Why there is no 22 to buy.

[tractorshopper]

Charlz, makes sense; it seems you shoot a lot more than I do, so you would keep more. You must be an enthusiast to make your own. I think that would be a cool hobby and I may take that up someday in which case, I'd probably store more and shoot more. Just don't have the time at this point in my life.

Yes, we have a Cabelas in Greenville SC now. It's about an hour from me. I haven't ever tried to check Walmart or anywhere more local since I just got a .22. I will though and report back on stock levels if any. I never have a problem buying my hunting calibers or shotgun shells. Maybe that's another reason I haven't felt the need to stockpile more.

 

[MMagis]

22 ammo isn’t hard to find, but you have to look beyond Walmart. I can walk into any sporting goods store around and find plenty. It’s not as cheap as it used to be, but it’s not that bad either. I think I paid $3 or $4 for a box of 50 last weekend. I can’t find 6mm Rem at Walmart either, that doesn’t mean there’s a “shortage”. It means Walmart is a bad place to shop for ammo.

 

[davesl708]

It may be that the suppliers have stopped selling to Walmart.
My company used to sell to WM and even built two plants to supply them. They then demanded such low prices it cost more to produce that WM wanted to pay so we dumped them. Put the plants to work supplying other companies.

 

[RollingsFarms]

It comes and goes around here. Stores will have tons of it for awhile and it doesn't get bought up all at once, then you go months and months without seeing it anywhere. I still laugh at such a demand for such a useless cartridge as the .22. People say it's good for practicing, I'd rather practice with guns I always shoot and intend to carry. No sense in practicing with a .22 when you're going to carry a 9mm or hunt with a 7mag.

 

[teejk]

It comes and goes around here. Stores will have tons of it for awhile and it doesn't get bought up all at once, then you go months and months without seeing it anywhere.

I think that's the experience for most of the country. The "drought" started with hoarders...as it becomes available again we have increased the number of hoarders. I can still find Rem bulk (500) around here for around $27, a brick of CCI is also available at about $45. While I'm not a hoarder, I have increased my personal inventory by about 1,500 rounds when I can find it. I'm sure I'm not alone.

 

[jack707]

Something going on with 22lr don't know what it is CANT BE ALL HORDERS!

 

[Industrial Toys]

We used to fire lots of WW2 surplus pistol rounds in the eighties. Never had any issues with expiration. Heck, we had more trouble with the brand new cheap Brazillian .22 stuff.

 

[DrRod]

I don't think this article answers the questions. Ok -- its hard to expand production. And sure, there are some hoarders. But how many hoarders could there be -- it would take a lot to make a dent in something as common as 22lr ammo. And as pointed out above, it is fairly useless. I have loved shooting a 22 since I was a kid but rarely use it for anything productive -- maybe a groundhog every few years.

And what about shot shells? I haven't seen them in ages and unless you have problems with birds, bats, or snakes you just don't use that many of them. Ever hear of anyone target shooting with 22 shot shells. So what happened to them?

As an aside, I remember my scout troop allowing us to bring our own 22 to winter camp [late 60's]. About half the kids came with guns -- many were their own, not their parents. Try to repeat that now.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Plenty of 22 ammo "can" be bought on line, just at higher prices, that we never saw before. Then when the dealers get it, they are charging FULL retail prices now, and we aren't use to that either...

Walmart here, get's it in 3 times a week, and there's always a line of guys standing there to buy it ALL up!

You want 22 ammo NOW, order it on line...

SR

 

[k0ua]

Plenty of 22 ammo "can" be bought on line, just at higher prices, that we never saw before. Then when the dealers get it, they are charging FULL retail prices now, and we aren't use to that either...

Walmart here, get's it in 3 times a week, and there's always a line of guys standing there to buy it ALL up!

You want 22 ammo NOW, order it on line...

SR

And why do they but it ALL? Because they intend to resell it at a higher price. Why is there so little of the product that the higher prices are sustained? Sure I can find .22 ammo at gun shows and many gun stores, but it is high. And the materials are not higher now, they are 1/2 the price they were 3 years ago. But demand is high. Higher than ever.