Rant

22LR Ammo Out of Stock

Posted 33 months ago|5 comments|5,148 views

TAGS

varmint, ammo, shells , 22LR, 22 Long Rifle , shortage

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Written by

sixholdens

What is going on out there in the ammunition manufacturing sector? Is it true, did you really reduce your production shifts from five days a week to two and a half? Do you really have dozens of semis waiting to load your product but haven't got any because you stopped the machines? WHY?

In 2008 I could purchase a brick (550 rounds) of 22 Long Rifle (22LR) ammunition for under $15 at Wal-Mart. Now Wal-Mart doesn't even have it or at least the last five times I was there they didn't and couldn't tell me when they would. I can find bulk 22LR on the internet, $25 to $50 a brick plus shipping IF THEY HAVE IT!!

This is outrageous. There is no shortage of supplies, the military isn't taking it all, in fact, the plant that make military ammo is not even running at full capacity and that plant has absolutely no effect on the civilian market, it is military only.

Are we being gouged by the manufactures? Has the government put out the word they want the supply dried up? WHAT? WHO? WHY? I'd really like to know.

22LR is a small round and used everywhere for target practice, competition, varmint elimination and just plinking at tin cans for fun. It used to be affordable, now it's like you were shooting gold out the barrel.

I'm disabled, living on my military retirement and social security disability, there isn't enough money left over after I pay bills to afford a brick of shells at the prices they are charging these days. I just want to know, why?

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Out Of The Box

Moderator

31 months ago: You can still find cheap 22 lr ammo, but most internet sales outlets gouge you pretty good. You have to look long and hard to find the deals.

As for walmart, they are gradually phasing out all guns and ammo sales. I heard they have to comply with China's policy on civilian gun ownership (none) in order to do business with them. I don't know for sure if that is true, but I do know that in my area, which is largely rural and small towns, the existing Walmart is closed, a new one is built, usually right across the other side of the highway, and the new one has no gun department.
The ones in the larger town do a makeover, remodel, whatever, and when they rearrange the stuff, poof, no more gun department.
As for the scarcity of available ammo, new laws make it harder to get the stiuff out, reloading is going to be illegal. They can't take your guns, so they are trying to take your ammo.
Better stock up.

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sixholdens

31 months ago: OOTB, such bad to hear info. I haven't researched the Walmart gun issue but wouldn't doubt it. Not going to be good for them in the long run as they want the business of the rural citizens of the US and to kowtow to another countries wishes will really put them under the gun, so to speak.

I have heard that they are trying to make it so that center fire ammo will "expire" after 90 days by making the firing caps with ingredients that fail. This is supposed to be something Obama wants. To me it is akin to taking money out of my pocket or just down right theft. I don't buy a product that should have a shelf life of many years to decades and expect it to be useless when I need it a few years later. Maybe rich people can afford to throw out ammo every few weeks but I can't.

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SoPac

30 months ago: I've spoke with Winchester, Remington, Federal/CCI. They are running their plants 24/7 to meet demand. 22's at this point are a low priority, there is a higher profit margin in center fire ammunition. The center fire market is seeing more ammunition as panic buying slows.

As for Wally world phasing out ammunition sales this is in part do to local/city regulations. I have spoken to Walmart's buyer Tom Mortin, Who is actively buying all the ammunition he can get his hands on for the chain. they are seeing more of a supply in the last month.

China is still exporting firearms, and as of last year to the US along with 5.7 billion rounds of ammunition. Russia in the same time period exported 8.3 billion rounds to the US.

As for adding some sort of primer/powder de-activator to ammunition, that is quite false. Anything added would render a round un-fireable almost immediately. This rumor has been around for at least ten years.

The fact is this is due to panic buying. With over 17 million guns flying off the shelves since last November, along with the fear threat the government people have depleted the supplies at hand. This has caught ammunition and gun makers off guard.

I personally know people who are buying large quantities of ammo for calibers they don't even own. This is the cause and effect for the shortages today.

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sixholdens

30 months ago: SoPac, thanks for the added info. There has been some relief, at least at Wally World, they have had 22lr in stock the last couple of times I checked and I was able to purchase a brick. I'm not a hoarder, I only keep a brick or two on hand for plinking and varmint disposal, just don't have the funds to stockpile anything like that.

I wonder who started the rumors. The ammo makers? What better way to increase sales than to start a rumor that supply was going to be cut.

Hearing that lots of ammo is coming from outside our borders is not good news. It also explains the crappy performance of the last brick of 22lr I purchased at a gun show. MANY, MANY rounds were duds. I'm used to maybe 10 out of 550 being bad, not 150+. Makes it hard to blow off a clip when you have to keep manually ejecting them.

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dallastexas21
Rush Valley, UT

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dallastexas21
Rush Valley, UT

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dallastexas21
Rush Valley, UT

7 months ago: It took me awhile before I was able to find some good 22 bulk ammo at this site. http://MilitaryShooters.com. I know what you mean though. It's getting harder to find, but there still are some places out there if you take the time to find them.

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