The End of 22LR Rationing – Wal-Mart Removes Purchasing Limits

Frank.K
by Frank.K

After almost half a decade, the long-standing drought of 22 Lone Rifle ammunition is finally behind us. Confirming this triumph is good old Wal Mart who announced internally that any and all restrictions on purchasing 22 ammo in bulk have been removed. Up until about a year ago, 22LR was reasonably difficult to find in both bulk and inexpensively.

Shared across Facebook and other social media, the new policy was announced to managers, loss prevention, and sales clerks. The new policy is a welcome change, especially for this in more rural areas where Wal-Mart was the major, if not only, purveyors of ammunition. By the announcement, the policy applies to any and all types of 22LR ammunition including bulk packs, match loads, and specialized rounds.

The change is one of many signals that the industry is catching up with demand. Various ammunition manufacturers have announced layoffs and furloughs as demand for ammo has decreased rapidly while manufacturing capacity has continued to increase. Fortunately for us consumers, this combination will mean ammo will likely be both plentiful and cheap for the foreseeable future.

A second effect will be the resurgence in interest in rimfire weapons, who’s primary draw was inexpensive shooting. Smith & Wesson, Ruger, and others have been quickly pushing new 22 LR models and innovations including the latest Ruger Integrally Suppressed 10/22 Takedown model.

Frank.K
Frank.K

TFB's FNG. Completely irreverent of all things marketing but a passionate lover of new ideas and old ones well executed. Enjoys musing on all things firearms, shooting 3-gun, and attempting to be both tacticool AND tactical.

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  • Sahdow Sahdow on Jun 15, 2017

    it's long rifle - not lone rifle ammunition

    Otherwise, good news!

  • Needful Needful on Jun 17, 2017

    there was no shortage,the whole ammo shortage was government sponsored,they were the hoarders,it started right after the Connecticut shooting. did you notice that a month after obama leaves office and trump takes over ammo is back on the shelves,like magic,RIGHT!!!

    • Russian Under Your Bed Russian Under Your Bed on Jun 18, 2017

      @needful Guess the same line of dumb looking guys buying up all the ammo at my Wal-mart were with the government. Employee told me they were there every morning ammo came in for over a year. Other Wal-marts in the area often had .22LR a few months after the shortage started. Just go to the more affluent area where you are more likely to see people driving a Mercedes E-class and less likely to see Skeeter and his reselling buddies in their beat up Dodge Ram. Good luck finding a WM employee to retrieve it from the case. Easier to buy online.

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