The popularity of the .22 rimfire had dropped off during the past 20 years. As posted with the advent of Concealed Carry laws people buy their first guns in 9MM, .380 .40 S&W etc. But the oldest marketing trick in the world continues to work. Just create a shortage and raise the price. We now see ammo buyers rising like trout to grab the bait. I saw a fellow in a Walmart one day buying .22 ammo. He said he does not own a gun. But he was going to buy some .22 just in case?
I disagree on almost every statement here.
I don't believe that the popularity of 22 rimfire has dropped off at all. I don't know what you mean when you say "popularity" but I see more people shooting 22 rimfire than ever before. Why? Well, cost of ammo is one reason. It's still a lot cheaper than 9mm ammo (less than 1/2 the cost). It is still the best choice to teach new shooters, especially kids, to the sport. Also, as the baby boomers age, our joints can't take the pounding the big calibers offer. I can say that my use of 22 rimfire has quadrupled in the last 10 years due to aging hands and wrists and the post shooting pain my hands have for a few days after a session. My 44 mag, 357 mag and 10mm as well as my 40S&W remain in the safe a lot more now and in the last 5 years I have picked up a .22 revolver, an AR22 and a 1911 conversion just to shoot .22s where previously I ignored the small caliber.
I also agree that a shooting session now consumes a brick or 2 (or 3) when previously a session was a box of 100 or so. I also believe that the AR22 contributed to this quite a bit as well as bulk pack boxes.
You also seem to say that the ammo makers created the 22 rimfire shortage and raised the prices as a marketing ploy. I also disagree with this statement as well. Ammo producers are now producing more .22 ammo per day than any time in history yet the shelves aren't bulging from excessive stock. I think the higher prices are from the middle men more than the factory.
Yes, there are speculators and hoarders. There are also a lot more who are keeping a healthy inventory level on hand to take care of their needs in time of scarce availability. That is not hoarding if you are shooting it instead of speculating. How can you say popularity is down when demand is at an all time high?
.22 rimfire has been around for a long time and will be around for long time. Maybe sales of new .22 guns has waned but that doesn't mean that the millions upon millions of guns already in our hands are going anywhere. I believe that the .22 rimfire will still be around when our grand kids are learning to shoot.