The con artists are still the culprit.
Sure they are.....
Last saturday, I needed to go to one of my local shops for a firearm transfer. So, I turned the trip into a loop around the valley, to check the status of ammo and reloading components.
Overall, I'd say there's about 175,000 rounds of .22 LR sitting on the shelves around here, in just the 5 stores I chose to visit - plus a healthy dose of .22 WMR, .22 Short, .22 WRF, even .17 HM2, and (lots of) .17 HMR.
I can't find Sierra .224" 69 gr or 77 gr MKs to save my life, but there is no shortage of any kind of rimfire ammo at what most people consider reasonable prices. (But there's no way
I'm paying what they're asking. I buy when there's too much supply, and the buying is good.
)
And... Last week, a member of TFL sent me a PM to let me know that he received his two backordered cases (10,000 rounds) of Federal Game-Shok 31 gr HP .22 LR, since he knew it was one of my favorite rimfire loads.
If distributors are shipping enough ammo to retailers that retailers are, in turn, filling 10,000+ round individual orders, I'd say things aren't anywhere near as bad as some of you seem to think....
Tin foil hats cause cancer.