So, Really, Where Is The .22 Rimfire Ammo?

How many other sporting goods store employees are doing the same thing though? That’s the point.

The problem with rimfire is there is no foreign competition.

The risk-adverse managers of the ammo companies aren't going to invest in new plant and equipment until the have to. Putting on another shipping clerk just isn't going to do it either. What you are seeing is a market with too little competition that just won't correct on its own.

“That would be ALMOST believable except for this. How many people do you know are actually finding and buying .22 LR?”

It does not take many people to max out the .22 LR supply. There may be 100 million of .22LR firearm owners. If only a small percentage of them wish to stockpile a couple of thousand rounds, it maxes out production for years.

http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2014/03/ammunition-availability-shortages-and.html

Thank you for the details on WM’s inventory system.

The low amounts ordered are made worse by the [BLANK]holes who panic buy. I watched a guy in line in front of me look at the last few boxes (one or two more than the limit) and tell his kid “Go get your mother. Now.”

F’get the people in line behind him, he wanted it ALL.

The government doesn't have to buy it all.

I haven't noticed or read where the govt is buying rimfire in "bazillion" round quantities -- hang on -- I haven't noticed, read or heard form any reliable source that the govt is buying *any* rimfire at all. Centerfire? Absolutely. Rimfire? No credible evidence I've seen of any. Someone *PLEASE* correct me and show me a good source pointing out govt purchases of rimfire. Please.

Does a ammo company really care who is buying? Will they not protect their largest client especially one holding much larger contracts? A year of shortage? Yea sure I could see fear hoarding making ammo scarce. Five years? No something else is happening.

A rep from one of the big rimfire manufacturers was at my local gunshop and they put him on the spot about it and he said: If he went into one of the corporate production meetings and suggested they focus on, and increase, rimfire manufacturing capacity, he would be fired on the spot.

They see no "business sense" in investing in the tooling and machinery, plus headcount & training to add additional rimfire capacity (a long term investment) for a short term problem. Rimfire is the lowest margin cartridge product they offer. It makes far, Far, FAR more "business sense" to focus on centerfire where the profit margin is higher, and demand is spread across different products (calibers/loadings).

But, if anyone has any reasonable evidence of the govt making market-depleting purchases of rimfire, I will stand corrected. Since 0bama first initiated the guns & ammo buying panics, all I've see are regular folks snatching up rimfire as soon as it hits the shelves, both at gun shops, gun shows and online. No govt conspiracy required when we are our own worst enemy when it comes to the rimfire shortage.

And let's not forget all those who are hoarding it not to shoot, but in the hope/belief that society will collapse soon and all those .22 shells will turn into "currency". Well, if society collapses, maybe they are on to something and well prepared. But, I just don't see the country going down the drain just yet. I'm hopeful and optimistic for the elections through 2016. I'll re-assess after then.

When the buying finally subsides and gets back to pre-obama levels, there are a ton of folks who will be sitting on a bigger ton of *VERY* expensive rimfire -- rimfire they bought at what used to be centerfire prices! Of course, they may not give a hoot how much money they have sunk into paying for way-overpriced ammo. That is their right. And it is my right to observe them and call their ammo shopping mania idiotic, borderline psychotic and laughable.

Don't get me wrong, I righteously fault the govt for any number of failures and shortcomings from border/national security, fiscal policy, sticking it's nose where it don't belong, over regulation and both parties ever increasing attacks on liberty. But I don't fault the govt for the rimfire shortage, except to blame 0bama for causing the panic in the first place. We consumers are demanding more than the supply can offer. Plain and simple.

It's sloooooooowly getting better and some markets are seeing rimfire stock last more than a day on the shelves. I believe it will take awhile to ratchet back down to normal everywhere. Probably not until well after 0bama is gone.