Monthly bulk 22lr ammo run.

[stormvet]

Every month I end up going to the Walmart in Benson with my wife after our weekly breakfast date.

While I?m there I always load up on 22lr ammo. Sometimes I?ll get the good stuff mini-mags and the like or 22 mag. But usually it?s just bulk ammo that I like that runs good in all my 22lrs.

This morning I bought a bucket of Remington Golden Bullets, a 1000 pack of Winchester M22, three boxes of Federal Auto match and three boxes of Federal blue box. That will help keep my stock up, 4350 rounds. Been going through 22lr like crazy lately, nice to have a near by location that always stays stocked in it and it makes going to Walmart with my wife enjoyable.

[k1dude]

Sure. Rub it in.

We're behind enemy lines while you're in free America. Azzhole!

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Around here, it's not so much a lack of availability, but the price.

Sure. If the price went down, there'd be a run and availability would drop. In fact, the local gun stores are low on "all" inventory, despite it being tax return season. They say they can get things, but not anything people want.

Two stores do have ammo, but it's not moving. When you're still looking at $20 - $40 for a 50 rd. box for .45 ACP hardball and $20 - $30 a box for the same in 9mm, along with $13 - $24 a 20 rd. box of .223/5.56 it's tough to get motivated. In fact, the price of rimfire makes it even tougher, when .22 Magnum is going for around $18 - $25 a box and "500" rd. boxes of 22 LR is going for over $42 each for the 'cheap' stuff.

Buckets of .22 LR are about the only way to get the price down and I haven't even seen any of those in quite awhile. (That's without going into not having seen .410 or .30-30 in well over year.)

In other words, it's a vicious, self-fulfilling prophecy. The shops can get stuff, but it doesn't move in that either no one wants it or it is too expensive. So, the shops don't order it. Even ordering online has become more expensive in that shops which were receiving orders for $5 or even 'free' at times (provided you were buying other things), now have blanket charges of as much as $25 for any size order of ammo to 'do the paperwork.' Such is simply adding to the expense or, at least, keeping it so that it's no less expensive than what the store stocks unless one can afford a true, bulk purchase.

So, while it might be better in 'Free America,' it's still hard times here or, at least, it is perceived to be.

The real concern is whether prices will ever go down substantively, even if Republicans 'take over' again or if the manufacturers have found a new floor on pricing and that's what we're going to be stuck with; where there's no longer a 'bargain basement' of 'acceptable' ammo for plinking and other fun. When you're, in essence, throwing a dime downrange with each pull of the trigger for even .22 LR, it's no longer so much about 'prioritizing' ones shooting or practice time. It's about where that priority falls amidst all the other priorities such as food, gas, taxes, etc.

[Calamity Sue]

With inflation, a rise in wages, and other concerns, sales are way down, so why stock non selling items. So, the logical thing for mfg'ers to do is to reduce manufacturing. No sense in working OT or even added shifts. Hence we are headed back to overall ammo shortages in general.

PS: just what our Awhole politicians want.

[FNGGlock]

It seems we have reached a plateau in pricing. Quality 22 like mini mags float in the 6-8 cpr range. Not great, but available and a lot better than it has been since mid 2020. Other common calibers also reached a similar plateau, but less common ones are all over the place if you can get it.

Perhaps prices go down a little this year, but I would suggest to prepare for prices to go up next year. Plan accordingly.

[virulosity]

Where can I get minimags for 6-8 cents!!!

The ammo prices in california are due (mostly) to the monopoly FFLS have, not simple economics. If I could import ammo to my front door from out of state, prices are higher than normal, but still acceptable

It seems we have reached a plateau in pricing. Quality 22 like mini mags float in the 6-8 cpr range. Not great, but available and a lot better than it has been since mid 2020. Other common calibers also reached a similar plateau, but less common ones are all over the place if you can get it.

Perhaps prices go down a little this year, but I would suggest to prepare for prices to go up next year. Plan accordingly.

[virulosity]

https://www.turners.com/cci/cci-22lr-mini-mag-hollow-point-36-grain-100-rounds-2592

out of stock at 12 cents...

[FNGGlock]

Where can I get minimags for 6-8 cents!!!

The ammo prices in california are due (mostly) to the monopoly FFLS have, not simple economics. If I could import ammo to my front door from out of state, prices are higher than normal, but still acceptable

I use Targetsports and their Ammo+ membership. Order in larger quantities to my LGS. If you are ordering frequently it becomes worthwhile.

[golfish]

Yeah, availability isn't the issue, price is....

But I'm one of the guys that stocked up years ago. I still have some that I bought in 2012.

I don't shoot a lot so it last me longer, no where near 4500 rds of 22lr a month. It's more like 45

[stormvet]

Of all the crappy/2a infringement laws in California the mandatory FFL for ammo may be the worst of them. While prices are still up, outside of California you can find decent prices. Cases of 9mm training ammo under $300 is starting to be the norm again. Even primers are starting to go down, been getting Fiochi (SP) for around $60-70. Yeah still high, but better allows me to still reload 9mm for well under $200 a 1000. Our Walmart 22lr prices are fair/competitive, can find it cheaper on line but once you add shipping your really not saving all that much and it makes me look forward to going there, I do hate that they stopped selling rifle and handgun ammo.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Where can I get minimags for 6-8 cents!!!

The ammo prices in california are due (mostly) to the monopoly FFLS have, not simple economics. If I could import ammo to my front door from out of state, prices are higher than normal, but still acceptable

It seems we have reached a plateau in pricing. Quality 22 like mini mags float in the 6-8 cpr range. Not great, but available and a lot better than it has been since mid 2020. Other common calibers also reached a similar plateau, but less common ones are all over the place if you can get it.

Perhaps prices go down a little this year, but I would suggest to prepare for prices to go up next year. Plan accordingly.

Yeah. Well... I can see other brand names in the "8 cent" range, but Mini-Mags are still going for 12.5 cents per rd. and more when they are even in stock at local shops.

For instance, Lucky Gunner lists Mini-Mags at 12.5 cents if you buy 5,000 at a time or 15 - 16 cents per rd. if you buy 100 ct. boxes.

12.4 cents per rd. for Mini-Mags at Ammo.com.

Cabelas lists a 100 bx for $11.99 in round nose (i.e., 12 cents a rd.) and $10.99 for a box of 100 in HP's.

Target Sports has a brick for $37.99 or $379.90 for 5,000 rds. (7.6 cents a rd.)

In fact, AmmoSeek lists a number of places with them; but, 7.6 cents a rd. is the lowest I'm seeing and that's before any discussion of availability to California, minimum quantities, shipping, FFL fees, 'background check' fees, and sales tax. (Though I didn't go through the list in detail.)

[morrcarr67]

I use Targetsports and their Ammo+ membership. Order in larger quantities to my LGS. If you are ordering frequently it becomes worthwhile.

Why not get your 03 and COE? Targetsports is a company that will ship to those with an 03 and COE.

[FNGGlock]

Why not get your 03 and COE? Targetsports is a company that will ship to those with an 03 and COE.

I definitely should do it, I look at it and then get lazy??

Besides gives me an excuse to look at the consignment section and what they have in stock, which has gotten expensive the last year or so

[LindenBruce]

Do Walmarts in Commifornia even sell that stuff anymore? I haven't been in one in a long time. B.

[rsrocket1]

One Walmart I passed by this morning dropped the price of the 325 Federal Automatch down to $18.95. Another one I went into this morning still had them at $21.95. No one seems to care because both shelves were filled to the brim with the ammo as well as Rem buckets of bullets. Another nice thing was that the second Walmart had the Ruger 10/22 for $288 which has been constant for about 6 months so far. Only about 1/2 of the Walmarts in TX carry guns anymore but almost all still carry ammo.