- Feb 4, 2013
- 28,175
I don't think it started as a panic, it started as a shortage. I really believe the factories are using their labor to fill the higher profit 5.56/HG caliber orders, and putting out less of the lower profit .22 lr. Once people start seeing shortages on their .22 supply, they panic and buy up more than normal and so we have the current situation. What scares me about this is ATK was quoted last week as saying "they have a back-order queue, that currently will take 3 years to fill". I don't know if it is true, but it isn't promising.
Different production lines, different equipment.
The factories are turning out as much .22 ammo as always, people are still panic buying.
Like powder, Hodgdon is producing more powder this year than last year. And 805 of their production does to consumers (reloaders) but you can't find it anywhere.
But now, if I find a powder I use, I don't buy a pound, I buy several, as I don't when I will be able to get it again.