If Wal-Mart did engage in some (as you call it) "gouging," the end result would be more .22 ammo for more people at reasonable, if higher, prices.
Who buys out the ammo in that 30 minutes to one hour? Some shooters, sure, but many others who then resell it for several times the price. So basically, Wal-Mart is a distributor to high mark-up resellers, who can coordinate their purchases.
Wal-Mart would be doing its customers a favor by charging something closer to market, making it available to serious shooters at a high price rather than unavailable at any price.
But I get the public relations problem inherent with that. If I were advising them (which of course I'm not), I'd say up the price then advertise that the proceeds over and above the regular price would be donated to a gun rights cause.
Eh, no one ever listens. :-)
I still wonder how the crowd shows up right when they stock the shelves? I’ve been in several times and get different answers as to when they get their shipments. Then again I am not going into WalMart everyday. I’d be happy with one 525 brick to be honest.
I bought a can of 420 rds xM855 (SS109) from WM a year ago. Cost $175. CTD had the same thing - For $399 - What else but “gouging” woul you call it?
As for who buys the 22s, a one to 3 box limit isn’t a great inducement to waste an hour or so every morning for a Reseller. Unless they just have nothing better to do.