Cost of .22 ammo

[tdmman]

When I started shooting in the mid-1950's, a box of .22 shorts was 49 cents, a box of longs was 59 cents, and a box of long rifles was 69 cents. That was for Peters brand which was the cheapest the drug store sold. I always bought two boxes of shorts and had 2 cents left over. There was no sales tax. If the store was out of Peters, you might have to pay 10 cents more. So long rifles could cost you 79 cents. Back in the 1980's into the early ninetys you could still buy .22 long rifle in the bulk packs for the equivalent of 79 cents for fifty rounds. So the price remained stable for about 35 years - amazing. A few years ago I had my wife pick up a box of .22 shorts for me. I was amazed again when she said they cost over six bucks. I was at a gun show Sunday where they were asking $75 for a bulk pack. Amazed again.

 

[hornadylnl]

How many ounces of Coke could you buy for 59 cents in the 50's vs the 80's. The ammo actually got cheaper.

 

[2cool9031]

In the early 70's I bought 22lr for .99 a box.... .79 when they were on sale.
I can remember when K-Mart sold rifles and handguns. They stopped in my area sometime in the mid 70's
Heck...I can remember buying 22lr for $2.19 a couple of months ago and I thought that was high!

 

[Hornett]

I saw a $70 bulk pack and I also saw a 10 box package with a $115 sticker on it.
I'll just wait, thanks.

 

[hornadylnl]

I remember when Lake City Match 30/06 was $4 a box. It wasn't that long ago. I remember when 1k 30cal 150gr pulled bullets were about $60 per k. It wasn't that long ago. I remember when 1k 30 162gr AP pulled bullets were $80 per k. It wasn't that long ago. 30 cal stuff has skyrocketed because all of the surplus has dried up.

 

[CitiusFortius]

How many ounces of Coke could you buy for 59 cents in the 50's vs the 80's. The ammo actually got cheaper.

If it makes you feel any better, 300 years from now .22 will be over $1 per round. So you better buy it today while it's cheap!

Yes, prices always go up, on everything.

 

[hornadylnl]

If it makes you feel any better, 300 years from now .22 will be over $1 per round. So you better buy it today while it's cheap!

Yes, prices always go up, on everything.

I'm actually surprised it cost that much in the 50's. What was a coke back then, a dime? A coke in the 80's was around 30 cents but the ammo cost the same.

 

[jcwit]

A coke in the 50's was a nickle. That was in the small glass bottle. $ .02 deposit

I bought gas in the 50's for $ .14/9 a gal.

A lb. of 8 penny nails in the 50's cost $ .09

We sold .22's by the piece at the hardware for $ .02 each round. Also sold shotgun shells by the piece.

My Dad's Electric bill in the early 50's was $4.00 for the month.

 

[hornadylnl]

A coke in the 50's was a nickle. That was in the small glass bottle. $ .02 deposit

I bought gas in the 50's for $ .14/9 a gal.

A lb. of 8 penny nails in the 50's cost $ .09

We sold .22's by the piece at the hardware for $ .02 each round. Also sold shotgun shells by the piece.

My Dad's Electric bill in the early 50's was $4.00 for the month.

Gas at $3.50 per gallon is about 23 times higher than that $.15 gas. $.02 x 23=$.46 $.46 x 550=$253. Put's that $60 bulk pack in perspective, doesn't it?

 

[jcwit]

But by the box of 50 rounds the price was $ .49 for LR, shorts were $ .35.

Now factor in the MPG of 1955 versus today, that also will change everything. In other words cost per mile.

 

[hornadylnl]

But by the box of 50 rounds the price was $ .49 for LR, shorts were $ .35.

Now factor in the MPG of 1955 versus today, that also will change everything. In other words cost per mile.

You're still talking over $120 a bulk pack. How many miles did the average person drive in the 50's compared to now? I don't know how they can make a profit at $19 per 550.

 

[jcwit]

You're still talking over $120 a bulk pack. How many miles did the average person drive in the 50's compared to now? I don't know how they can make a profit at $19 per 550.

Automation and huge quantity. Same as with many items. We sold 40 to 100 watt light bulbs for $ .25 each in the latter 50's early 60's. Today Menard's still sell them for the same. Up until very recently, within the last 6 months, they were even made right here in the U.S.

My first hand held calculator cost me $200.00, it did basic math & basic memory, I still have it, Texas Instruments, and it still works. Today with automation basic calculators are available for $1.49.

 

[Mango]

Aww jeez not another one of these threads.

 

[jcwit]

You're still talking over $120 a bulk pack. How many miles did the average person drive in the 50's compared to now? I don't know how they can make a profit at $19 per 550.

I would say my Dad drove at least 12,000 miles per year back then, We made weekly shopping trips to either Elkhart or South Bend. I know when I got a license I drove to the city usually most every night, milage for the cars I had was in the lower teens, less than that if I got it on. Loved those stoplight drag races, V/8 with 2-4 barrel carbs could sure suck the gas.

 

[jcwit]

Aww jeez not another one of these threads.

I think we're keeping it pretty civil this time.

Just remembering!

 

[hornadylnl]

Automation and huge quantity. Same as with many items. We sold 40 to 100 watt light bulbs for $ .25 each in the latter 50's early 60's. Today Menard's still sell them for the same. Up until very recently, within the last 6 months, they were even made right here in the U.S.

My first hand held calculator cost me $200.00, it did basic math & basic memory, I still have it, Texas Instruments, and it still works. Today with automation basic calculators are available for $1.49.

I was buying it around 4 years ago for $12 per bulk pack. I'm guessing 90+% of that $7 increase is commodity increase alone. $.035 per round is cheap.

 

[pudly]

If it makes you feel any better, 300 years from now .22 will be over $1 per round.

Kind of an interesting mental exercise. Not that things travel in a linear manner, but the following is a projection based on the historical trend.

Since the Fed was created 100 years ago (to create "stable prices" among other things), the purchasing power of the dollar has declined by 98%. That basically translates to prices being 50x higher than 100 years ago. If you take a price of 4 cents/round for bulk .22 ammo (pre-panic price) and project it out, it comes to:

$0.04 * 50 * 50 * 50 = $5,000/rd in 300 years

There are a bunch of reasons why this might be way off, but just interesting...

 

[jcwit]

I will then become a scalper. My ethics only go so far!

 

[SilveradoII]

FEDs are right at 2 billon rounds now ( that we know of ). Prices aren't coming down until they stop hoarding.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

highest ive seen is 90$ someone know saw 150$ for a 550rd brick