First, I searched and couldn't find any threads as an instructional of how to tell when/where 22lr is coming into local Wal-marts. I'm not saying there isn't, but just that I couldn't find any. Also, I don't work for Wal-mart, am not affiliated with Wal-mart, or even a supporter of Wal-Mart. What I will say is that even with all the other stuff that Wal-mart has done that I don't agree with at least they have kept 22lr prices similar to what they were pre-panic. Also, I do try to support my LGS and will buy from them at a slightly higher price before I will buy from a chain, they still can't get much (if any).
I'm like a lot of people and were trying to find 22lr for the past year (plus) so that my kids (7 & 10) can continue to enjoy shooting, but was having dismal luck until I tried hitting a Wal-mart on my way to work a little over a week ago. I arrived at around 6:30 and soon came to the realization that I was 9th in line. Since they said that the ammo came out at 7am and I didn't have to be to work until around 8am that I would just stay and see what came in. While waiting I just listened to the group of people in the front of the line and was amazed that somehow they seemed to know that Winchester 333 packs and CCI Mini Mags were going to be coming out. I thought how the heck could they know this and by just listening to them I discovered some of the "tricks" that they were using (and they were correct) and even though I was 9th I still picked up three CCI Mini Mags. I decided to use this week off from work (between Christmas and New Year's) to test out what I learned, learn more, and get some 22lr for my kids. What I learned below:
1) There are no garentees in life and searching for 22lr, so don't get bent out of shape if you show up and they don't have any, or they claim to have never received any. <=You can decide on your own what happened.
2) For the smartphone owner/users Wal-mart has an app and this is very useful, but in order to maximize your ability to find the right location you should also use their full version website. The only way I am able to find prices is through the app as the website doesn't list prices for my "home" store.
a) Set a Wal-mart as your "home" store.
b) Search for "22lr" - I use an Android OS but I think that the other systems have an app (except possibly Windows, but I could be wrong). Simply type in "22lr" in the search bar and you should see all of the types and sizes that are sold at that store. Once you click on one of the choices you will most likely see "Out of Stock". Then click on the "More Stores" button and it will use your phone's GPS to locate other stores near you. What you are looking for is any store that says "Quantities Unknown". Keep going through and checking all of the different 22lr packs that you are looking for.
c) Any store that after 6pm-8pm has a "Quantity Unknown" is likely (notice that I said likely and not definitely) to have it on a truck they just got and will stock it at their next "normal" stocking time.
d) Call the store you are thinking of going to and ask at least these three questions of the person covering the sporting goods.
i) Do you have any 22lr? You never know they might and you might want to go right down there.
ii) Is there a box limit on 22lr? Some stores near me only allow one (1) box of 22lr no matter the size, so it can be anywhere from a 50 round box to a 1,000 round box. Those stores allow a total of three (3) boxes, but only one (1) can be 22lr. Most stores that I have talked to allow three (3) boxes and some of the people in line this morning claimed that other stores have gotten into trouble for going against what they claim is corporate policy of three (3) boxes and limiting to one (1), but like I said that was just hearsay this morning.
iii) What time does the ammo put out? Most seem to be 7am here, but there is one locally that is 8am and I've heard of some putting it out as soon as it is offloaded from the truck 6-8pm.
e) Choose a store and set your alarm for early if you want some instead of being in the back of the line and only seeing it. In the past week I've gone earlier and earlier and have never done better than second in line and today I arrived at around 5am for a store that put it out at 7am. The guy and son in front of me said they were there at 4:30am.
3) Full website/PC version - This allows you to search a larger area than the nearest 2-4 stores (on the app), assuming that you live in/near a city that has more stores.
a) The process is almost the same except when you try to look up the availability of certain type it may read "Store information not available." Since I use Internet Explorer (IE) I use the process that is spelled out in the Youtube video that this guy did (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZRjbXKSLKI). <=Hopefully that works as a hyperlink but if it doesn't then copy and paste what is between the parentheses into your IE address bar.
4) One of the guys waiting this morning swore buy a site called www.ammo-can.net and claimed that it was based on the actual shipments. Since I just learned about this site I have not used it as of yet but thought it might be beneficial to pass on to others on this site.
I hope this helps others keep their kids shooting. I will also admit that I'm stockpiling 22lr for my family and will not apologize for that, nor do I care to hear any BS attacking me about it. This thread is in an attempt to help others in this forum locate the 22lr that are out there for a decent price and to hopefully push the ammo flippers out of the way of actual shooters.
Good luck.
Dave
|
   
   
|
|
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by btroj
