How... do... those... same... folks... always... know... when... it's... there???
Well I'm one of those folks I guess (you can check a locked thread or two I started on the subject).
I only got into 22 around 8 months ago:
1. It got so expensive to shoot everything else.
2. The 22AR shortage was finally over (and they've had time to debug).
3. After my first AR22, the 22 firearm collection has grown, because
4. They're as much fun (if not more) to shoot than the big boyz!
As a long-time shooter, I've always collected enough ammo over the years to avoid panics, price spikes, etc. Since I was new to 22, I was blindsided by the 22LR shortage.
I was amazed at how little was at Walmart - they told me it was put out @ 7am every morning, so I said "no problem - I'll be here @ 6:50 every morning".
And I was - every day
for 2 months, and I only got 22 ammo
twice in that time!
I knew something was "wrong" at this point - I figured Walmart had to be getting much more 22 in than this, so I went to work figuring out (and monitoring) the system.
In short order, I had enough 22 (all from Walmart) to satisfy myself, 2 friends, and a few others that were desperate for 22.
Anywho - I've been at this for over 8 months, and here are a few things I've seen / found:
1. When I first started my research, it appeared there were insiders at about 20% of the Walmarts I visited.
2. I'd say that percentage is now up to around 40% of stores I visit with insiders now at work (hiding ammo for friends, flippers, etc).
3. There does now appear to be a dip in supply, so there appears to be something going on in the supply chain.
Here's a few more:
1. I've been sold 22 ammo from under the counter 3 times (against Walmart policy).
2. The insiders have ramped up their game with the 1,000 rd. boxes of Winchester M*22.
3. I've been to a number of Walmarts when inventory trips - I'm either blown off, or offered up 100-rd. boxes of CCI to hopefully pacify me, and the 1,000 rd. boxes of M*22 are held for friends, etc.
4. After swearing I'm wrong, we don't have any M*22, etc, I monitor inventory and see within a short while, it "disappears" from inventory. The last guy that pulled this swore there was no M*22 - I reluctantly took the sacrificial 100-rd CCI (from under the counter) and told him I was going to monitor the M*22 inventory, and would be back if it disappeared. I bought my ammo @ 7:15pm (this particular store puts it out as it arrives) - the M*22 was sold @ 9:50pm (the sporting goods department closes @ 10pm).
5. After a talk with the manager (to verify Walmart policy is still "first come, first serve", no stashing/hiding ammo, and no storing under the counter), I visited the store the next day - the manager is on vacation for 2 weeks!
I told you all that to tell you this...
There is much more ammo coming into Walmart than you think, and the insiders are harder at work and increasing in number!
A TALE OF TWO WALMARTS
There are 2 of 'em out of town I've visited - they're only 6 miles apart.
I've been in one 10 times @ 7am - if the ammo is not out, I show them the printout and tell 'em their inventory tripped yesterday, and they go in back and bring it out from the locked cage in back.
Been in 10 times, walked out with 22 ammo 10 times.
Meanwhile, 6 miles down the road, when inventory trips, I visit and am not only blown off (a warning sign of insiders at work), but beat up (figuratively) by the same old guy working the counter - then I go home and watch the inventory go down, down, down, gone!
I've been in this Walmart 10 times, got ammo ONCE. It was the middle of the day, and I figured it would be useless, but I was in the neighborhood, and darn if there wasn't some Federal 550 boxes of 22 (@ 2pm)! I also noted that a clueless young gal was working that day - no sign of the grumpy old guy that loves to beat up on customers looking for 22 ammo!
Hmmmm...
1. 2 Walmarts 6 miles apart, and inventory trips on both the same day.
2. Visit one 10 times, get ammo 10 times.
3. Visit the other 10 times, get ammo only once, when the clueless (out of the loop) gal is working!
You figure it out...
BTW - I've seen pictures of pallets of 22 ammo from another big box store - a person with access to the warehouse snapped them - this particular chain puts out only X number of boxes all during the day to keep folks trickling in.
FWIW...
(sorry)
