Subsonic .22 ammo still MIA

[12Pump]

Ok, this .22 ammo shortage things has been going on long enough! Sure, sometimes some will turn up, but not at reasonable prices. Not even for specialty ammo, which most people don't shoot.

Here's an example. I wanted to buy some subsonic .22s. I've got about 50 rounds left in my possession from long ago. I like the CCI Quiet ammo best, but when I go to ammoseek.com and do a search, it's only available for a minimum of 6.50 per box of 50. I used to buy it locally for 2.99. I also discovered that the shipping cost for 4 boxes is $17.50. Way too hefty of a price overall. Then I did a search for my second favorite--CCI CB Longs. None available at any price. Finally, I did a search for ANY brand of subsonics. There were plenty of results, but nothing close to the price I was willing to pay--and that's before shipping cost.

I highly doubt people are stockpiling subsonic .22s, or going to the range and shooting off a brick of them every weekend, which is more reasonable for standard ammo. So what's the excuse for subsonics being so short in supply and high in price?

 

[22-rimfire]

Prices have gone up in general. But I to this point have refused to buy semi-regular subsonic ammo for $6 or $7 a box of 50. I still have a pretty good pile of subsonic ammo, mostly old PMC, Federal, and CCI so I don't feel compelled to buy.

 

[Plan2Live]

I know what you mean, I used to buy pre-1964 silver coins for 5 times their face value. Now I'm lucky if I can find it for 10 or 11 times face value. This inflation thing has gone on long enough! And I used to be able to pick up Ruger Six Series stainless steel revolvers for $175 per unit. Now they bring $450 to $500 per unit. This supply and demand thing has gone on way too long.

 

[TruthTellers]

Hope and Change

 

[Swing]

Whenever GemTech has some available, I buy a chunk. Suppressed .22 platforms are pretty much the only rimfires I bother with these days.

 

[yugorpk]

the ammo companies make more money building and selling standard ammo.

Subsonic and match ammo are usually the last .22 left on the store shelves at Cabellas.

 

[12Pump]

the ammo companies make more money building and selling standard ammo.

Subsonic and match ammo are usually the last .22 left on the store shelves at Cabellas.

Yes. This is why I'm surprised to NOT be able to find subsonics when I go to the store or (at reasonable prices) online.

 

[basicblur]

Our local shop has had a steady stream of subsonic for quite a while.

Only one I'm interested in is bricks of CCI Standard Velocity, which run $39.95, $34.95, or $29.95 depending on distributor prices.

I'll carry a brick home once in a while at $29.99 but pass on the higher prices.

Only thing I'd like to have now (and have never seen) is Federal's equivalent of CCI Standard Velocity - their suppressed 22 ammo is copper clad, which I'd prefer over the lead CCI rounds - keeps the silencer much cleaner!

 

[12Pump]

I know what you mean, I used to buy pre-1964 silver coins for 5 times their face value. Now I'm lucky if I can find it for 10 or 11 times face value. This inflation thing has gone on long enough! And I used to be able to pick up Ruger Six Series stainless steel revolvers for $175 per unit. Now they bring $450 to $500 per unit. This supply and demand thing has gone on way too long.

It's not about inflation. Not all companies are charging those ridiculous prices I mentioned earlier. Here's an ad from Midway. They charge reasonable prices, but never have any in stock.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...nition-22-long-rifle-40-grain-lead-round-nose

 

[redbullitt]

Honestly that is why I got a nice air rifle. Have not regretted that one at all. Pellets are the new 22 lr lol.

Not as much power, but I can plink with it and hunt little critters pretty much just as well. Milk jugs and 2 liter bottles are fair game on low power setting at 100 yards, and quite easy on high power. 500 fps being low, 1000 fps or so on high.

Nice used ones can be had if you look around if you want to go that route. You generally get what you pay for there FWIW.

 

[Plan2Live]

Paying extra for a firearm with a threaded barrel or paying a gunsmith to modify an existing firearm is acceptable.

Paying extra money for a tax stamp, jumping through the required regulatory hoops and waiting for the paperwork to be processed is acceptable.

Paying more or less $1,000 for the suppressor itself is acceptable.

Paying a little extra for the specialty ammo best suited to a suppressed firearm and spending some extra time and effort finding it is unacceptable?

Does not compute. That's like buying a Z06 Corvette and fussing that you have to run premium fuel in it or buying a 700 horsepower street legal bracket racer with 12:1 compression ratio and fussing because they don't sell racing fuel at the local Walmart gas pumps and when you do find it you have to pay extra for it. After all, it's just gas.

 

[22-rimfire]

That assumes of course you want a suppressed firearm. But your rationalization is reasonable in your case.

It is kind of hard to make a decision sometimes (are they worth it decision?) when there are new names, and what seems like higher prices if you haven't already shot some. Just saying it's standard velocity 22 ammo is not really good enough.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

A lot of the target ammo is subsonic, look at some of that as an option. Doesn't have to be high $$$ Eley stuff either.

 

[22-rimfire]

There is also the "how accurate is accurate enough?" decision relative to the subsonic, "target", or standard velocity 22LR. Of course, accuracy or precision will vary with the rifle. I never really worried about shooting handguns with serious precision other than "pretty good" as I never considered myself an expert shooter. Haven't shot any of the Norma stuff yet and want to give it a try.

 

[Warp]

It's not about inflation. Not all companies are charging those ridiculous prices I mentioned earlier. Here's an ad from Midway. They charge reasonable prices, but never have any in stock.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...nition-22-long-rifle-40-grain-lead-round-nose

If it isn't in stock, they aren't actually charging any price at all.

If it's out of stock they may as well list it at $1,000,000 per round

A lot of the target ammo is subsonic, look at some of that as an option. Doesn't have to be high $$$ Eley stuff either.

This is the biggest thing. Why on earth does a person buy some special "quiet ammo" when ALL good .22lr target ammo is subsonic?

CCI standard velocity, Wolf match target/extra, sk standard+/rifle match, eley anything I think,

 

[Bee Man]

no luck

I know what you mean. I have written CCI and asked what the problem was and they replied that they make the quiet and CB longs and ship them regularly. I have also been put on several list to notify when they get some without any success. The math just doesn’t seem to add up and I’m on my last box of 100. Not the end of the world but awfully frustrating.

 

[22-rimfire]

Ok, this .22 ammo shortage things has been going on long enough! Sure, sometimes some will turn up, but not at reasonable prices. Not even for specialty ammo, which most people don't shoot.

<snip>

I highly doubt people are stockpiling subsonic .22s, or going to the range and shooting off a brick of them every weekend, which is more reasonable for standard ammo. So what's the excuse for subsonics being so short in supply and high in price?

I agree with you on the shortage thing. It is about time for this to become history and we can talk about when 22 was in really short supply at reasonable prices.

It is pretty easy for me to see why most of the promotional grade 22LR is sold nearly as fast as it hits retail. The shortage is still in our short term memory banks and when we have the opportunity to buy some at semi-reasonable prices we do and we don't generally buy two boxes either.

With regard to the stockpiling comment. In the past, Dicks carried Federal 714's and later CCI standard velocity in bricks (10 50ct boxes) and I regularly purchased from them even when I didn't need the stuff. I could afford spending $50-$60 every week or so, but not necessarily spending hundreds for a case on line. You would probably call that stockpiling, but I was building up my rimfire cache with semi-quality 22 ammo. That grade of 22 ammo is my favorite for most target shooting.

I was never much for buying 22 rimfire online due to the shipping. I pretty much want to buy in case or half case lots if I am going to be buying online. That is a fairly big price tag these days and sometimes I simply don't want to spend that kind of money.

The "Quiet" thing by CCI was mostly a marketing tactic and I don't blame them a bit. They have excelled in producing lower powered and hence quieter 22 ammunition when you compare it to the other manufacturers.

Added: I find CCI pretty amazing in general from a business point of view.... they manufacture 22 ammo that has always been priced higher than most other regular 22 ammo and yet, people really like it and buy it. Traditionally CCI is the brand of ammo that people go to for reliability and overall reasonable accuracy and consistancy whether it be Stingers or Velocitors (hyper-velocity), high velocity, or standard velocity stuff.

 

[txblackout]

Ok, this .22 ammo shortage things has been going on long enough! Sure, sometimes some will turn up, but not at reasonable prices. Not even for specialty ammo, which most people don't shoot.

Here's an example. I wanted to buy some subsonic .22s. I've got about 50 rounds left in my possession from long ago. I like the CCI Quiet ammo best, but when I go to ammoseek.com and do a search, it's only available for a minimum of 6.50 per box of 50. I used to buy it locally for 2.99. I also discovered that the shipping cost for 4 boxes is $17.50. Way too hefty of a price overall. Then I did a search for my second favorite--CCI CB Longs. None available at any price. Finally, I did a search for ANY brand of subsonics. There were plenty of results, but nothing close to the price I was willing to pay--and that's before shipping cost.

I highly doubt people are stockpiling subsonic .22s, or going to the range and shooting off a brick of them every weekend, which is more reasonable for standard ammo. So what's the excuse for subsonics being so short in supply and high in price?

The shortages are local. Maybe your store doesnt carry it because it doesnt sell that well. My academy had a ton of minimags and over a few weeks they sold out. But the CCI quiet didnt sell that well. Over a few weeks they still have about 10,000 rounds. I picked up 500 (limit) and could buy 500/day or even get my wife in to get 1000/day. I could probably buy all 10,000 rounds.

The price is about .06/round

Im fully stocked in that I have a lot of golden bullet, but I really like the CCI standard and will buy it whenever I can. I dont love the CCI quiet as it doesnt cycle the action on my 10/22 (700 fps vs 1050 for sv)

 

[DeepSouth]

Not to derail a thread, but what exactly is the difference in the quiet .22lr and the .22 long (not long rifle)?
When I want quiet .22's I just use 22 long or sometimes even .22 short, and I've never had much trouble finding either of them, well I haven't looked in several years because I a lot of it, but it wasn't hard to find a decade ago.

The .22 longs typically want cycle a semi auto, that may be the difference, but I don't shoot many semi .22's.

 

[Ed Ames]

Paying extra for a firearm with a threaded barrel

Nowadays that ranges from $0-$30 extra. E.g. I wanted a 10/22 with peep sights from the factory. The only model Ruger sells in that configuration also has a threaded barrel.

There are single shot .22 rifles that cost less than $175 and can only be purchased with threaded barrels.

Paying extra money for a tax stamp, jumping through the required regulatory hoops and waiting for the paperwork to be processed is acceptable.

$200. Make it $210 counting postage and paperwork. No comment on jumping through hoops since once you've done it once it is relatively painless to repeat, until July of this year when it will become miserable every time.

Paying more or less $1,000 for the suppressor itself is acceptable.

$350, more or less. I have purchased 3 rimfire silencers and the prices were $250, $300, and $400.

Paying a little extra for the specialty ammo best suited to a suppressed firearm and spending some extra time and effort finding it is unacceptable?

I think the OP was saying they cannot find it at all.

 

[yugorpk]

Almost all match grade .22 is subsonic out of rifles. Almost all standard velocity and even minimags are subsonic out of pistols.

$1000 for a silencer? That better be the best silencer ever. I paid $100 for my Silencerco Spectre II on a promotional deal. The easy trust days are numbered for the most part but its still not going to be that much of a hassle.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I used to buy it locally for 2.99.

I used to buy 9mm for the same amount, but it has apparently gone up as well.

I highly doubt people are stockpiling subsonic .22s, or going to the range and shooting off a brick of them every weekend, which is more reasonable for standard ammo. So what's the excuse for subsonics being so short in supply and high in price?

Low demand? Sounds like it falls into the category of specialty production ammo with little economy of scale to help reduce prices, little competition to reduce prices, and so no reason this stuff will be particularly inexpensive.

 

[yugorpk]

Went by Cabellas yesterday. They must have just stocked. Full shelf of .22LR including subsonic and match ammo. Even 500 round federal boxes for $34 which is higher than I'll pay for crap .22.

 

[stonecutter2]

22LR was a "given" on the shelf for so long. The panic really messed up supply. It's around here and there by me, but I don't expect much in regards to 22LR specialty type ammo like subsonics, when standard is occasionally hard to find. I haven't seen any subsonic ammo in a very long time. I still have a box of CBees stashed away. They make my Mossberg 44US have laser-like precision, at near silence.

I saw ammo shelves shrink due to lack of stock, and the stores often haven't grown those areas out again...they just let other products encroach on ammo and stay there. I wonder if many just stopped bothering ordering so many different ammo types, and just focus on more standard stuff now? Not sure.

It's frustrating to have 22LR so difficult to find. I like 22LR as a round. It's a great teaching round, too, for Appleseed.

Even if $60-$80 per brick were common (thankfully that nuttiness seems to have calmed down), it's still a pretty good deal for plinking versus other ammo.

 

[12Pump]

Nowadays that ranges from $0-$30 extra. E.g. I wanted a 10/22 with peep sights from the factory. The only model Ruger sells in that configuration also has a threaded barrel.

There are single shot .22 rifles that cost less than $175 and can only be purchased with threaded barrels.



$200. Make it $210 counting postage and paperwork. No comment on jumping through hoops since once you've done it once it is relatively painless to repeat, until July of this year when it will become miserable every time.



$350, more or less. I have purchased 3 rimfire silencers and the prices were $250, $300, and $400.



I think the OP was saying they cannot find it at all.

Thank you! You just saved me a lot of trouble responding to that post!
Indeed, I was saying that I couldn't find "at all" what I was looking for, either locally or online.