The New Normal

For what it’s worth, I would wait and let things calm down. I think of all the threats to the 2A, .22LR is probably low on the chopping block. Prices have and demand appeared to have declined over the past month and I’m optimistic that the trend will continue. Also, summer is routinely a slow time for gun sales so hopefully that holds true and will further help with price normalization.

I think prices will drop in awhile.

Walmart has not changed their ammo prices. Just have to shop the right stores.

CCI mini mags at 12 /100 is the norm. $80 / brick for thunderbolts that I saw at the local store is gouging, and will come back down.

The new Normal is what people are willing to pay. I use Walmart as a standard as what priced should be!

IMHO: Prices will go up and down but prices will never come down tp pre 2020 levels for a variety of reasons including increased demand, reduced supply of components, inflation and various shenanigans in DC. For example:

https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2021/04/01/winchester-ammo-price-increase/

Mark_Mark said:

The new Normal is what people are willing to pay. I use Walmart as a standard as what priced should be!

Click to expand...

That's a bad decision as Walmart's huge buying power gets them a lower price than anyone else. Using someone like Academy or Sportsmens Warehouse might be more accurate.

Since this insanity has begun, I have purchased .22lr anywhere from $.05/each to .12/each. I know I will never see pricing like I did in the past when I was able to buy a case (6250 rounds) for $95. I expect pricing to be anywhere from .05 for cheap stuff (Thunderbolts and Wildcats) to .10 or .12 for mid level (CCI Mini mags or similar) and higher for top tier target ammo.

DDDWho said:

My local Walmart has not had a 22 cartridge in over a year

Click to expand...

I recently bought .22 CCi at walmart for $.075 a round. Have fate folks!

As the new gun owners lose interest, ammo demand will come down.

I bought some Federal Automatch from WM for about .05 a round recently. I know it has to be regional thing but their are good signs of improvement in my neck of the woods. Local gun super store had 9mm for $25 a box on sale for father's day. Rural King has had some ammo and just this week they raised box limits.

Mark_Mark said:

Have fate folks!

Click to expand...

There seems to be plenty of "fate" already. I personally could probably use a little more faith that ammo prices won't remain astronomical from here on out.

Mark_Mark said:

I recently bought .22 CCi at walmart for $.075 a round. Have fate folks!

Click to expand...

I really believe what Walmart stocks is a regional thing, or the sporting goods manager. In my area, stores go from hardly any ammo in good times, to some rifles/shotguns in the rack and ammo.
A few years ago I was in Joplin Mo. and they had a good sized area for guns and ammo.

I’ve read many things that say no, it will not happen.

Shooting is going to become a wealthy man’s hobby. It already is.

i only buy 22lr if i see them in walmart. i haven't been looking for 22 at all as i know the prices are high but if i go to walmart for something else i will check to see if they have it. one time i got lucky with $7.70 for cci minimags 100 rd containers.

Last I bought I gave 35 a brick for Aguila and thunderbolts at academy. 12 /100 at academy. My buddy got a 325 round box of federal something at Walmart for 20 , then traded it to me for 75 rounds of 45acp reloads.

The other day, we were out and he paid $50 for a box of 38 specials. He still won't consider loading his own though.

kcofohio said:

I really believe what Walmart stocks is a regional thing, or the sporting goods manager. In my area, stores go from hardly any ammo in good times, to some rifles/shotguns in the rack and ammo.
A few years ago I was in Joplin Mo. and they had a good sized area for guns and ammo.

Click to expand...

sounds about right, I like buying Walmart bird shots, $24/100. .22 and shotshells is the only ammo I buy

SharpDog said:

IMHO: Prices will go up and down but prices will never come down tp pre 2020 levels for a variety of reasons including increased demand, reduced supply of components, inflation and various shenanigans in DC.

Click to expand...

^
This. Prices might go down substantially but the chances of going all the way back to 2019 prices are almost zero. People in power have decided the world was to good for the average person back then.

I mean, isn't it bound to happen? There's only a finite amount of lead, copper, brass ,iron and carbon.

I'd hold out and wait, as several others have suggested. I suspect things will eventually settle back down. So many folks insist "this is the new normal", I just read things differently I guess.

I've seen some pretty good prices lately. I have seen bulk packs of thunderbolts for $22/500 and Win Brass 9mm for $399/1000. It night not be Trump era pricing but pretty good in comparison to the last year.....

No ammo in stores in my corner of CA.
Nothing.

The simple reality of inflation will ensure that prices don't come back down to where they were. Everything costs more to make.