I understand shortage of 5.56... but 22 LR??

T

Tom68

New member
I went to Wally World to get a box of 22 LR to go plinking with my son. I fully expected to see bare shelves in 5.56/.223, 7.62x39 (as these calibers are most threatened by potential legislative action), and the more popular pistol calibers (just because that's how panic buying goes...)

I was shocked to learn that there hasn't been a 22 LR cartridge availble for sale in my little town since days after CT. Of four retailers in town who sell ammunition...zero inventory of the expected calibers, but I was really surprised about rimfire. Even the online suppliers i've checked are out of stock of almost all popular 22 LR ammo.

I've seen the finer points SEN Feinstein's proposed legislation, and monitored discussion here and elsewhere, and other than the large capacity magazines, I cannot come up with any reason 22LR could be affected by any bill that has any chance of getting through congress.

Maybe the panic buying of 22LR is just part of a larger fear of a new punative tax on all ammunition? Or am I missing something?
 
Lots of other posts on this subject. .22 is easy and cheaper to shoot than other rounds, is a great small game hunting round in a pinch for rabbits, squirrels etc. Can be bartered and used like money during unstable times. One of the few rounds that is not usually reloadable at home so when you are out, you are out.
 
panic buying at its best. Everyone wants to secure their supply of plinking ammo indef. At least that's what I think. In '09 .22 ammo was affected as well, though not to this extent. It saddens me really... 20 little lives spark off such a debate that many on both sides don't take time to grieve for their loss. I'm not saying that we shouldn't work for our RKBA... the situation just leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
 
Whiskey, I think there's a whole lot of folks who feel exactly the same as you on this situation.

But, not to hijack my own thread, I did a quick search on this before starting a new one, but even though I recall a few posts here and there in the recent past, a search showed nothing specific to 22LR.

I agree on the non-reloadable aspect of rimfire... i'll admit I hadn't considered that as much. as for the bartering aspect? well, that never occurred to me before. But... the whole panic buying thing really does leave me cold, as I remember '09 all too well.
 
Having lived here on the Texas Gulf Coast my entire life I look at haveing extra ammunition for all my guns on stock just another preparedness function as having supplies on hand for a hurricane. Anyone around this area that does not have a small back up generator, fuel, fresh water source, long term food, candles, ammo. etc. is just eventually going to get in a bind when a natural disaster occurs. Life is full of "what ifs" so it is always better to be prepared to take care of family and neighbors. Todays plinking ammo may mean a meal in the future. I don't panic buy because it is not necessary in my case.
 
All of the Walmarts within 50 miles of here are out of 22's. Probably farther, but I know those are. But at least 1 local shop still has a good supply of the better ammo. No boxes of the cheap bulk stuff, but lots of target ammo.
 
Bummer. I checked out the ammo selection at Walmart the other night just to see... they were out of 223 but still had 22LR in stock. In fact, 223 was all that was empty (that I took note of anyway).

After 2008, I had a lot of trouble finding 22LR for about a year. I traded for some at one point, privately. I learned my lesson and I have some on hand for a few years.
 
Can be bartered and used like money during unstable times.
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I guess times have been pretty stable. I have yet to see anyone plop down a box of .22 for a Happy Meal.

Most people who shoot own at least one .22. If you are stocking up in fear of a shortage it only makes sense.
 
Another factor may be that, over the past few years, "understudy" .22 Long Rifle versions of other popular guns have become quite popular. Prior to the latest panic, nearly every Walmart that sells guns in my area had at least one .22LR AR-15 style rifle. I suspect that as the .223 rifles and ammo ran out, people started buying the .22LR versions instead.
 
This is silliness at its best.

I remember another panic (there really have been so many) where everybody was buying up all the small pistol primers. The rumor was circulating that the feds were going to outlaw the 9mm round, so, there went the primers.

But the large pistol primers were in abundance. I guess the panic shoppers didn't figure anybody could be killed w/a 45 ACP, etc.

Things will calm down.

Until then, I think I'll stop by Walmart and see if they've gotten anymore 22 ammo in. ;)
 
Went to Academy todeay and discovered same. Seriously? Either paranoia is off the charts or the speculators have been going to town.
 
"I have yet to see anyone plop down a box of .22 for a Happy Meal."

Obviously you have not lived through the aftermath of a Hurricane where there is no water, electricity, credit card ATM's or grocery stores open for a month. I have on 3 occassions and on the last one to hit here in the Houston, Texas area the National Gaurd and every local government agency was busting their chops 2 days after the storm passed trying to get MRE's and ice out to certain parts of the city (Sheila Jackson Lee's District) to stop rioting and looting. Our modern society expects Uncle Sam to come to their rescue at a moment's notice and on occassion it just doesn't happen. Some have lived a blessed life and never expect there to be any shortage of anything at any time.
 
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Locally I haven't seen the shortage of 22's that other areas are experiencing. In fact last week I picked up a brick of American Eagle for just over $20.
 
I think that just a few people in each town buy up all the .22 because it's cheap and easy to do. That combined with a store that only receives a new shipment once per month creates a shortage for the occasional buyer.

I never see anyone selling .22 ammo for a profit.
 
Its just too easy to buy a brick here and there. People who got burned in the last ammo buying craze and people who have been wary of it happening again have been squirreling it away. Then when things went crazy...its easy to grab a few boxes of 22 especially if 223 is all gone.
 
As noted, it's only ammo that can't be reloaded.....usually keep 30K rounds on hand, more would be better, but that's an amount I'm comfortable with.
 
So, you haven't see it either, even though you've experienced three hurricanes.

"I have yet to see anyone plop down a box of .22 for a Happy Meal."
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Obviously you have not lived through the aftermath of a Hurricane where there is no water, electricity, credit card ATM's or grocery stores open for a month. I have on 3 occassions and on the last one to hit here in the Houston, Texas area the National Gaurd and every local government agency was busting their chops 2 days after the storm passed trying to get MRE's and ice out to certain parts of the city (Sheila Jackson Lee's District) to stop rioting and looting. Our modern society expects Uncle Sam to come to their rescue at a moment's notice and on occassion it just doesn't happen. Some have lived a blessed life and never expect there to be any shortage of anything at any time.
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As noted, it's only ammo that can't be reloaded.....usually keep 30K rounds on hand, more would be better, but that's an amount I'm comfortable with.
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How can anyone possibly be comfortable with only 30K rounds on hand? Don't expect us to supply your needs when you run out due to your lack of planning and preparation!
 
Some have lived a blessed life and never expect there to be any shortage of anything at any time.
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Seems to be a shortage of ammo and guns right now due to panic buys.

Regardless of whatever my life experiences may or may not be I reckon I am still correct. Anyone who is stocking up on .22rf as a future trade good today will likely stand disappointed in the balance.
 
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