"As to the supply of 22lr, I really don't see it getting better,ever. Production capacity is just not enogh to meet the demand of some 100 million + shooters (US only) or a fraction of them."
Yep. While Doomsayers always get a lot of attention until the crisis is over it is harder and harder to preach the coming end of the 22 shooting world. Black rifles are not only back on dealer’s shelves but the stores like Cabela’s are running them on sale at discounted prices. Centerfire ammunition is also finding their way back on the shelves.
In the early 1990’s Czar El Reno’s FBI was busy killing unarmed mothers holding babies in their arms, the BATF held a Texas size bar-be-que at Waco, Texas with 76 people being on the main menu and the FBI forcibly took a child from his American relatives and sent him to Cuba to live out his life in one of the most Communist countries in the world instead as a free citizen. The Brady Bill and Assault Weapons Ban were passed, in April, 1998 Clinton signed an order that permanently banned the importation of more than 50 types of semiautomatic "assault weapons" and in 2001 Clinton also used executive orders to ban the importation of "assault pistols" and tighten licensing rules on gun dealers.
Major gun manufacturers such as Smith & Wesson and Ruger abandoned gun owners in an effort to compromise with Clinton Administration against this wholesale assault on the 2nd Amendment.
On April 19, 1995 Terry Nichols and Timothy McVeigh motivated by their hatred of the federal government and angered by what they perceived as its mishandling of the 1993 Waco siege and the Ruby Ridge incident in 1992 bombed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It would remain the most destructive act of terrorism in the United States until the attack on the Twin Towers in 2001.
All of this led to widespread shortages of primers, reloading supplies and ammunition, especially 22’s, as citizens armed themselves against this massive attack by the Government.
The reason for this lengthy discourse is too show this is not the first time gun owner rights have been under major attack or the first time citizens fear of the actions of the Federal Government have led to widespread ammunition shortages and in spite of the Government’s best efforts ammunition supplies not only returned to normal but were commonly offered at sale prices.
While some areas of the country seem to still be experiencing shortages of ammunition as a general rule supplies have improved greatly. Frankly Queen of Thunder I don't know where you are shopping for 22 LR but I am starting to get emails from on-line dealers advertising 22 LR availability and pre-ordering.
Yesterday I got a tip on a LGS that has plenty of 22 in stock. As a matter of fact I have purchased more powder, bullets, powder and ammunition at normal pre-panic prices in 2013 than in the previous three years. My not so secret is shopping on the Internet, getting signed up for back orders and in stock notifications and shopping at smaller LGS,s.
Seriously though, I'll take whatever I can get at this point.
