Done stockpiling 22 ammo

[ColtPythonElite]

I honestly don't get the folks saying they can't find .22 ammo.

What is there not to get? The ammo is not in the stores near some people. I would say most people is more accurate.

I am in one of three Walmart stores at least twice a week. I have not seen .22 ammo in them in nearly two years.

 

[orionengnr]

I have three WalMarts, a Bass Pro and a Cabelas.
And a number of LGSs.
Over the last four five years, I have never seen a single round in any of the WMs.
I have picked up a little at the BP (moderately over-priced) and a little at one LGS (reasonably priced, but about as common as a lightning strike).
Everywhere else...zip. slant. doodly-squat.
Again...we are talking four or five years.
My .22 shooting has gone from once a week to zero, back to once a month and sometimes a bit more.
But we are now talking 50 rounds each session, where it was once 100 rounds.

 

[LRShooting]

Ive switched to a 22 cal airgun completely. I have a real cheapy, but you can get some that are semi auto and are crazy powerful for what they are. Mine is CO2 that can be converted to HPA in 22 cal. Kills squirrels and rabbits out to 50-60 yards and kills birds out to 80. Im shooting roughly 750 fps with 18.1 gr pellets, but HPA can get me over 1000.

So maybe what you really need to do is find an alternative to 22 ammo rather than worrying about when its coming back. If you have it in your area, sure, but i haven't seen a box in 3 years. Last box I seen was American Eagle 50 cnt setting on my neighbors dash who just has it incase he sees a coon or something getting into his feedstock.

 

[Cee Zee]

I know for a fact you can order .22 on the web most of the time. It just isn't cheap. There's a difference in "none" and "not cheap enough".

http://ammoseek.com/ammo/22lr

The last time I was in Cabelas I bought a brick of Winchester Super X for $37. That's only a few dollars more than it cost before the panic. It's about 7.5 cents a round. Yeah it isn't Federal bulk for 5 cents a round but it ain't chopped liver either. I have stopped looking for ammo because I find it whenever I want it. I can't find the brands I want and it costs more than it should be it is out there. It's just a matter of finding out who has it and who doesn't.

For example if you don't mind paying 10 cents a round there's this. No limit.

http://www.slickguns.com/product/se...-rifle-22lr-hollow-point-hp-38-gr-50-rdbx-no-

It's not the best ammo in the world and that's more than I'd want to pay but it is there. All you want. And it isn't crazy expensive like it was. Yes it's $50 a brick. That's high. But these are internet prices. My LGS beats these prices all the time. Actually I know of more than one that has .22LR all the time for better prices than this ad shows.

 

[2011redrider]

All the WalMart 22 is gone within 20-30 minutes of opening. If you want it, you have to check one of the apps to see what store has it and get there before they open, sometimes a couple of hours. I don't consider 4 bricks to be a stockpile though. When I was collecting it, there was no problem getting it.

 

[Deog]

Anyone know how much 22lr loose it takes to fill a 50 can. That's what I have best I can figure ( because I did not keep track ) is somewhere around 6500 to 7000.

 

[nipprdog]

The .22 ammo shortage is all a political thing. Ammo manufacturers are resistant to make lots of .22 because the amount of profit is far less than centerfire rounds. They have to keep their boards and stockholders happy.

 

[SwaneeSR]

Respectfully, I disagree.

The .22 ammunition shortage is a reaction to an incredible change in demand. That is what "bubbles" are all about in economics. Like the shortages in reloading components, this shortage will pass. I have purchased .22 a few times in the past years. I will keep a larger stock on hand in the future.

Once everyone gets enough stored, and you begin to see .22 sit on the shelf at Walmart for a few days before running out, this bubble will burst and supply will go back to normal.

There is money to be made in manufacturing .22 ammo, but any manufacture that over invests in new equipment will need to idle that equipment once demand returns to normal and they will lose on much of the equipment cost.

 

[bannockburn]

I stopped looking for .22 ammo at Walmart some time back; never had any in stock. Occasionally I find some at a couple of the local gun shops but still they limit you to three boxes. All it means to me is that I shoot less .22 when I do go to the range and try to maintain my current levels by replacing what I shoot with a new brick of ammo.

 

[Davek1977]

I anticipated .223 and 9mm being in short supply but never did I ever think 22LR would be scarce. It's been a harsh lesson.

For once, I was ahead of the curve. When I saw other calibers dwindling on store shelves, I started buying .22 ammo, fearful it would be next. I managed to put away roughly 5k before it just disappeared. At one point, I know I went at least two years wothout having a chance to buy it locally at any price, to the point I ALMOST thought about selling some....I'm glad I didn't.

All the WalMart 22 is gone within 20-30 minutes of opening.

Gotta admt I find that line rather confusing, as locally, Walmart is a 24/7 operation, as in "never closed"

 

[Bigdog57]

NO .22LR or any other rimfire at my three closest Wally's. The LGS wants too dear a price - they seem to think they really are "Golden Bullets"......

So, I have found enough online to satisfy me, for now. At this time my stocks are nearly 10K in all rimfire, about 7,500 in .22LR of various makes. I have stocked away a few bricks and bulk packs. I have reduced my buying of .22LR, especially at today's prices. But it is still cheaper than buying local, WHEN I can find it.
Most of my shooting nowadays is airguns and BP. A lot better availability and pricing!

 

[MedWheeler]

I'm caught up for now, though nothing has come from Wal-Mart. I entered 2013 with about 2,000 rounds, half or so of which was "auto-grade" stuff (stuff I know works in my semi-autos.)

I'm now at about 6,500, about 3/4 of which is "auto-grade", and have shot a few hundred rounds in the last two months or so.

I wasn't really even trying to rebuild a stockpile; I simply kept my eyes open, sourcing about half the additional stock from online sources through wikiarms.com, and the other half from the local Bass Pro and another LGS.

 

[GBExpat]

I happened to run into a member of the .22RF Dawn Patrol a couple of years ago in front of the local Dick's Sporting Goods.

I was waiting for it to open (it is beside a Stples that I had just visited) so I could see if they had any bullet lube.

An oddly humorless, uncommunicative fellow showed up several minutes prior to their opening time (9am?) and, when the doors opened, bolted towards the left-rear corner of the store.

By the time I got back to that area, he was giving the poor counter lad a hard time about .22 ammo. The way he was acting, the store could have been named for him.

I stopped to talk to the kid after the bit-of-a-Richard had left ... he said that there were a number of guys who came in throughout each day looking for .22 ammo, but most of them were nice.

 

[loose noose]

I have never shot that much .22LR, although I've got quite a large collection of .22LR arms, I do have a decent supply of .22LR ammo however. I will be darned if I'll pay the high prices for .22 ammo that my LGS is asking. Several months ago I happened to get 600 (my wife happened to be along) rounds of CCI standard velocity at Wal Mart, but haven't seen any since that time. I've still got about 400 rounds of that stuff left. I also found in my stash about 1500rounds of mixed .22LR ammo I've had for about 15-20 years that still shoots just fine. So to make a long story even longer, I reckon I'll just wait until the cost of .22LR starts to come down to reasonable prices.

 

[jcwit]

I poped into a local gun store I frequent now and then a few days ago. They had Winchester 555, "no limit" for $65.99 a box.

Now there's a deal folks!

They also had SK Standard Plus for the amazing low price of $99.99 a brick.
Of course you can order the equivalent on line for $65.00 a brick.

Hey the "deals" are out there, just waiting for the next sucker.

They did have quite a few Schultz & Larson .22 Target rifles for $299, which in reality I do think is a good value on a used target rifle.

 

[Plan2Live]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Plan2Live View Post
I honestly don't get the folks saying they can't find .22 ammo.
What is there not to get? The ammo is not in the stores near some people. I would say most people is more accurate.

I am in one of three Walmart stores at least twice a week. I have not seen .22 ammo in them in nearly two years.

Going in twice a week isn't going to cut it. Going in when it is convenient for you isn't going to cut it. If you want it you have to put forth some effort. Learn the stocking patterns and visit accordingly.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

You cannot learn a stocking pattern when there isn't one. My local Walmart employees tell me ammo comes in sporadic and not very often.

Used to be they stocked at "X" time. People would line up for the 10 boxes that came in with a 3 box limited.Four people got ammo and the other dozen gave the employees grief. Management got tired of the belly aching. They now allegedly slip it out at random times when no one is around. Finding ammo is the luck of the draw.

 

[Plan2Live]

I have purchased a closet full over the past two years by learning the stocking patterns and being there when the ammo is there. It has taken time and effort on my part. I have a stockpile that backs up my claim. In the past 30 days I have passed on multiple brands in various quantities because I simply can't store any more so I can testify it is flowing.

 

[Cee Zee]

I was lucky enough to have ordered a case of CCI SV 3 days before Sandy Hook so I've been well stocked through the whole shortage. I could have shot it all up but I decided it was best to only shoot what I could replace because I didn't know how long the shortage would last. Turned out to be a good idea but the truth is I probably have more ammo now than I did just before the shortage started and after I bought that case of .22. I have well over 10,000 rounds. I really don't know how much I have. I don't have some super stockpile or anything but again, I can replace what I shoot and I shoot pretty regular. And I have not paid ridiculous prices the first time. I did pay 11 cents a round for some CCI Mini-Mag but it was in one of those 100 round boxes and they were 8 or 9 cents a round before the shortage where I live. I've bought some expensive ammo but it was always expensive. Stuff like Gold Medal Premium Ultra Match which I actually got a good price on. I paid about $16 a box for it. It often sells for over $20 and it did before the shortage. For a long time the prices on top quality target .22 ammo did not go up at all. Now they have but I have enough of that to last me too.

 

[dakota1911]

I have enough. When it was very expensive I dug out my TC Contender thus single shot and SA revolvers and still had a nice afternoon shooting 50 or 100 rounds.

 

[spazzy]

I had about 300 rounds before the shortage. I never went shooting very often so it didnt bother me, I mostly used it for hunting. Since then I have been shooting more and therefore needing more. I got tired of visiting stores in my very limited free time to find empty shelves. I've bought about 3000 over the last year almost exclusively online, at about a max of 8-9 cents/round. When I get down to about 1000 rounds left I start shopping.

I have changed how I shoot lately. I've been using my single shot a ton more rather than my model 60. I shoot about 100-150 rounds when I go shooting and I've been going once every 2-3 weeks.

I have never failed to find ammo online and only buy when I need to, I just am no longer picky about what brand I can pick up. When (if) the shortage ends I will probably stock up and buy more (think 5k-10k rounds) but right now I will let others buy what I don't need.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have purchased a closet full over the past two years by learning the stocking patterns and being there when the ammo is there. It has taken time and effort on my part. I have a stockpile that backs up my claim. In the past 30 days I have passed on multiple brands in various quantities because I simply can't store any more so I can testify it is flowing.

Congratulations on your success. Obviously ammo is coming into your stores. It is also pretty obvious from the amount of guys never finding ammo locally that your case is the exception.

 

[Cee Zee]

I just am no longer picky about what brand I can pick up

I bought one box of Remington ammo since the shortage and I couldn't bear the thought of shooting it so I gave it away.

 

[jcwit]

Originally Posted by Plan2Live View Post
I have purchased a closet full over the past two years by learning the stocking patterns and being there when the ammo is there. It has taken time and effort on my part. I have a stockpile that backs up my claim. In the past 30 days I have passed on multiple brands in various quantities because I simply can't store any more so I can testify it is flowing.

Just what is a closet full??

 

[leadcounsel]

Is there a reason for the high prices? I mean, the components are tiny and the shipping per round must be near zero.

Why haven't the manufacturers ramped up supply? Presumably there are very high margins.