Excuse the rant but

.22 Ammo is still difficult. I am OK working down a case of high dollar RWS I bought some time ago, no problem replacing the R 50 when I need to. Plenty of money to spend has always overcome shortages. Lacking is cheap practice ammo for new shooters example boxes of T 22 I used to give out as youth shooters prizes

Local kid wants to learn how to shoot offhand, been haunting the gun shops looking for something he can use. On my workbench right now is 1x325 box of Auto Match & 5 stacks two boxes each of every different kind of 22 you can imagine. Every bit oddball stuff. Sub sonic hollow point, funny brands of pistol match 725 fps Quiet etc. All bought under 2 box quota some regular price some double price. Been working him on the Auto Match. Hate to tell him every shot counts but when it's gone he will have to stop shooting. Held him to 50 day before yesterday

Our sport we need to have good zeros for 4 distances, If you can only get 100 rounds of something unknown then prove zeros with couple dozen rounds, just enough to shoot 1 60 or 2 40 round matches then start the process all over again. Don't even think about shoot off's

It's affecting match turn out at my club even with seasoned shooters. Whole situations stinks been going on too long and like to find somebody to hold accountable afraid nobody is going to raise their hand. For now certain gun shops and mail vendors are off my buy list forever.

Boats

IMHO - This is not a rant but a simple statement which acknowledges the situation as it is....

Not the best of times for sure but still doable... Barely.

I think it is getting better....Just not fast enough to suit me.

By the way it certainly sounds to me like you are doing (more than) your part......

Boats, I trust you have him saving cases and then dry firing on then at least 3 more times after turning the case. That way he'll get 200 trigger pulls and practice holds per box. It will also test him mentally 'cause it is not as much fun as banging away. Best wishes Roger

Keep your eyes out, you'll find enough to keep him shooting. Today there were a bunch of good prices on gunbot. Still some left although its limited to a brick in some cases. Midway had federal and winchester target rounds today for about 10 cents a pop. Keep checking here http://www.gunbot.net/ammo/22lr/

Good luck, keep hunting! I am guessing this will all be over after this winter.

Just did a quick check on Gunbroker. Seems like there are a ton (over 1000) auctions for 22lr ammo and not a lot of bidding going on. There are a few auctions with bids on them, but not like it was a month or so ago. To me that is a sign that it is turning around. These yahoos can only sit on so much ammo before they have to stop buying it all up at Walmart and such. Once it gets back on the shelf at Walmart and then the gun shops I think things will start getting back to normal.

Reloading supplies are starting to get back to the shelves as well.

This stress on the system is sure an eye opener. Having a years worth of ammunition and reloading supplies in the closet isn't enough. If this crap happens everytime we have an election it is going to impact every shooting sport out there, and I am sure it has already.

Give Cathy at good shooting a call she may be able hook you with some SK.

+1 for buying from Cathy and James. They are great to deal with and they won't gouge you on price. Give them a call.

Shame of it is guys in the know like we are have ammo or can get it. It's hurting the new or casual shooter. This time last year we had half a dozen juniors most matches and always a few new shooters trying the game out. That's the turn out that's off.

Our match will recover am sure it's just going to take some time.

Boats

It seems to have hurt our match attendance, too. Up until last year, if I saw someone competing with high velocity ammo I'd suggest that they use standard velocity instead, both for better average accuracy and to lessen the chance of target damage. Now I am just happy that people show up to the match, thank them for coming, and unless I see target damage happening or notice a hyper velocity (Velocitor/Stinger/Super Max/etc) box, I don't mention changing ammo at all. I know a lot of the shooters are down to shooting whatever they have, especially those who have gotten into the game in the last year or so.

Our club will have a CLA State match in October, I know many shooters of our shooters are low on ammo. Two months ago I wrote a letter to Federal Cartridge, asking if they'd attend our state match and perform sales. They politely replied negative as they don't do that anymore (I even offered 'soft sales' )

soft sales is where orders are taken, but, not paid. When the merchandise is handed over, the purchaser pays. Ideal concept for heavy merchandise as you don't need to bring it back.

I think it would be great if some distributors would venture to some of these matches. Not every match a club has, but, maybe their state match. There is (are) some manufacturers, distributors who were at the Regionals. I'd have like to have gone, but, a 7 hour trip and time off from work is not for this common man.

Maybe someone is watching who'll come to Virginia in October?

It has not effected our turnout. We allow SV and HV at our dedicated range. This past Saturdays monthly match one competitor came and had to leave as brought only 50 rounds for 80 round match. I could not be there as had a reunion to attend. I am sure out of the 12 that came, several had to have offered him ammo. He was new and had a Classification Book. If I had been there, I would have gotten his name and email to add to the list. I did sell a brick 4 weeks ago to a new shooter and he has been coming every week. This past Thursday, 1 fellow said his case of Aquila SV arrived and p/u from local dealer. I am still waiting for the Match Rifle to arrive from same dealer who has on order with his distributor, Zanders. Mine is paid for too. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come for everyone.