22 prices more than doubled again

[farmbif]

it was just a week or 2 ago I did a little looking around at 22 ammo and one thing that really stuck out to me was boxes of 500 armscor 22lr ammo was up to $129 and just a few months before places were offering cases of 5000 rounds for the same price $129.
well today thought I'd take a look around and found some boxes on ammoseek and dontcha no prices has gone up to $299 for a brick or box of 500 rounds.
$3000 for an investment of $129 than any one of us could have made less than a year ago. forget the stock market of 401k ammo has all of em beat as an investment.

will 22's make it to $1 a round in another week or so?

[BigAlofPa.]

I picked up a box of winchester 555 at Walmart last night. 22 bucks.

[rockrat]

LGS had Federal 525 packs for $49.99

[cwtebay]

Just bought 2 bricks of federal for $19.99

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[abunaitoo]

Can't find any here.

[merlin101]

I picked up boxes of Win 333's for about $18.00 each, just have to check often and be sharp.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Right before Hillary lost, I bought a case of CCI Blazer for just under $450
The price dropped month by month...so I just sat on it...still sitting.
If I would have been asked yesterday, I'd said I still paid too much
TODAY, I see this post, I try AmmoSeek and can't find Blazer.
So, I go to Gunbroker, and I see a auction for one Brick of 500 closed 4 days ago, winner paid $89 plus $19 ship.

[Shawlerbrook]

Was at a Walmart yesterday. They had 2 guns and 2 boxes of shotshells. The Sporting Goods section looked like it had been looted. And this is a rural, small city area.

[MrWolf]

Wow. $0.60 per round for a 22. I swore after last time to stock up. When they were $0.03.5-$0.04 cents each I bought a few. Been told I should sell mine and take the profit. My response is then what do I do when I want them which is why I got them in the first place? I have also paid a lot more for stuff I thought I needed right then. For the first time I am scared that there may not be a reversal of the markets back to realistic prices. The ability to out right steal an election without repercussions means we may never really see a change in leadership values. I feel sorry for those just entering into our hobby but look at the indifference of the younger generation to giving up freedoms and rights and just don't understand. Not throwing stones as my own kids lean that way. I can understand how folks say they are just to old and tired to keep fighting it when nothing we do seems to matter. Only 60 but my body is busted up or "broken" as I have been told. Guess I am just rambling. Sorry folks. Keep praying it will get better.

[jonp]

it was just a week or 2 ago I did a little looking around at 22 ammo and one thing that really stuck out to me was boxes of 500 armscor 22lr ammo was up to $129 and just a few months before places were offering cases of 5000 rounds for the same price $129.
well today thought I'd take a look around and found some boxes on ammoseek and dontcha no prices has gone up to $299 for a brick or box of 500 rounds.
$3000 for an investment of $129 than any one of us could have made less than a year ago. forget the stock market of 401k ammo has all of em beat as an investment.

will 22's make it to $1 a round in another week or so?

So that 1400 round bucket of Remington Golden I bought at Walmart a few years ago for $49.99 is worth almost $750? Guess I'll sell some and buy a new truck

[GasGuzzler]

I have soooo much left from 2012-2013 yet I still cannot make myself sell any.

As of 1-17-21 it's around $0.35 not $0.60. I paid $0.08-0.10 and feel like that was too much.

[dale2242]

I saw a box of 800 federals at Bi Mart for $45 a few days ago.
$.056 a round doesn`t seem too bad to me.
It isn`t 1965 anymore so I don`t think we will see $6-8 a brick again.

[Shawlerbrook]

Around here you can’t find ammo at any price. Luckily I really don’t need to find any. Lesson learned a couple Presidents ago.

[GhostHawk]

Lots of places with lower prices that are sold out. I found some .22mag ammo at a dollar per round in stock. Sorry not paying that.

.22lr ammo seems to be headed to join it.

[JoeJames]

I need to change my insurance rider to cover 22 shells, primers, reloading dies, and boolit molds.

[Burnt Fingers]

I need to change my insurance rider to cover 22 shells, primers, reloading dies, and boolit molds.

Eastern Insurance to cover firearms and stuff.

Much less expensive than a rider.

[Traffer]

I reload them for about a penny apiece.

[Martin Luber]

I only costs what you're willing to pay. What's the Boy Scout motto....just sayin

[gbrown]

Yeah, I have been on GB looking at the prices of .22 RF and components. Funny how there are plenty of bids on most of the things. Same on Ebay for reloading equipment, again, with plenty of bids. Just shocking to see so many people ready to pay those prices and ready to run up a credit card or have that kind of expendable cash. I don't get excited or disturbed with the prices, free market at play. Gougers? Probably so. What I smell is LGS doing it, as opposed to selling to their local customers. Just a hunch, maybe I'm wrong. Hope so.

[snowwolfe]

Sixty cents a round? I'll gladly sell off most of mine for $100 a brick.

[gbrown]

I did a carburetor adjustment for a neighbor on his tractor and didn't charge him. He knew I shot a lot and gave me 2 bricks. He said he had over 8 cases if I needed any. One of the boxes was Winchester and read 40 grain 1300 fps. :-D
That's what I'd call a good friend.

[slohunter]

Time to pull out the old Gamo!

[Big Boomer]

Over the years I came to realize that I could cast my own boolits and load centerfire ammo cheaper than I could buy 22 rimfire ammo. I gave my entire stock - which was considerable - to my son since I also gifted him with all my 22 revolvers and rifles, plus he has a Ruger pistol that he likes along with a Thompson-Center Contender barrel that fits my Contender. He won't run out of ammo soon. Also, over the years when I had some extra spending money I bought up all the primers and powder I figured I might need in case I lived long enough to grow old. I'm there now (81 on 2/10/21) and still have plenty of primers and powder for a long time to come if I live much longer. Big Boomer

[dverna]

Live long and prosper Big Boomer!!

But your son would be a fool to burn up his “free” .22’s when he can get $60-100 a brick for them. I plan on selling all but 5000 rounds of my stash. I have cheaper ways to get trigger time and if .22’s are never affordable again, 5000 will last me a life time....I am 70...

[Traffer]

Live long and prosper Big Boomer!!

But your son would be a fool to burn up his “free” .22’s when he can get $60-100 a brick for them. I plan on selling all but 5000 rounds of my stash. I have cheaper ways to get trigger time and if .22’s are never affordable again, 5000 will last me a life time....I am 70...

Now there is some sound advise. Ammo is not the most important thing in the world. I am going to keep enough 9mm to fill a couple of magazines and my 22lr stuff to tinker with and the rest is getting disposed of. Guns ammo ...the whole works.

[MrWolf]

I am 60 and think a lil different. I am keeping my stuff for my kid's future where they may not have access to what we have now. They are at life stages where life gets in the way and will hopefully appreciate what I have saved for them when I am gone. Luck folks.

[Texas by God]

In the disappointed/not disappointed category; I went digging through stuff the other day looking for small rifle primers- and found two bricks of .22 ammo instead!

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[444ttd]

i bought a few federal 500 rounders last year at $15 each. they're still sitting there in my safe. i much prefer the 20 vartarg.

[Geezer in NH]

2022 bricks will be going for $200. Don't shortchange yourselves for a few bucks.

[kerplode]

2022 bricks will be going for $200. Don't shortchange yourselves for a few bucks.

This x100. I think we're in for a long haul this time. Things aren't going to get better/cheaper/more available for quite a while, if ever. If you need/want it, get what you can find now.

[Teddy (punchie)]

22's were just coming down to 20 or so for a brick then they started to climb again. Only ones I shoot or sell at this point are one I don't like or odd ones.

Better yet trade for what I need or want.

[shooterg]

Live long and prosper Big Boomer!!

But your son would be a fool to burn up his “free” .22’s when he can get $60-100 a brick for them. I plan on selling all but 5000 rounds of my stash. I have cheaper ways to get trigger time and if .22’s are never affordable again, 5000 will last me a life time....I am 70...

5000 might last ME a while - but my 10 year grandson burns through a few bricks each visit ! That's only a few weeks a year so I'm still good for a while - then he'll be old enough to reload and can go through my stock of powder and primers too and it'll all be $$ well spent !

[dverna]

5000 might last ME a while - but my 10 year grandson burns through a few bricks each visit ! That's only a few weeks a year so I'm still good for a while - then he'll be old enough to reload and can go through my stock of powder and primers too and it'll all be $$ well spent !

I have my fiancés grandkids to deal with as well...plus our own plinking needs. I just purchased a high end PCP air rifle and that will be our main fun gun. I spent $1000 for the rifle (but decent ones cost under $500) and a tank will cost $600. Filling the tank costs $10 for 4-5K shots and pellets are $40/1000. Makes cost per shot about $.05. Pellets are easy to get even during this shortage and not at a stupid price.

So, if I sell 20k .22's for $200/1000 (seems easy to do on GB) I will get $4000. I have $1600 in the air gun system and can shoot 20k rounds for $1000. $4000 less $2600 yields a "profit" of $1400 and I never need to worry about .22LR supply/costs again.

One thing to consider....get a springer for the kids. They will be less inclined to "blasting away". Springers are very cheap to shoot and a good one can be had for under $300. I have an RWS 35 (approx $350 new) and it is amazing. But I am getting to old to cock it for 100 rounds of plinking so went with the PCP.

Everything that needs to be taught about becoming (and staying) a good shot will be accomplished with an air gun. And they are effective to at least 50 yards for critter control. Two last advantages for us...no need for hearing protection and no brass to pick up...we shoot off our back porch.

Enjoy your grandkids!!!

[kerplode]

Air guns! Brilliant! I need a PCP...

[dverna]

Air guns! Brilliant! I need a PCP...

I was not a fan of air guns until recently. Shot .38’s during the last .22 LR shortage. But no way I am burning up SP primers for entertainment when I can get $100/1000 for them. We will not stop shooting “real” guns, but we will be shooting them a lot less often.

I am now looking for a good PCP pistol as well.

If I really enjoyed casting and reloading, it would be a tougher sell. But I reload to shoot. And most of our shooting is plinking. Conserving powder is another advantage of air gunning. I just sold 3 jugs of Unique for stupid $$$.

[GasGuzzler]

I bought a lifetime supply of .22LR when I was in my 30's so this wouldn't happen to me.

[Traffer]

I bought a lifetime supply of .22LR when I was in my 30's so this wouldn't happen to me.

Curious to know what a lifetime supply is. For me it would be about 200 rounds.

[Burnt Fingers]

Curious to know what a lifetime supply is. For me it would be about 200 rounds.

I've got 45K or so of 22 LR and am sweating running out.

[HATCH]

Its not my lifetime's worth of shooting I am worried about.
I doubt that I could every shoot up my supply of reloading items or my supply of 22lr ammo
Its my kids lifetime's worth.

I will be 52 this year. I can remember me and my friends going to the outdoor range with our AK rifles (dozens of them) and shooting for a entire afternoon.
We would bring CASES of Chinese ammo and just shoot until we were tired of loading magazines.
I never shot more then a case or so of ammo on a range day.
Now I have to tell my son that we are limited on bringing 100 rds of rifle ammo when we go to the range. I do still have tens of thousands of factory loaded 7.62x39,5.45x39 and good old 5.56 but my son is only 16, he still as years of shooting to go (hopefully)

[snowwolfe]

I am now looking for a good PCP pistol as well.

Please update and tell us what you ended up with. Would like to get one myself.

[Traffer]

Running out of ammo just presents more opportunities to explore ways of doing it ourselves. Developing ways to beat the system by making my own ammo is FAR more gratifying than popping off ammo at a range.

[Thin Man]

There are a lot of people starting, or returning to handloading. Lately our shop has sent several damaged handguns to their factories to correct the handloaders errors. One was an FNP-40 with a double charge of powder that ruptured and split the case (.40 S&W). The extractor was split in half. The owner had the same experience only recently with the same pistol and his handloads. We replaced the extractor and associated parts but he went right back to the same batch of ammo and did it again! This one has only recently arrived at FN for a full inspection and correction if there isn't anything more that went south. Will be interesting to learn what they find.

The other customer plugged up two firearms with his brother-in-law's home made ammo. He left one bullet in the barrel of his S&W 642, also had six (yes, 6) bullets in the barrel of his 686. It wasn't enough for him to stop using the ammo when the first firearm became disabled, he had to repeat the mistake on the second. This customer's bills from S&W to repair these revolvers ran just under $225 each (includes replacing both barrels). Wonder if the BIL is going to chip in and pay for these defective rounds and the damage they caused? I doubt it, he will probably blame the "defective" firearms somehow.

[dverna]

There are a lot of people starting, or returning to handloading. Lately our shop has sent several damaged handguns to their factories to correct the handloaders errors. One was an FNP-40 with a double charge of powder that ruptured and split the case (.40 S&W). The extractor was split in half. The owner had the same experience only recently with the same pistol and his handloads. We replaced the extractor and associated parts but he went right back to the same batch of ammo and did it again! This one has only recently arrived at FN for a full inspection and correction if there isn't anything more that went south. Will be interesting to learn what they find.

The other customer plugged up two firearms with his brother-in-law's home made ammo. He left one bullet in the barrel of his S&W 642, also had six (yes, 6) bullets in the barrel of his 686. It wasn't enough for him to stop using the ammo when the first firearm became disabled, he had to repeat the mistake on the second. This customer's bills from S&W to repair these revolvers ran just under $225 each (includes replacing both barrels). Wonder if the BIL is going to chip in and pay for these defective rounds and the damage they caused? I doubt it, he will probably blame the "defective" firearms somehow.

I am going to bet those rounds were produced with SS or turret press. It is what most beginners use and they have lots to learn...sometimes the hard way.

I am so glad I never have to shoot on a public range again.

[jpamp]

Is it weird that I still find 22 wmr on the shelf for .25- .30 a round? Seems not as much interest as 22lr.

[farmbif]

when I can easily get $1 a round its time to cash in and get that new Cessna

[farmbif]

I remember during the last shortage I met a guy in a sporting goods store and he was after 22 mag, I had just scored a 1000 extras at normal price of $11/50 and offered him some. I ended up driving a bunch of miles to meet him and sold him 1000 at my cost.
I believe in karma but those kind of acts of kindness to strangers is a thing of the past for this old boy.

[cwtebay]

I remember during the last shortage I met a guy in a sporting goods store and he was after 22 mag, I had just scored a 1000 extras at normal price of $11/50 and offered him some. I ended up driving a bunch of miles to meet him and sold him 1000 at my cost.
I believe in karma but those kind of acts of kindness to strangers is a thing of the past for this old boy.You're not wrong! My BIL texted, crying the blues that he's short on ammo. I asked what happened to the 5000 - 22 LR and 1000- 9mm I gave he and my nephew - reply was: I sold them, I figured you had gotten them cheap and I'm betting you have more. My answer was something about a dry well...

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[gbrown]

You're not wrong! My BIL texted, crying the blues that he's short on ammo. I asked what happened to the 5000 - 22 LR and 1000- 9mm I gave he and my nephew - reply was: I sold them, I figured you had gotten them cheap and I'm betting you have more. My answer was something about a dry well...

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

+1 on that, for sure. Some people... What's that old saying? "Charity begins at ...?" CRS got me again.

[rbuck351]

Just got off line at a local auction house. There were 6 or 7 bricks of different bricks of cheap 22lr ammo. They all sold for around $150 per brick. There was also some 9mm, 357m, 38spl and 380auto. All were selling for $1.25 to $1.50 per round.
Smaller boxes of 22 were going for about $.30 per round. It's hard to believe people will actually pay these prices for ammo.

cwtebay, I think I would have been a bit more abrupt than the well is dry. Maybe something like "22lr is selling for about $.30 @ and 9mm about $1.50 @ so if you want more, I'll give you the relative discount and it will only cost you $2,500 for the next batch.

[barnabus]

Yeah, I have been on GB looking at the prices of .22 RF and components. Funny how there are plenty of bids on most of the things. Same on Ebay for reloading equipment, again, with plenty of bids. Just shocking to see so many people ready to pay those prices and ready to run up a credit card or have that kind of expendable cash. I don't get excited or disturbed with the prices, free market at play. Gougers? Probably so. What I smell is LGS doing it, as opposed to selling to their local customers. Just a hunch, maybe I'm wrong. Hope so.

exactly that why the local gun shop can KMA

[richhodg66]

Now there is some sound advise. Ammo is not the most important thing in the world. I am going to keep enough 9mm to fill a couple of magazines and my 22lr stuff to tinker with and the rest is getting disposed of. Guns ammo ...the whole works.

Do you mind if I ask when you decided this. Sorry if it seems like a personal question, but everybody's situation is different.

We're seeing unprecedented interest among shooters, both new and experienced, but I wonder how long that will last? There may come a time that many lose interest, maybe because it's just become too hard or expensive to keep doing it and find other pursuits.

People change, interests change. I used to really love my motorcycles, didn't ride a single mile in 2020 and plan to sell them this Spring. Might happen with shooting too, I haven't been doing as much lately, but that's usually the case in Winter.

Just been thinking lately that maybe I need to pursue something else in my free time, give the shooting and worrying about it a rest for a while.

[Blanket]

funny how the wheel turns, on a cost per shot basis I can now shoot my 32 rimfires with collector ammo cheaper than 22

[Shawlerbrook]

As for me about to turn 64. I don’t ever see me selling or getting out of shooting. Might only shoot to sight in, shoot food, pests or bad guys, but will never give it up 100%. My supplies should cover all the above until the good Lord summons me.

[richhodg66]

As for me about to turn 64. I don’t ever see me selling or getting out of shooting. Might only shoot to sight in, shoot food, pests or bad guys, but will never give it up 100%. My supplies should cover all the above until the good Lord summons me.

I'm ten years behind you and generally feel the same way. I really like to reload and shoot, getting less interested in hunting all the time, still like to be out, just getting more reluctant to actually pull the trigger on anything as time goes by.

The things is, our interests do change and I can remember times in my life where I was really into something and the interest eventually waned or morphed into something else, with all the challenges ahead, I just wonder how many of us will find other things to do.

[JoeJames]

With my home cast 44 boolits I can shoot 44 Specials cheaper than 22LR; so that's what I have been doing.

[MrWolf]

As for me about to turn 64. I don’t ever see me selling or getting out of shooting. Might only shoot to sight in, shoot food, pests or bad guys, but will never give it up 100%. My supplies should cover all the above until the good Lord summons me.

I will be 61 soon (where did time go?) and feel the same way. I am keeping everything for my son, daughter not interested, though he is not interested now at almost 27. He used to be but life changes. Figure if I can afford to keep my stuff then he will have it when I am gone. Trying to explain to them if things go right, when I am gone to keep my place (81 acres of woods plus buildings with property taxes of less than $1,100 a year) and then every 20 years do another timber cut for profits. Who knows but I wish that offer had been available to me. Luck folks.
Ron

[Burnt Fingers]

I looked at what 22 LR and primers are going for and mentioned to my wife I might sell enough to get a Wilson Combat ACP.

She told me if I did I better not be crying later about not having enough.

I shelved that plan.

[dverna]

Do you mind if I ask when you decided this. Sorry if it seems like a personal question, but everybody's situation is different.

We're seeing unprecedented interest among shooters, both new and experienced, but I wonder how long that will last? There may come a time that many lose interest, maybe because it's just become too hard or expensive to keep doing it and find other pursuits.

People change, interests change. I used to really love my motorcycles, didn't ride a single mile in 2020 and plan to sell them this Spring. Might happen with shooting too, I haven't been doing as much lately, but that's usually the case in Winter.

Just been thinking lately that maybe I need to pursue something else in my free time, give the shooting and worrying about it a rest for a while.

I hope you stay in the sport.

What I found is I wound up participating in different shooting activities throughout my life. From chasing ultra small groups and load development, to busting clays competitively and many other endeavors along the way.. It was all fun and I have been in it for 60 years. I learned a lot and developed a good skill set with each discipline. But I found I would burn out, or move to an area I could not shoot at the level I wanted, or lost shooting buddies, or needed a new challenge.

Unlike others here, I do not get my enjoyment from casting or reloading. I am a shooter. That is what is fun for me.

This year, I have decided to get into PCP shooting. Shooting will not be impacted by shortages, or ammunition/component price issues. It will almost eliminate needing .22's for our plinking fun. I am doing a .22 inventory this week. I will and keep 5000 rounds and sell the rest (figure about 15k). At $100/brick , it gives me $3000 to play with. That buys a very nice gun, tank and 20k pellets ($40/1000 for match grade pellets).

I shot .38's during the last .22 shortage (sold 20k rounds then). With primers over $100/1000 that would be stupid. Sold most of my primer inventory as a result. An air gun is the only solution left for cheap trigger time if I want to shoot 5-10k a year.

The other "driver" was the thread by OS OK on his quest to shoot peep sights. It shows how much fun there can be in getting good at something new. My goal will be 3/4" groups at 50 yards with an air gun. Having a challenge is important to motivate me.

Your decision to "give it rest" is the right one. Keep your reloading stuff for now. Maybe do as I did, and sell components you are sure will not need while prices are nuts. (I kept a 4-6 year supply). See if there is something in the sport that interests you, and if not move on until you decide to circle back. I was out of shooting for about 8 years at one time...kept all my stuff....glad I did.

[MrWolf]

The only problem with selling now is replacing later and at what cost if even available.

[snowwolfe]

I'll gladly sell off 2/3rds of my stash at $100 per brick and risk running out in the future.

[farmbif]

well, it might still be early today to sell. things just might get real crazy.
reporters asking about new gun legislation at white house press conference today.
fortunately presidents spokesperson dodged the question and said they are working on other stuff now.

[Ed K]

Never mind getting out of shooting - haven't we all bought things shooting related we had the best of intentions of making good use but never happened? Whether it is in the safe, components or equipment, there has maybe never been a better time to tighten the belt. Honestly the same thing happens in other areas such as tools, etc. It's just that now is the right time for this.

[centershot]

Just got back from Walmart, bought some new sneakers. I cruised thru sporting goods (just for giggles), NO ammo, a few guns. I did pick up a couple packages of broadheads, as long as they were in stock (unusual at this time of year). Having read through this thread earlier, and not seeing any ammo at WM, I began to wonder what the ammo situation was for smallbore rifle shooters. A cursory internet search showed limited availability of Eley and SK in a couple different iterations. Eley Club is $180/brick, same for SK Standard Plus. When I saw the price on the Standard Plus I thoght to myself "I think I still have a brick of that!" Sure enough, there it was in the Rimfire locker. I bought that brick last May to shoot the local BR50 matches over the summer. Then they were canceled due to Covid. I paid $60 for that brick in May. Now it's $180. OUCH!! :|

[Shawlerbrook]

We are where we are and the new administration has not even yet revealed their gun control agenda( and we all know they have one). I am sure at the next high visibility shooting incident the Bills will start emerging like dandelions in May. Please do not think that because they died in Congress before that it will happen again. We are in a whole new world with the so called insurrection, Covid, etc. Schumer already said that they should treat the so called climate crisis as a national emergency ( the Covid slippery slope). Don’t be surprised to see the same illegal short cut for gun control. Again, hope I’m wrong.