Everyone Calm Down Here
Everyone,
Calm down here. I just finally logged on to post this but WE are the cause of the shortages. Take the tin foil hats off, every one of us has from time to time as quoted far earlier "pounced" on what there was when we saw it. As such, this is what causes the shortages. I am a type 06 FFL, I love the 'pouncing' but it is ridiculous and I'm getting tired of it. I also hate being the 22LR guy that everyone seems to want from me. This is because half really want some for personal use and the other half want to take a cut and mark it up, hence why my prices are lower than everyone on TFB.
I decided to stop selling 22LR altogether and refocus on normal production and sales to select premier 01 FFL dealers and LE / private security. While this requires the grind and is not quick money, it's right thing to do and better for the long run. It also is in line with the business plan. I can shoot any time I want, select fire or full auto free of charge at my range, they are my customer as well and I do ballistics testing there. While I enjoy throwing some brass every now and then, I don't have the same expenses many of you do. Most people's expensive hobby is a business expense for me and therefore is tax deductible. I really think, from an outside perspective - that people need to just relax and let the market stabilize. For the tin foil folks and for those who are just caught in the last decade of pricing, yes 22LR is going to be slightly more expensive going forward, it just is as will all handgun calibers for semi autos (exception to 38/357MAG). I have confirmed through the manufacturers themselves that by fall we should see 22LR returning to the market. I can confirm this - as many of us will switch to different calibers for those seasons. While I am NOT one of those, as my calibers are always in demand due to my client portfolio, many of you are. The hard truth is that when the AR/MSR models started flying off the shelves in late 2012, the result was the ammo needed for them. In turn, manufactures like me rushed to get that product back to the shelves and in turn; the large manufacturers that I deal with had to convert some of their production lines (of what was no big deal at the time22LR) over to 223REM. Because of this, everyone thought they could instead by the 22LR AR/MSR models and in turn, squashed the demand for this caliber. This was exacerbated by the additional sales of handguns, many semi automatic 22LR models.
Today, we shoot more than our forefathers. More ammunition is expended than ever before in this decade. WE are the cause of our issues. For what it's worth, this is the truth for all to know. I wanted to set everyone down for a moment and give them the same insight I have had for a year now. For those attempting to grab the 22LR, get it done because your time is up. I expect to see the same trend on Gunbroker as I have since the beginning of last month. Mass liquidation of assets, particularly those in the hardest to find products. Their prices (that many find ridiculous) is slowly falling and is expected to bottom out by the end of next month. Will people still need ammunition, yes they will and will some always be more popular than others - yes. Will their always be a rush for these products, that depends on you - the reader of this post. Ultimately, we the manufactures want all of you to be served. We do want to make money and yes, that's the point of being in business but ultimately in the end, if you can't shoot - you will give up and that's not good for any of us at all. Take only what you NEED from the shelves and pass everything I have told you to the next person, with only one request - leave one for the next person please. If we want this nonsense to stop, then each of us must take a stand. I need no replies as I am rarely reading these. Ask yourselves today men, where do you stand? When the music stops will you still be at The Firing Line or on the other side still holding an offset losing hand?