So Im starting to see bricks of 22 showing back up in the online stores. However they are going for 50+ dollars for 500-550 rounds. That seems a bit ridiculous to me.
Is this how much 22 costs now or are the dealer price gouging like they did with ARs a few years back?
Right NOW prices for Win. White Box 525 rounds are:
0315705
WIN 22LR 36GR COPPER HP 525RDS A
Manufacturer: WINCHESTER
Manufacturer Item: 22LR525HP
UPC Code: 020892102651
MSRP $31.12
Dealer Price: $23.52
Add shipping costs and it would cost me about $40 to buy a single box of 525 rounds. Obviously if I bought several cases the shipping costs would result in my “single box” price being more like $28 for 525 rounds.
No. As long as folks keep paying current prices, vendors and manufacturers have no reason to lower the price.
This. It was cheap back in the day because when you bought a brick it probably had dust on it from being on the shelf for months or longer. Even with better inventory now people are still buying and hording.
But why .22? I can see the bigger stuff (9mm, .223, 7.62x39) being horded with all the doom and gloom going around, but .22lr?
I am not currently seeing or hearing ANYBODY still hoarding .22 lr. Its EVERYWHERE. But it is still way overpriced, but has come down a good bit. Don’t know if it will ever be under $20 a 500 round brick again…but it damn sure OUGHTTA BE.
Once bricks get back down to a reasonable price, say under 25 bucks, I’m going to buy one every pay day until I have like 10k rounds.
More people own .22 LR guns than anything else by a wide margin.
There are people who “don’t even own guns” who own a .22 LR and they were/are scared enough to pay ridiculous prices for .22LR and there are enough people who don’t have anything else to do but sit around and scarf up all the .22LR to sell at flea markets to keep the shelves empty and keep the people who “don’t even own guns” scared they won’t be able to get more ammo and paying the ridiculous prices. A vicious circle.
Eventually, it will break although I am really surprised at how long it is taking.
Of course, if I saw any .22LR on the shelf, I would probably buy it. Even though I don’t really need it, further perpetuating the cycle.
See you are part of the problem.:haha:
Just like me.
Until its back to $15 for for the 500 round bricks, they can keep it.
We need to remember that a LOT Of what is driving the .22LR market are all the Umarex / Walther HKs, Uzis, ARs and AKs in .22lr. When real guns dried up during the last assault weapon ban scare those .22 rifles saturated the market and a lot of people bought them.
I miss buying CCI stingers for three bucks a hundred. A guy could be super sniper all day long with a box of a hundred them damn things. Man what a great way to grow up. But, seems like those days are gone.
I don’t even remember how much the bricks cost, but they were practically nothing. They were so cheap it wasn’t even funny. I always like to shoot the mini mags and the Stingers. They were way better ammo.
Just yesterday was digging around the safe, found several old bricks of Champions, 500 rnds @ $ 15.99. 
Yeah I can remember the days of $15 bricks, but I don’t see those coming back anytime soon. I am part of the problem as well, as when I see it I usually buy some even though I have no need for it.
You mean you dont have at least 10k of .22lr already?
The question is not only when will 22 be affordable again but will it ever be consistently on the store shelves and in quantities that we want?
I still see gaps in gun store shelves and very limited selections in 22 from time to time. Many places will not allow bulk buying, either. Also, the big bricks are harder to come by - only the 50 and 100rd boxes.
January 2017 we have a possibility of prices getting low again. 
…or going straight through the roof
Ive been seeing it around Dallas, but not for a great price. Saw 333 round packs of something for $20 at Cabela’s last week. 555 round “bricks” were like 30 or 35 and they had a few in stock. I dont need any 22lr so I generally let it sit.
I will check tonight, but I occasionally browse the Wal-Mart ammo and bought 1000 rds for $40.00 a couple of weeks ago.
It’s hit or miss around here, but when I can find it I buy it, I do shoot a lot of it though. I have tried to keep a couple thousand on hand.