Why .22LR Won’t Be Available For A Very Long Time
BY Herschel Smith
6 years, 7 months ago
He does a good job of explaining the rush on ammunition, and the resulting push to get 5.56mm/.223, .45 ACP and 9mm out the door. He also explains the retooling process necessary to get .22LR produced, the lower profit margin, and the uncertainty the upcoming election cycle will bring.
During the previous shortage, youtuber Fortunecookie45LC argued that 38 special can be reloaded during a shortage more economically than 22 can be had for and, loaded right, can occupy the 22lr place on the power spectrum. It might be time to revisit that video. https://youtu.be/rXMRpJZis_Q
Fortunecookie45LC is a great guy for reloading advice.
This guy does a great job on all of his videos.
A friend made that point about .22 Hornet back in ’09-ish when .22LR was largely unobtainable. A primer, a pinch of powder, and a cast bullet, and he was shooting anything he would normally have used a .22 for.
Hornet-size bullets are tricky to cast, though.
I remember watching a youtube back in 2008-2009 showing how hard it was to add .22 lines because they are so specialized, it’s almost impossible to convert any other caliber line to .22.
converting a .22 line to another caliber is pretty much the same.
converting a .380 t a 9mm or a .45 to a 9mm, not so much.
there’s a youtube with .22 Plinkster at CCI on .22 rimfire production and another showing rifle, pistol, shotgun lines at Federal.
watch and notice the differences.
Another video about 38 as a 22lr substitute: https://youtu.be/7L47CcBbwbs