.22 LR Ammunition - any updates on availability?

[bx25jim]

So far, I haven't needed to buy any from gougers, and hope that I don't have to. I feel *a little* guilty about even buying what I've bought in the past week, because I've got a few thousand rounds and probably won't be doing any shooting until the fall. However, since I can't tell that there is a consistent, reliable source to get .22 ammo at reasonable prices, when I can find it for $3 or $4 per 50 rounds, which is close to my limit, I'm going to pick some up.

It seems as though availability is improving, because at least it is available for about 10 cents/round; I think the pre-panic prices (and this is about 2 or 3 years ago, now) was somewhere in the range of $15-$20 per 500 rounds, but my memory is tricky at best. Like most folks on here, and can remember the days when a brick of Thunderbolts was $6 or $7, and you felt good about blowing through the whole brick in an afternoon!

I really appreciate the input from you guys. It is interesting to see what is going on with the market.

Good luck and take care.

Sorry to say, I dont feel bad about getting it cheap when I can. With that being said, I dont resell what I buy either as they do on some websites. I am not going to mention the names of them as they are not worth the time of day. I like you, have plenty for a long long time also. I get it for my grand kids when they come out and plink with it, and would really hate to tell them one day that there is none left or cannot get it.
Your memory is also right on spot with the old prices. Its just been in the time stated that everyone jumped on the scalping band wagon. Scums will do what scums can do to pad their pockets as fast as they can. Seems they would have made enough when the Admin started screaming for more gun control and banning black evil guns. But when people kept paying what they wanted, well you know the way it goes. Just keep going up until people stop buying and the demand slows down to a trickle. Then and only then when the shelves start to fill up, and the prices start to come down again. I dont plan to see it in my life time, but it will happen.

 

[k0ua]

The best I have seen in a gun store recently was $35 for 325 rounds. But at least they had some. Nothing in Wal Mart for years. At least not for ordinary folks who just walk in off of the street. I guess the old days are truly gone.

 

[RalphVa]

Plenty at the gun shop off hwy 29 just north of Charlottesville, Va about a week ago.

Ralph

 

[kenmac]

I have had no problem getting 22lr ammo.. I buy from Academy,(limit 2 boxes per day) I just get my son and wife go by and get their limit....I also buy from the local gun shop, or Cabelas... The thing about Cabelas is,, When you see it in 525 or 325 count.. you better buy, because if you blink it'll be gone... I have about 7-8 K rounds now, so That's enough for me for a while...

 

[Norm W]

Being a tax slave on Andy Cuomo's NY plantation, we can't buy any ammo on line. That means there is a premium to be paid to the local merchants for any ammo. He shoved the (un)Safe Act through in the dark of night and down our throats. Be glad you can find any ammo at a reasonable if not low price.

 

[rtimgray]

I would definately suffer if I couldn't get ammo online. I buy most of my centerfire rounds from Sportsmansguide.com when they are running promotions or I have code/coupon/gift card. I've ordered from lots of other places when SG doesn't have what I want or the price is too high.

I don't guess that I really feel bad about picking up whatever my limit in .22 rounds is either, because it is for my personal use and not re-sale. I would bet that if I could swing by Dicks/Academy/Gander Mountain/Cabelas/Bass Pro on a regular basis, I could probably find more, but the only ones within an hours drive are Dicks and Gander Mountain. These places seem to keep their pricing under "scalper" prices - like the 500 or 525 round for $35 - again, I think that is just, at least for now, the new normal.

I do feel sorry for the local gun stores - if they genuinely can't get very much or any to sell, then when they do get it, it puts them in a tough spot. I think the sporting goods store that I went to has a reasonable price - it's high, but not gouging, take it or leave it. That does hearten me a little bit in the fact that there were days just a little while ago when it would have flown off the shelves at those prices.

A few months ago (winter time), one of the local gun stores had plenty, no limit but your wallet. Now all they have is the $10/50 Eley.

Good luck and take care.

 

[Ken45101]

Availability seems to have picked up somewhat but the prices are way too high for me (10/cent a round). I stocked up before the shortage and still have it, I just haven't been shooting at all!

But it seems to me that there is limited .22 shooting going on. I am moderator for two .22 gun groups on yahoo and they both have been almost totally dead for the past year.

I am also stocked up on centerfire components and I can reload for about what .22 ammo costs, probably less. I also have several hundred pounds of wheel weights for when it gets really bad!

It's all Obama's fault, we need to get him out so that prices come back down and we can get back to shooting!

 

[buickanddeere]

Walmarts in the Finger Lakes region of NY are still limiting to three boxes?
If ammo producers are operating at max capacity . Where is all the ammo going ?

 

[Dan Hunter]

Walmarts in the Finger Lakes region of NY are still limiting to three boxes?
If ammo producers are operating at max capacity . Where is all the ammo going ?

People stockpiling. Before availability became a problem, I purchaced 15000 rounds of standard velocity for my new suppressed rifle. My wife wasn't happy about it at the time but when the wave hit she wasn't so upset. I've drained about half of it but I know people that aren't using any of their hoard.

I don't think the manufacturer will increase their capacity to produce until there is some indication of the number of rounds actually being FIRED will increase and remain so. I dont believe that'll happen. Hey, I'll be purchasing 5000 round bricks when availability increases and will return to a higher level of consumption.

I still don't think we're at the point where individuals are comfortable with the idea of unrestricted availability and until then I expect elevated prices.

 

[Ken45101]

Either we are being told lies about manufacturing volume (i.e. .22 production has been reduced) or there continues to be massive hoarding. I can't figure out any other answer because it sure doesn't seem like people are shooting high volumes. Maybe there is hoarding due to people really expecting long term (decades) shortages and see it as an invetment. Maybe it's the preppers buying it all up. But at these high prices, I do not see **shooters** causing the shortages.