Ammo shortages (now 2016)? What are you seeing out there?

[Smurf Hunter]

Around here the only thing that is more absent than 22 is 30-30 and no one can explain it.
I have seen more 22 available than 30-30.

weird around the greater Puget Sound area I can find .30-30 at most Walmarts and sporting goods

[Chemsoldier]

weird around the greater Puget Sound area I can find .30-30 at most Walmarts and sporting goods

Which is why internet sales are glorious.  It tends to smooth out the shortages a bit.  You buy online and it reduces demand in that area experiencing the regional shortage.

[pokeshell]

Just got 525 round boxes of federal hollow .22 for $23.99. They were limiting to 10 boxes per person.  I only had enough cash for 2, but I am happy to purchase over 1000 rounds for plinking. Not as cheap as it once was, but a price I am willing to invest at for future shortages. Going back Monday with cash in hand.

They had 450 rounds of of 9mm for $45, copper jacket. All the nice ammo was still over a buck a shot. It was still the most expensive ammo they carry.

But I was told, and shown the boxes of the 9mm that had 1000 rounds, the manager said they are going on sale for $100 Monday 12/17/2013. He also mentioned that the other store had them at that prices. They need to clear out enough of the older ammo(3 months old) at cost. These stores never ran nout of ammo, it jst got very expensive, and was only sold with the purchase of a new gun.

 
 the .22 was gone at this price. But, with a few other purchases earlier this month, I am sitting well on .22. Now, I either need to get some .40 to carry, or find some decent  9mm ammo to shoot at an OK price. Why is it cheaper to shoot .40 and .45? All the talk is about the government buying .40, yet I can get that at a cheaper price than 9mm (or .45)
 

[Skunkeye]

Why is it cheaper to shoot .40 and .45? All the talk is about the government buying .40, yet I can get that at a cheaper price than 9mm (or .45)

I think it's simply because there are a lot more 9mm pistols out there.  .40 has only been around, what, 20 years?  So there's more demand for 9mm, thus the higher price.

[ID_Joker]

Local farm store had 525rd winchester 22lr in stock.  20.99 each.  I bought two and picked up the rest they had for friends who wanted it.  16 boxes in total.  Score!

[Smurf Hunter]

Local farm store had 525rd winchester 22lr in stock.  20.99 each.  I bought two and picked up the rest they had for friends who wanted it.  16 boxes in total.  Score!

So you're *that* guy!?   

I'm a bit jealous.  It was Dec. 2012 last I saw the 525 bricks of any brand on a store shelf.

[mountainmoma]

I just paid $75 for a box of 525 rounds of federal .22 ammo. It is undbelievable to me that the price varies so much that this is 3times what you got it for !

[Bonnieblue2A]

I just paid $75 for a box of 525 rounds of federal .22 ammo. It is undbelievable to me that the price varies so much that this is 3times what you got it for !

You paid whaaat?   

Now where did I put that bridge.......

[nelson96]

You paid whaaat?   

Now where did I put that bridge.......

  My thoughts exactly.  Desperate times bring desperate measures I suppose.

[mountainmoma]

Actually, it was 550 rounds, so like 11 boxes. And, that is 6.80 for 50 rounds. That had CA sales tax built in, so 6.12 or so..... this is the price I saw it listed on line at bulk ammo, also, so it was buy it there or buy online with shipping added. And, online, you could click on it and then it tells you they're out. Locally, there is no .22 ammo, never, realy.  This was copper plated hollow point, not that we needed that for target practice, but that is what it was.

I bought this at the gun show saturday, which seemed to be more like an ammo show as that is what had the most lines for there.

Unlike some of you, I have no ammo sitting on shelves from years ago and we need to shoot to learn how to shoot...

I am about to sign my daughter and myself up for an appleseed weekend shoot, and that requires .22 ammo, and alot of it.

I truly do not understand why we cannot buy .22 ammo either. This vendor probably bought it at your state, drove out here and sold it for 3x what it was worth....

[lostprepper]

Pretty much the only thing our store can't get/keep on the shelves is 380ACP and 30/30 ammo. 9mm is cheaper here than 40S&W($5 more then 9mm) and 45ACP ($9 more then 9mm) as well.

[Bonnieblue2A]

Mountainmamma, prices are definitly regional.  .22lr here in the central Midwest is still almost impossible to find, except at gunshows where it is overpriced at $40-$50/550 rnd.brick.

If you are in CA that brings about a whole new set of challenges affecting your prices.

[mountainmoma]

Probably especially in my area of california. I guess it would be considered in the greater san francisco bay area region of CA. There is no cabelas in the state of california. There is no wal mart in this county, which over all is probably a good thing, and i have actually never been in one. Big 5 sporting goods store sells ammo. But, they mostly sell exercise equipment. They might get a few boxes in on a friday morning, or maybe not....and that is 1 hour away, I dont live in the city. And, there is one combo gun store/ indoor shooting range at the other end of this county. You can buy a small box of 22 ammo if you are buying range time, and I once found a box on the shelf there, so I did have a little ammo here from that, but not enough to carry 2 or 3 people thru an  appleseed event. And, that range/store is more than an hour away, I do not just go and "drop by" on the off chance of something being there.

I knew it was a bit overpriced, but the appleseed event is very inexpensive, although a 1 1/2 -2 hour drive, I think we are going to sign up for june, actually having rifle training for she and I is more important right now, maybe some day ammo will come down in price to get some for keeping around

[Smurf Hunter]

For the price you paid.  I'm hoping at least that was Federal "champion", which in my experience is a halfstep better than the Walmart Federal - though I'd gladly take either today.

In Oct. 2012 I got a rain check for 525 Fed Champion bricks of $15.99.  Miraculously the rain check came in the day of Sandy Hook.  I bought their last 5 bricks at that price and it's the last I've seen on a store shelf since.

I think I'd steal ammo before I'd pay 5x markup in just over a year.  YMMV

[mountainmoma]

It does not seem to be federal champion, there were two types there, and too much crowds and stuff, this is a red box of 550 that just says its federal copper plated hollow point. But, like I said paying too much for an amount sufficient to get my daughter and I thru rifle training is worth it, we realy cant just wait.

I am interested in which types are worthwhile for future purchases. I am now on the list for backordered rounds from midway online. They have "normal" prices, but nothing in stock for right now, and these were all limited to buy one per item. I have used the winchester super-x, which was fine, but I dont know if I have ever shot their "bulk" . There was something nasty I picked up at the range (and it was cheap), maybe it was a remington ? , last fall that was so smoky and dirty, I gave the rest of the box way ! So, tips on what is worthwhile .22 rounds is appreciated.

Federal Champion Fresh Fire Ammunition 22 Long Rifle 36 Grain Plated Lead Hollow Point Sealed Can of 325
Product #: 773108   $17.99   1   $0.00
 Fiocchi Shooting Dynamics Ammunition 22 Long Rifle 40 Grain Plated Lead Round Nose Ammunition Can of 1575
Product #: 319563   $114.99   1   $0.00
 Winchester Ammunition 22 Long Rifle 36 Grain Plated Lead Hollow Point Box of 333 (Bulk)
Product #: 952255   $16.99   1   $0.00
 Winchester Super-X High Velocity Ammunition 22 Long Rifle 40 Grain Plated Lead Round Nose Case of 2000 (20 Boxes of 100)
Product #: 752587   $129.99   1

I am now wondering if I want to cancel any of this or not, as shipping will be something as they all are due in on seperate months. The Champion fresh fire is due in March, some other one in June, another next october !

[Hootie]

Walmart Shelves are still half bare... but still picked up a box.

• 22LR     - ha you wish...
• 9mm     - 5 boxes (50rd)
• 40S&W - 15 boxes (50rd, even some  250rd)
• 45AUTO - 10 boxes (50rd, even some  250rd)

[Skunkeye]

So, tips on what is worthwhile .22 rounds is appreciated.

I haven't used the Fiocchi, but the other three are decent ammo.  The trick with .22LR is that the guns are fairly sensitive to ammo variations.  One type of ammo that works accurately and flawlessly in my rifle might not shoot well at all from yours.  The standard advice is to try as many kinds as you can, and find what works best in your gun.  Of course, in the current market, that's impossible.  You just have to shoot what you can find.

That said, I haven't met the gun yet that doesn't shoot CCI ammo at least decently.  It's very high quality stuff.

As for backorders at Midway, they ship as they come in, so you'll have to pay separate shipping charges on each item.  It's generally not worth it for a single box of 300 or 500 rounds, as the shipping will often double the cost.  That said, if you're stuck paying $75 locally, then even with shipping, Midway is still a better deal.  I've got several backorders on file with them for .22 ammunition as well, with the idea that I can always cancel them if my ammo situation improves enough that I don't need it.

Any chance that smoky, smelly stuff you picked up at the range was Aguila?  It's inexpensive, it's one of the few brands that I routinely see available these days, and it is dirtier and smokier than most.

[Hootie]

• So what have we learned so far?
• What are the first calibers to go missing?
• What calibers always seem to be in stock?

for me:
1. So what have we learned so far?
    - need to stock up
    - need learn/start reloading

2. What are the first ammo to go missing?
    - 22LR...  then 9mm, 45, 223, 556

3. What ammo always seem to be in stock?
    - 12 gauge
    - 17hmr
   

[inconel710]

• So what have we learned so far?
• What are the first calibers to go missing?
• What calibers always seem to be in stock?

for me:
1. So what have we learned so far?
    - need to stock up
    - need learn/start reloading

2. What are the first ammo to go missing?
    - 22LR...  then 9mm, 45, 223, 556

3. What ammo always seem to be in stock?
    - 12 gauge
    - 17hmr
   

I would hesitate to draw too many conclusions from Gun Panic 2013.  During Gun Panic 2009, 22LR was not in short supply.  Common pistol calibers were.  I didn't have a rifle in 2009, so I don't recall any problems with rifle ammo (which is not to say they were no problems, there probably were!).  I do remember reloading components becoming scarce in 2009 as well.  There will be variations next time around.  The true bottom line lesson is to stock up on what YOU use whether it's pistol, rifle, shotgun or reloading components.

[theBINKYhunter]

around here 12ga eventually did go out, but it did take much longer to happen and it recovered a lot quicker. it is still almost impossible to find 22lr.

[Fixit]

My memory says that panic 2009 it was .380 ammo that went missing first.

[Skunkeye]

There will be variations next time around.  The true bottom line lesson is to stock up on what YOU use whether it's pistol, rifle, shotgun or reloading components.

Very true.  Especially since there are now hundreds of thousands (millions?) of new gun owners in the ammo market that weren't there before the panic started.  So, depending on what guns those people bought, that could lead to variations in demand the next time around.

[Smurf Hunter]

Federal Champion .22lr is the best bulk available.  It's the favorite of Youtube star "22Plinkster".

[Mortblanc]

One of the things one should have learned from this and the last crisis was that they should have ammo in stock.  You don't even have to be into prepping to realize that!

Second thing they should learn is that when ammo gets scarce they should stop shooting at tin cans and save it for emergencies.  I really sicken at hearing people claiming to be preppers whining that they "shot up all their ammo and Walmart does not have any more!"

Third thing is that Wallmart is not on your side!  If you develop a relationship with the local gun shop you might find they have some boxes under the counter for their "regulars". 

In my area all ammo is now available anywhere but Walmart

I can walk into any one of a half dozen LGS and get what I need at reasonable prices, or I can go to either of the local sportsmans' super stores and get what I need at almost the same prices I was paying pre-panic.  Three of the four big box gun stores I shop have pallets of ammo stacked on the sales floor.

[Bonnieblue2A]

I would hesitate to draw too many conclusions from Gun Panic 2013.  During Gun Panic 2009, 22LR was not in short supply.... 

  Which was the reason I didn't worry about stocking up on .22lr .  Weak excuse I know.  Even those of us who were prepared for most calibers and firearms when Obama panic #2 hit may have been caught with little .22lr put back.  It had never been a problem before.

[dep190]

Stopped at the Ravenna,Ohio Walmart last night and again  there were no .22 rounds of any kind and no 17 HMR.  I bought a twenty round box of TULA ammo 7.62X39 FMJ20 rounds for $5.63 out the door.   My buddy bought a 100 round box of ,223 for forty dollars while 20 rounds of USA was 12.95.

Earlier in the day I was at a small independent gun shop and they had NO .22 ammo and a meager supply of other ammo at not the greatest prices.  The Clerk stated they had just returned from the VEGAS SHOT SHOW. I asked what tales the Manufactures were telling and they are blaming the whole salers for hoarding the ammo to keep the price at high levels!

[Smurf Hunter]

I bought a 500 round box of Remington Thunder bolt from cabelas.com.  I opted for in-store pickup to avoid shipping, so came to $22 for the box.
1 box per customer per day, so I'll buy another after midnight tonight and pickup "both" orders in a few weeks 

[inconel710]

I bought a 500 round box of Remington Thunder bolt from cabelas.com.  I opted for in-store pickup to avoid shipping, so came to $22 for the box.
1 box per customer per day, so I'll buy another after midnight tonight and pickup "both" orders in a few weeks 

pfft - it's gone now.

[nelson96]

pfft - it's gone now.

You can backorder it for the same price, unless it was on a "while supplies last" sale.

[inconel710]

You can backorder it for the same price, unless it was on a "while supplies last" sale.

There's no 22lr available to order when I go to Cabelas.com.  Zip, zero, nada.  No backorder, nothing.