Reason there is a .22LR shortage

[mojave30cal]

I walked into my LGS this morning with my dog Harley to see
what they had in their used gun case. A couple was there, and
the wife was looking for a gun. The husband asked the guy
behind the counter why there was a shortage of .22 ammo. The
clerk started explaining about supply & demand, more shooters
than before, people hoarding the stuff, etc, etc...

On my way out I mentioned to the wife that trying to figure out
why there is a .22 shortage is like trying to figure out the
meaning of life. Who knows.

 

[Irn-Bru]

My local gun store told me they only make the stuff for 6 months of the year. He also told me Colts from Walmart are made using blemished parts so who knows.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I imagine there are a few of us who keep 10,000+ rounds of all our calibers including 22LR in the ammo safe and other hiding places.

 

[Sebago Son]

Only 10,000 rounds?

You're slipping Rick!

Drew

 

[Marshwheeling]

Had a conversation at coffee today with an enthusiast who opined that .22 was scarce because it has such a low margin of profit. During the shortage, manufacturers concentrate on the larger calibers that are in demand because they can make more money on them. Sounds as good as a lot of theories. Of course, they can raise prices, but only so far before they run into price resistance.

 

[perrazi]

when you have been thru this shortage thing once, it should never happen to you again. prepper mentality or no, it only makes good sense to never get caught short again.

 

[H Richard]

At any gun show you can find plenty for sale for $65 to $80 a brick!

 

[Bkreutz]

.22 LR is the only caliber that aliens(UFO pilots, not the other kind ) use. It's all stockpiled on the dark side of the moon.

 

[diamonback68]

At any gun show you can find plenty for sale for $65 to $80 a brick!

And that's where it's going to all the scalpers.
I know a guy who stands in line every day at Wally World when ammo comes in, buys his three brick limit at $23.95 and them puts them out on his table at the weekend flea market for $75-$80 and usually sells almost none at the price.
Another guy in that same line at W W says he has over 50,000 rounds of 22LR already, but can't seem to help himself from hoarding more.

There's the reason for your shortages and it's happen at hundreds of thousand places all over the country. I hope they all get stuck with it.

I have 3 bricks and that's more than I will ever need for a long time for my purposes.

 

[Cyrano]

I've go enough for recreational shooting, but I like to shoot match grade in my match pistols, and I haven't seen any CCI Green Tab in more than two years.

 

[Fishslayer]

Had a conversation at coffee today with an enthusiast who opined that .22 was scarce because it has such a low margin of profit. During the shortage, manufacturers concentrate on the larger calibers that are in demand because they can make more money on them. Sounds as good as a lot of theories. Of course, they can raise prices, but only so far before they run into price resistance.

The machines used for .22 are different from those used to make CF cartridges. According to the manufacturers they are balls to the wall making .22LR. There's plenty available if you are willing to pay scalpers $65 a brick for it.

 

[ladyT]

I've go enough for recreational shooting, but I like to shoot match grade in my match pistols, and I haven't seen any CCI Green Tab in more than two years.

They still make it?

 

[LostintheOzone]

I wasn't aware there was a shortage. Of course I haven't tried to buy any in about ten years. Just reload 9mm, it's cheaper.

 

[gm272gs]

I've go enough for recreational shooting, but I like to shoot match grade in my match pistols, and I haven't seen any CCI Green Tab in more than two years.

There's better stuff than Green Tag out there, in my opinion.
Eley Target, Wolf Match Target, and Federal AutoMatch are excellent choices, if they are available.

 

[Hamster65]

All of the factories that produce 22LR are working 24/7 and producing more than they ever have before. The problem is, EVERYBODY has at least 1 or more 22LR guns, (I have 2 and am looking to buy a 3rd) it's still relatively cheap compared to other calibers, and they're great for teaching the young ones how to shoot.
Just don't bother trying to buy any at a gun show because, they are price gouging like crazy. The last gun show I went to, I found .17 cheaper than 22LR. One idiot was charging $20.00 per 50ct box his 50ct boxes of .17 were only $13.00. At another table, they were charging $45.00 for a 225ct bulk box of Remington Golden Bullets that you can get at Walmart for about $11.00.
Needless to say, I went home with the .17's and no 22's that day.

 

[perrazi]

just received a brick of sk pistol match. had it on order from and old favorite distributor since last fall.

 

[Collo Rosso]

I walked into Palmetto State armory's new store in town and found full shelves of Federal auto match 22lr, 325 count for $24.99 a box. Not the greatest price but they had some! I bought 2 boxes.

 

[Waywatcher]

The problem is, EVERYBODY has at least 1 or more 22LR guns, (I have 2 and am looking to buy a 3rd) it's still relatively cheap compared to other calibers, and they're great for teaching the young ones how to shoot.

No .22 guns here! This whole mess hasn't encouraged me to get one either.

 

[NYlakesider]

No .22 guns here! This whole mess hasn't encouraged me to get one either.

I now have 3 rifles and4 handguns in .22 and I always try to keep a good amount of ammo for them on hand.

No, I hardly have bought any .22 ammo in the last couple years. One notable exception to that was the grand opening of a well known big box store about 70 miles away last year. Wife and I took a ride and we both got two bricks (reasonably priced) each (maximum allowed).

I always have a decent amount of .22 on hand as in a serious SHTF scenario it will be as valuable as gold. Would make good trading stock as just about anyone with a gun has a.22. + it is small and takes up little space!

 

[gregintenn]

Who is John Galt?

 

[Jack Flash]

One reason is some folks are hoarding, as mentioned before. Do they believe they may need it to trade for a handful of beans in some post-apocalyptic world or do they just think they will use it eventually? Who knows? Hoarding can become a mental disorder, so there is no sense in trying to get a rational response.

Another reason is the obvious buying/flipping that goes on. I do not like the practice but as long as it is legal, what can you do about it? I quit buying ammunition at gun shows, largely out of disgust from witnessing this behavior.

 

[DeathGrip]

I'm good for about 1600 rounds, mostly federal bulk.

I had a chance to buy more a couple of weeks ago but left it there at WM. Hopefully the next customers that saw it could use it.

It was CCI, I shoulda got more.

The Winchester 62 loves to eat boxes of the stuff. If I only shot my K22 it would last a long time. Crappy cell phone pics. .........

 

[jframe]

Around my area, it's hoarding, pure and simple. I overheard a group in the local Wally World talking the other night in the sporting goods area about how all they needed to to was wait until all the pallets were brought out that night, then start digging through them looking for ammo. I've got 1000-1500 rounds I think, and I absolutely refuse to pay what a brick is bringing on any of the Facebook gun group auctions, or at the gun shows. I say "bringing" loosely, as a lot of this gun show ammo seems to be just travelling the circuit, and the Facebook auctions seem to have stagnated some as well.

 

[Jack Flash]

I bought a whole bunch after the last shortage, so I should be good for a long time.

Assuming of course that I don't need to trade it all for a handful of beans!

 

[the ringo kid]

And that's where it's going to all the scalpers.
I know a guy who stands in line every day at Wally World when ammo comes in, buys his three brick limit at $23.95 and them puts them out on his table at the weekend flea market for $75-$80 and usually sells almost none at the price.
Another guy in that same line at W W says he has over 50,000 rounds of 22LR already, but can't seem to help himself from hoarding more.

There's the reason for your shortages and it's happen at hundreds of thousand places all over the country. I hope they all get stuck with it.

I have 3 bricks and that's more than I will ever need for a long time for my purposes.

Sounds like your local guy with the 50K of .22 is related to the guy we have here braging about his huge stash.

That said, it took me over a year to get the 3 bricks I have. I havent seen any in at least 8 months now.

 

[the ringo kid]

I've go enough for recreational shooting, but I like to shoot match grade in my match pistols, and I haven't seen any CCI Green Tab in more than two years.

Funny you should mention that type ammo. I was at WW yesterday and they had at least 50 boxes of the above mentioned. I passed on them as well as the 25 or so boxes of .22 short.

 

[JSW]

I walked into Palmetto State armory's new store in town and found full shelves of Federal auto match 22lr, 325 count for $24.99 a box. Not the greatest price but they had some! I bought 2 boxes.

That's not too bad a price. I got some at Walmart 2 months back and it was only $1 less.

 

[Frizzman]

This sort of thing is why I like my flintlocks. I can find or make everything needed for a day at the range or in the field. I cast my own projectiles and powder is readily available. No caps or brass needed. So far as the stockpiling of billions of rounds of anything goes, I prefer to let others fight over it. I am not going to stand in lines or fight over or pay scumbag prices for .22...Those who buy it a up to resell at predatory prices can keep it. I saw people do that during previous dry spells and many wound up having to eat it when it came back...Anyone remember the "assault weapons ban"? People who paid silly prices for banned magazines got hosed when it went down the drain...I know a guy who has several $100 Glock 19 magazines...Panic leads to bad decisions.

 

[M3Stuart]

+1 on these comments.

It's the same people, every day, camping out to buy it up. Then they resell it - or try to - at triple+ the price.

On the plus side; they got totally burned in the 9mm ammo market as there are now shelves full of the stuff everywhere. Soon, they'll get burned on their closet full of .22LR.

 

[rimfired]

Used to walk 4 country miles, one way, to buy a box of .22's for .50 in the 50's.

Later when I wanted a brick I bought two or three. It was never "hoarding" it was simple logistics. Gonna use one , buy two for backup. Save gas, save time. Same with all other ammo. Get it while you're there.

What holds my house down, ammo from the 60's, 70's 80's, 90's, you get the point, hopefully.

It ain't rocket science, it's common sense. Which is uncommon today