Straight Skinny on the .22 Rimfire Ammo Shortage

hm1996

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So, Really, Where is the .22 Rimfire Ammo?

By NRA Staff (RSS)

August 11, 2014

It happens daily. Still. I get calls and e-mails asking where all the ammo is. Except it is not “all” ammo anymore. For the record, there is no conspiracy. There is no secret government contract. It’s not Bloomberg or Soros (even though their actions and pronouncements often increase demand. Ironic, huh?).

The major domestic ammunition makers have been producing more ammunition than ever. They are all up in terms of total production—double, and in some areas, triple-digit increases. They are all running three shifts. And when it comes to center-fire cartridges, at least of three of the big makers are caught up and beginning to load either new products, line extensions or specialty loads. Previously, lower-demand chambering or atypical bullet weights or styles were shelved due the time it took to change over the tooling. Now, on the center-fire side, anyway, the manufacturers can start to really catch up to demand and get to cartridge producing they have not loaded in two years.

But not on rimfire. Affordable .22 Long Rifle in particular remains like a Bigfoot sighting. Despite running three shifts—I recently talked with Federal Premium’s Tim Brandt specifically about this—rimfire capacity is at its maximum at the Federal Premium Anoka, Minn., and CCI, Lewiston, Idaho, plants. The other rimfire makers in the United States (and some overseas) tell me the same thing. Maximum production is coming out of all them. And it is not enough. Demand for .22 Long Rifle still exceeds production capacity.

The problem with rimfire production is that adding capacity is incredibly expensive and not easy. The machines are very spendy and cannot just be ordered out of catalog. And then you have to train the workforce, too, after the tooling is in and the plant built. And there are aspects of rimfire production one simply cannot rush—nor should it, ever. The priming of rimfire case borders on alchemy, dangerous alchemy. And priming compound is something one cannot take any safety shortcuts with, period. That said, more .22 Long Rifle was produced last year than in any other year in the history of mankind. And it was still not enough.

So, with demand outstripping supply, hoarding and speculation continue. Technology, too, has exacerbated the problem. Social media and instant communication continue to play a role. “Wal-Mart truck is in. In line now” read a Facebook post from a friend. And I received a text from another friend recently: “IV: Bass Pro has bricks of Auto Match. How many u want?”

What we need to come to terms with is that no one knows how long current levels of .22 demand will last—if the big ammo makers knew that they would have known whether or not to build a billion dollar rimfire plant or three. No company wanted to risk that level of capital expenditure, for good reason. Know this, though, the level of demand will remain higher even when the ammo companies catch up, if they ever do so.

http://www.americanrifleman.org/blogs/so-really-where-is-the-22-rimfire-ammo



Regards,
hm
 
Originally Posted By: FurhunterI havnt been shooting it much at all. When it comes back.. and it will, thats when I'll replenish the supplies.

I haven't shot a round of anything in two months. I think that may be a record for me. The days of going to the range or just out plinking and pop pop pop pop pop are over with. I'm hanging on to what I got for ground squirrels and prairie dogs next year.


If I pace myself somewhat I should be good on the .22 rimfire situation for 10 years or better with what I have stashed right now. Hard to believe that thousands of rounds of what I have on hand I paid less than $6 a brick for including tax. Rather doubt those days will ever be back. Safe bet that they wont be.
 
Originally Posted By: RustydustOriginally Posted By: FurhunterI havnt been shooting it much at all. When it comes back.. and it will, thats when I'll replenish the supplies.

I haven't shot a round of anything in two months. I think that may be a record for me. The days of going to the range or just out plinking and pop pop pop pop pop are over with. I'm hanging on to what I got for ground squirrels and prairie dogs next year.


If I pace myself somewhat I should be good on the .22 rimfire situation for 10 years or better with what I have stashed right now. Hard to believe that thousands of rounds of what I have on hand I paid less than $6 a brick for including tax. Rather doubt those days will ever be back. Safe bet that they wont be.

I hear ya, I've never been much of a rimfire guy anyways. I've got a few to shoot don't get me wrong but they don't get much use. Example.. I purchased a sweet little Anschutz in 17HMR earlier this spring. I still havnt put much more than 100 rounds thru it.

For the second year in a row now I've provided ammo for my nephew to shoot in 4H because it can't be found anywhere. My boys shoot it up when we have a chance to go out but it seems as of late, that isn't very often. Its hard for me to get excited about going out shooting in the dead heat of the summer. Prairie dog shooting aside of course!
 
It's nice to see factual information out there rather than the hysterical, conspiracy theory crap that just made the problem worse.

Hopefully rimfire is on its way back and will fully recover soon just like components and other finished ammo.

Also, it'll be great to see some profiteers and hoarders get burned after they caused all this. Going to be lots and lots of cryin' when they have to sell stockpiles of .22 ammo for a loss. Oh well, it's only money boys. I'm glad it's your money being flushed down the toilet. Live by the sword...

Grouse
 
I don't know if the whining and crying about having a stash that is only worth market value will ever match the whining and crying of the people that think they 'deserve' ammo have done for the last year. The guys that are flipping it are buying it at walmart or where ever for retail and marking up from there; if prices drop they will never get below what walmart sells for and that will be the floor. The flippers will then sell it for what they paid for it, and find something else to try to make a buck turning. I figure it is just business to most of those guys and they will look for the next opportunity when this one passes.

A lot of the new guys are getting their first lot of ammo when they buy the new 22. Several of the local LGS's keep 22 ammo back just for selling to people who purchase a gun.
 
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