The .22 drought is over (at least here)

[red-beard]

Randy, I've done the same thing. I picked up a couple of pellet throwers. I'll save the real stuff for sometime worthwhile.

[Jeff Higgins]

Yeah, I've done the same thing with regard to the air guns. I've purchased at least seven or eight adult quality air rifles and pistols in the last year or so. They are an awful lot of fun in their own right, and suer convenient in that I can shoot in my basement or back yard. Dirt cheap to shoot as well.

The .22 ammo situation around here is as bad as ever. I'm no longer buying the "it's the hoarders" line, either. I'm good friends with just about every gun shop proprietor for two counties (at least) and every one of them tell me it's not making it to them either. The wholesalers just don't have it. So what gives, really?

Reloading supplies are still sketchy as well. You can get primers again (for now), but powder is hard to come by. Some shotguns powders are available, but very little in the way of rifle or handgun powders. That's not making it to the retailers, either. I just opened a can of 2400 that dates from the '60's that I was saving in my collection. I guess I'll just have a collection of empty cans now...

[onewhippedpuppy]

I recall reading somewhere that the ammo manufacturers were focusing on meeting demand for more profitable calibers, and not using much plant capacity for .22LR. Don't know if it's true, but it makes sense.

[weseeeee]

I normally buy .22 3-4k at a time and have it shipped to my home. I made a purchase about 3 months before the stuff dried up. I'm about ready to order again so I hope the drought is finally over.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by weseeeee

I normally buy .22 3-4k at a time and have it shipped to my home. I made a purchase about 3 months before the stuff dried up. I'm about ready to order again so I hope the drought is finally over.

Nope. I put an order in (at a reasonable price) and it is backordered about 1 year.

[J P Stein]

Got a bunch from Bi-Mart a couple months ago......but I don't buy in "shoot-em-up" quanities. Couple hundred rounds for me is plenty.

[gtc]

I kind of think that the stockpiling threw everything out of whack.

I've talked to more and more people lately that have built up massive, almost irrational, stockpiles over the last couple of years. Stockpiles that would last me the rest of my life.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by gtc

I kind of think that the stockpiling threw everything out of whack.

I've talked to more and more people lately that have built up massive, almost irrational, stockpiles over the last couple of years. Stockpiles that would last me the rest of my life.

Would you consider this an "irrational Stockpile"?

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I recall reading somewhere that the ammo manufacturers were focusing on meeting demand for more profitable calibers, and not using much plant capacity for .22LR. Don't know if it's true, but it makes sense.

Different equipment is used for centerfire vs. rimfire. All manufacturers are claiming record production of rimfire ammo. Like I said, though, it's not even getting as far as the retail stores - brick and mortar or online.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by gtc

I've talked to more and more people lately that have built up massive, almost irrational, stockpiles over the last couple of years. Stockpiles that would last me the rest of my life.

I know folks who shoot thousands of rounds per range trip. Others that shoot 50 or less. Yes there are ammo hoarders out there but many I know make bulk purchases for convenience and cost savings. Depending on when you stop by their stock might be massive or limited.

[KFC911]

I've been periodically checking Wallyworld (two of 'em) shelves since this thread was started (actually...since the "other" ammo shortage thread from more than a year ago began)...still no .22 here . The good news...all other calibers seem to be fully stocked, and I'm talking significant quantities, not just a few boxes. Store employee saw me looking, and asked what I was looking for. She said .22s are coming in on a regular basis (a few times per week), but are still "gone" as soon as they hit the shelves. I did see a "recall/warning" notice posted regarding .22s that had been loaded with double the amount of powder . Probably wouldn't matter in any of "my" .22s, but I'd sure hate to get a batch of .44 mag with twice the powder. Might drop by the local Gander Mtn., but I tend to avoid that place...for some reason rifles seem to follow me home...even though I don't "need" em...oh well....whaddayagonnado?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Still no .22 here, but plenty of everything else.

[legion]

No .22 LR. No .22 Mag. .17 HMR is hard to come by.

Only match (expensive) or steel-cased .223, .308, 9mm and .38 special.

In pistol/rifle calibers, only .40 S&W, .45 ACP, .44 mag, and non-mil hunting calibers are widely available.

[gr8fl4porsche]

Gander Mountain opened a new store today in St. Louis.

Pallets of everything including 22LR's.

Picked up 4200 rds of 22LR at $ .05 a round.

[A930Rocket]

Still waiting...

[gtc]

Originally Posted by Craig T

Would you consider this an "irrational Stockpile"?

I was talking about tens of thousands of rounds of .223 to nearly a hundred thousand rounds of .22lr.

[vash]

I bought this yesterday. Last box at store.
Drought ain't over here.


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

[71scgc]

Seen a guy at a flea market a couple of weekends ago. He had some Federal .22lr for $65 a brick. I wasn't sure if it was a good price so I passed.
Tried to find some price references online. Couldn't. Didn't look too long though.

Carter

[cashflyer]

2008-2013 ammunition shortage

I am still seeing shortages of .22 on the shelf. Many stores that I visit have signs up that limit the number of boxes that you can buy when any does arrive - however the locals seem to smell it like a shark smells blood in the water. The customers will be lined up with their spouses and friends, each buying their individual limit and clearing a shelf within minutes.

Where does it end up? The flea market, with a 100% markup.
And people buy it. Why the desperation for .22?



Published in February:
Cabela's (NYSE: CAB ) CEO Thomas Millner noted in an earnings conference call that he's seen a "significant deceleration in ammunition sales" over the past three months, and said "the surge in firearms and ammunition is clearly winding down." Dick's Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS ) , another big ammunition retailer, hasn't reported its fourth-quarter numbers yet. But back in November CEO Edward Stack told investors to expect "softer" ammunition sales in the fourth quarter as well.

Published in December:
ATK is a major ammunition producer that owns the CCI, Federal Premium, Fusion, Speer, Estate Cartridge and Blazer ammunition brands. They said …

The current market and environment is causing stronger than usual demand for products in our industry. The current increase in demand is attributed to the civilian market. Our facilities operate 24-hours a day. We are continually making process improvements to increase our efficiency and investing in capital and personnel where we have sustained demand. We are bringing additional capacity online again this year.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by 71scgc

Seen a guy at a flea market a couple of weekends ago. He had some Federal .22lr for $65 a brick. I wasn't sure if it was a good price so I passed.
Tried to find some price references online. Couldn't. Didn't look too long though.

Carter

I think I need to start selling! That would be a 400% markup!

Investing in ammunition, better than gold!