would have to share the last bullet. I would also buy some bricks so I would never pull a Barney and be down to one bullet.

I reload and keep way ahead there for the center fire and can for the shotgun but when I shot trap and skeet I loaded up on some cases. I bought a 25-06 and Cabelas had some Ugo 25-06 for $10.00 a box, I bought 10.

When I retired and we packed up the basement I found lots of bricks. One was russian. I paid 8 something for it just before the bubble burst.

I'v read they set up and do certain ammo type manufacturing runs. Looks like they need to move the bosses and big brass out to a mobile home and use that space to make 22 LR.

 

[trebor127]

we have all your .22 ammo here in England

Keith

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

The reason .22lr is in short supply is because of your rifle, the 1522, and an endless list of other .22 "black rifles" that simply didn't exist just a few years ago. And now look at the huge number of new .22 centerfire handgun replicas being produced. None of this existed a few years ago. As well, bad economic times drive folks to shooting more rimfire. I shoot more .22 than most folks and I can tell you that cheap bulk ammo was getting more and more difficult to find well before the panic. The panic simply pushed things over the edge or rim as it were.

Along with the explosion in new .22 guns has come an explosion in rimfire suppressor sales. Supressors, which used to be a rare animal, are now quite common to see at the club. Rimfire gun manufactures are putting out all sorts of guns with threaded barrels that they never had done before.

Gentlemen, this ain't your daddy's 10-22 and Marlin 60 rimfire world anymore. Y'all are dangling 25rd mags from your rifles and blowing through bricks of ammo in a shooting session.... and there is a ton more of ya than ever before.

As far as Midway canceling backorders... don't know. But it has been widely publicized on the Net that Midway was taking backorders on .22 ammo. I can only imagine how many tens of thousands of shooters stampeded to get their orders placed before it became clear there was just no way fulfilling.

 

[Tadeus67]

Is almost the same here in Mexico. You cant find AGUILA ammo, but Remington, Federal and Winchester are in stock at the army gunshop were we civilians can buy ammo. Some independent ammo deposits have AGUILA but not in great quantities.

 

[mkbruce]

we have all your .22 ammo here in England

Keith

Don't make us come get them.....

 

[Arik]

Quit buying up every 22 as soon as they hit the shelves and there will be no shortage. My LGS posts 22lr delivery and it's sold out in minutes. They post 9mm and 1 or 2 boxes are sold.

It's a vicious self fulfilling proficy. You guys (everyone into 22lr) crys shortage and when ammo shows up you buy if all instantly, thus creating the shortage over again. If people continued to buy 9 and other calibers like that we would still have a shortage of everything

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[model70hunter]

Quit buying up every 22 as soon as they hit the shelves and there will be no shortage. My LGS posts 22lr delivery and it's sold out in minutes. They post 9mm and 1 or 2 boxes are sold.

It's a vicious self fulfilling proficy. You guys (everyone into 22lr) crys shortage and when ammo shows up you buy if all instantly, thus creating the shortage over again. If people continued to buy 9 and other calibers like that we would still have a shortage of everything

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Only once or twice since the bubble burst have I ever seen any 22 on the shelf. A LGS had a few but one box only, I declined their generous offer of 9.99 and once bought 3 of the 100 round Win Super Speed at Wally world a year or so ago at non gouging prices. I personally have not seen any since. And 9mm has been non existent every where I've looked.

 

[Arik]

All my LGS are stocked with 9, 40, 45....etc...etc. Selection is small but quantity is there. Just an example of one LGS

Both of these examples are a few weeks old. I think the 22lr is about 4 weeks ago and the 9mm is a 2-3 weeks ago

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[Sebago Son]

I'm seeing more .22's around of late... I bought two 555's for less than retail last week. There were 8 more that I left behind.

Ammo has always been available on the local, statewide buy/sell boards, but due to the scalpers that live there, it's as much as 300% of retail. However, in a recent, encouraging development, prices there have declined dramatically. Looks like "panic selling" as these guys have their rent money tied up and they are about to get a lesson in capitalisim.

Choke! Choke!

 

[Tennreb]

I agree with Arik and Chattanooga Phil. We are the main reason for the "shortage" in .22lr lasting this long. I'm just as guilty as anyone. I've bought an M&P 15-22 and a Colt-Walther 1911 .22 in the past year and shot over 6000 rds through them so far. And... because of this I am sitting on 20,000 rds because I have to be my own reliable supplier.

However, I don't know why the Federal Champion-Midway deal fell through after a year. If the OP is referring to the 525 bulk this is espesially odd since Cabelas and Gander Mountain have been getting this in lately more regularly than before. Even my local Walmart had some of this this week and they usually have the 550 bulk especially made for them.

It will be interesting if a further reply from Midway is forthcoming. I have some backorders from them myself.

 

[model70hunter]

we have all your .22 ammo here in England

Keith

And we have all your SMLE 303's. Wanna trade?