The ammo makers only manufacturer and ship. Once it hits the trucks going out the company loading docks it can go anywhere and a middle man be a broker for a hidden buyer. Now who wants ammo off the shelves the most? IF our government has no qualms about shipping arms to drug cartels it certainly would have no problem buying up massive shipments under bogus buyers of ammo to keep it out of civilian hands. Any other administration, any other time in our nations history I would say Tin Foil. We live in different times now under a different government.
No govt conspiracy needed - I’ve been to several gun shows over the last year, from Georgia to Arizona. Folks are snapping up (for just one example) federal bulk boxes (333 rounds?) for $45 - $75.
Hell, there’s even jackasses on here who will call you a liberal when you point out their jackass-ness of hogging all they can grab when there are folks behind them in line who just want one box.
No sir - no govt conspiracy needed. But don’t take my word for it. Pick most any gun show, or browse gunbroker and see for yourself. We are our own worst enemy. All we need do is stop buying at 2x - 4x normal price and be patient. Let the shelves sit fully stocked for a month and watch what happens.
“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