[Kevin Gibson]

You know, I can understand a domestic shortage. What I don't understand is why no foreign .22lr is coming into the country to fill the gaps. Where the hell are the capitalists? And I don't think it's the government getting in the way, if that were the case, we would have heard something about it by now.

Anyone have any ideas why we're not seeing import .22lr?

 

[WaltGraham]

The regime may be discouraging such activity.

 

[Kevin Gibson]

The regime may be discouraging such activity.

Like I said if that was the case we would've heard about it. Very hard to keep such obstructionism quiet.

 

[WaltGraham]

Like I said if that was the case we would've heard about it. Very hard to keep such obstructionism quiet.

My bad, I thought that POTUS had used his "pen" and initiated some executive action. That apparently has not happened... yet.

 

[Retmsgt.]

I keep telling everybody, somewhere there are Distributors' warehouses stacked high with cases of .22LR. According to everything I've read stated by them, the Manufacturers are cranking out record amounts of .22. Something like 45,000,000 rounds a week. It's a conspiracy by the Distributors to raise prices and make windfall profits.

 

[Charlie Petty]

I think that a more likely explanation is that everyone who owns a .22 has bought bricks instead of boxes.

It is probably a good bet that everyone who owns more than one gun has a .22.

How many millions does that make?

 

[Kevin Gibson]

Its beyond millions Charlie, I believe it's a few chit-loads.

And to be honest, i've always bought .22 ammo by the brick.

 

[TommyGunn]

Isn't .22LR the most oft-used round in existance? IIRC people fire off uncountable bazillions of rounds of it yearly.
I used to -- when it was available.
I have a lot of it but I must admit I am hesitant to use it while replacing it seems so .... dubious.
However, with all the people shooting & hoarding, no wonder .22 is scarce at the stores.

 

[CaptainGyro]

Where are the Chinese when you need 'em? Rimfire manufacturing would seem to be right up their alley, considering their expertise in fireworks and munitions. Can you imagine how much .22LR would fit onto a container ship?

Long-term I'm pretty confident the supply and demand will return to equilibrium. Nature, and markets, abhor a vacuum.

 

[Charlie Petty]

The worrisome thing here is that this has lasted so long.

We've had panic driven shortages before but things were back to normal within a year or so and while there are signs of improvement the popular stuff is still scarce.

 

[Kevin Gibson]

The worrisome thing here is that this has lasted so long.

We've had panic driven shortages before but things were back to normal within a year or so and while there are signs of improvement the popular stuff is still scarce.

Exactly!!

This one has gone on long enough that the "market" is now accepting of prices of at least twice the original price. And the market will sell for what the market will bear, not based on their cost. It will take a long time for the supply and pricing to return to normal, if ever. Since everyone owns a .22 or a few, this may just be the new normal.

Still if I were a venture capitalist seeking an investment, I'd think importing .22lr ammunition would as close to a sure thing as you're likely to see.

 

[Retmsgt.]

Sorry guys, I don't buy that. The .22LR has been the most popular round for over forty years, now all of a sudden supply can't keep up with demand? My BS-O-Meter is wailing at 130 decibels over this! Nobody here can really tell me that 180 million rounds of ammo a month is disappearing off the shelves in minutes and be intellectually honest about it! Think about it, 180 million rounds a month. That is 216 Billion rounds a year!

How many places do you guys think sell ammo to the end-sellers? I'm talking about Distributors. Maybe 300? 400 on the big side? I'm telling you all, they're either stockpiling it in warehouses or the gov't is in on it. I'm betting on good old American greed and the former.

 

[William R. Moore]

Could be the resouces are being directed at product lines with a higher profit margin. I recall an earlier primer shortage in the Carter years that lasted well over a year. Last year I finally used up the last of the primers I bought back then (haven't been shooting .45 like I used to).

Not that I've ever kept track of production figures, but 45 Million lr rounds per week seems a bit much.

 

[spwenger]

Executive Order

Where are the Chinese when you need 'em? Rimfire manufacturing would seem to be right up their alley, considering their expertise in fireworks and munitions. Can you imagine how much .22LR would fit onto a container ship?

Isn't the importation of ammunition from China banned under an Executive Order by Bill Clinton? As I recall, he banned importation of both guns and ammo from China under the pretext that Chinese officials had surreptitiously shipped a load of full-auto Kalashnikov rifles to California, for trans-shipment to a Mexican drug cartel.

 

[Skeptic49]

Didn't Blazer try to market an aluminum case .22LR many moons agone?
Geoff
Who remembers when aluminum cases were controversial.

 

[t-star]

yes, they did- I remember it well- but can't you guys get aqila or whatever that Mexican chit is called?- I remember getting some 22 from ussr, but nothing from china- either one - packed in cosmoline, and lead bullets and i'd swear that was black powder for propellant- or repellant if you prefer

 

[Skeptic49]

Limiting factor might be the supply of Copper and Zinc to make brass. Problem I caught something on the radio news about the price of copper being down??

Geoff
Who is constantly amazed.

 

[spwenger]

That "Mexican chit" ...

yes, they did- I remember it well- but can't you guys get aqila or whatever that Mexican chit is called?- I remember getting some 22 from ussr, but nothing from china- either one - packed in cosmoline, and lead bullets and i'd swear that was black powder for propellant- or repellant if you prefer

...as you call it is Aguila - Spanish for "eagle."

I'd like to hear your complaints about it as the only one I've heard so far is the smell when the .22 rounds are fired.

The brand has its share of devoted customers - at least for its .22 specialty loads. Those include the Colibri (discontinued?), Super Colibri and the 60 gr. subsonic. I can't vouch for the accuracy of Aguila's advertising but they claim to use the "Eley priming system."

 

[bearcat6]

Here's an article on government ammo purchases. Look out for the mailman.
» U.S. Postal Service Announces Giant Ammo Purchase Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

 

[spwenger]

Feel Free...

Here's an article on government ammo purchases. Look out for the mailman.
» U.S. Postal Service Announces Giant Ammo Purchase Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

...to rely on Alex Jones/Infowars if that's your cup of tea. I see no mention of the number of rounds that UPPS is trying to buy, even after clicking the link to the "presolicitation."

I question how an organization that is supposedly "only" a Government Sponsored Enterprise still has its own force of federal agents but the fact remains that the US Postal Inspection Service has approximately 1,200 criminal investigators and 1,000 uniformed officers.