What’s up with .22 Ammo?

[VMI77]

http://weaponsman.com/?p=27649

From Brownells:

The biggest issue is, unlike centerfire ammo, rimfire is produced on dedicated machinery that can only load rimfire. Centerfire machines can load many different cartridges, so if there’s a big shortage of .308 Winchester, the ammo factory can switch a bunch of machines over to it and ramp up supply much faster. That’s why calibers that were in short supply in 2013 and 2014, like 9mm or .223 or .45 ACP, came back a lot faster.

Rimfire is a whole other ball of wax because of the way the cases are primed. It’s really, really expensive and takes a long time to set up new rimfire production machinery – so costly that manufacturers can’t spend the time and money to do it unless they’re absolutely sure higher demand is here to stay, so the .22 LR production capacity in the U.S. isn’t going to expand much any time soon. As long as demand for less-expensive rimfire ammo remains so strong, it will continue to be hard to get. Our guys tell me supply will probably stay very tight right through 2016. Wish I had better news – as soon as I do, you’ll be the first to know!

[Javier730]

http://weaponsman.com/?p=27649

From Brownells:

The biggest issue is, unlike centerfire ammo, rimfire is produced on dedicated machinery that can only load rimfire. Centerfire machines can load many different cartridges, so if there’s a big shortage of .308 Winchester, the ammo factory can switch a bunch of machines over to it and ramp up supply much faster. That’s why calibers that were in short supply in 2013 and 2014, like 9mm or .223 or .45 ACP, came back a lot faster.

Rimfire is a whole other ball of wax because of the way the cases are primed. It’s really, really expensive and takes a long time to set up new rimfire production machinery – so costly that manufacturers can’t spend the time and money to do it unless they’re absolutely sure higher demand is here to stay, so the .22 LR production capacity in the U.S. isn’t going to expand much any time soon. As long as demand for less-expensive rimfire ammo remains so strong, it will continue to be hard to get. Our guys tell me supply will probably stay very tight right through 2016. Wish I had better news – as soon as I do, you’ll be the first to know!

[Richbirdhunter]

I was just at Bass Pro in Grapevine and they boxes of 22LR for $19.99

[VMI77]

I was just at Bass Pro in Grapevine and they boxes of 22LR for $19.99

I was just at the local Walmart and Academy....Walmart --zero 22; Academy purchase limited 50 round boxes of 22, lots of subsonic, no CCI mini-mags, velocitor, or even standard velocity. No other brands of high velocity 22. I can still remember when Walmart not only had 22, but had a selection that included CCI mini-mags, AR15 platform 22, velocitor, Federal 500 round, Winchester 333 round and 1,000 round bricks, and Remington high-velocity and Golden Bullet. They even had 22 mag which I never see at Walmart and rarely encounter at Academy anymore.

[Weg]

Cabelas in Buda had it last week, I've been buying Norma TACX, it's subsonic in my suppressed 10/22 and shoots as good as CCI Standard Velocity. It's around $60.00 per 500. I guess that is the new going rate.

[casp625]

The prices I saw a couple months ago were $19.99 for Federal 325 box. The 333 WWB was going for $20.99 I believe, and the 555 WWB was sitting at $31.99. I picked up a box of each... just had two others with me so "each" of us made the purchase

[howdy]

The Wal Mart in Katy has .22LR all the time. I just bought 3 boxes of Winchester 333 round HP for $14.99/box. The ammo case is next to the automotive entrance and I check it out every time I go in there. I now only have to buy to re-supply what I shot. (PLENTY of reserve)

[VMI77]

The Wal Mart in Katy has .22LR all the time. I just bought 3 boxes of Winchester 333 round HP for $14.99/box. The ammo case is next to the automotive entrance and I check it out every time I go in there. I now only have to buy to re-supply what I shot. (PLENTY of reserve)

At some Walmarts 22 apparently never makes it to the shelves....it's held for friends and relatives of employees. Sounds like the management at the Katy store is not allowing that practice.

[Javier730]

Gander Mountain in San Antonio has plenty. A little pricier but its there. Academy has subsonic and powderless. Standard velocity 22lr in Academys have gone extinct and 22lr at Wal-Mart is a myth.

[Richbirdhunter]

Cabela's in Fort Worth had plenty on the self. I saw match 22 and some other stuff

[tomtexan]

At some Walmarts 22 apparently never makes it to the shelves....it's held for friends and relatives of employees. Sounds like the management at the Katy store is not allowing that practice.

I believe this.

Every visit I make to Wal-Mart always results in disappointment.

I don't know why I even bother.

And here we are three years later after Newtown.

[Oldgringo]

Although I have oodles of .22 ammo and some fine .22 rifles, I've taken up shooting pellet rifles. Pellet rifles I can shoot off of our covered patio without any logistic bother. While my air guns aren't cheap, the pellets are available.

[VMI77]

At some Walmarts 22 apparently never makes it to the shelves....it's held for friends and relatives of employees. Sounds like the management at the Katy store is not allowing that practice.

I believe this.

Every visit I make to Wal-Mart always results in disappointment.

I don't know why I even bother.

And here we are three years later after Newtown.

I've read other people's accounts of catching clerks putting ammo aside and having to get a manager involved....but some months back I personally heard an employee calling a friend or relative to come in and get some 22.....funny thing is, there wasn't a single box off 22 on the shelves.

[TEX]

I have a hard time believing the Katy Wal-Mart has .22 ammo. I go there at least once a week and have been for the past two years, and never, ever, have they had any .22 in stock. Where exactly are they hiding it??????????????????????????????

[Setxjeff]

None of my local wal-mart or academy stores have any bulk 22lr only expensive 22 target.