Unfortunately, I have to admit, the current market is turning many of us into hoarders.
I take my .22 out a couple of times a year, shoot for a couple of hours and use a couple of hundred rounds. Normally, I would have 3 or 4 boxes of shells in stock. After a day of shooting, I would replace my inventory. But, things have changed. Earlier this year, I decided to teach my wife to shoot a pistol. When I checked my stock, all I had left was three old boxes of Federal Lightnings.
Knowing I was short, I headed out to my local gun shop, no .22s. Same for Dick's, Gander Mountain, and WM. I was beginning to worry, a guy at the flea market wanted $20 a box for Thunderduds. I almost thought I'd have to pay it when I thought of a local shooting range. They had plenty, but weren't interested in parting with them cheap. I ended up paying $7.95 per box (50) for Winchester Super X.
Not wanting to go through that again, I've made a point of going to the ammo case every time I go to WM. Along with a couple of trips to Gander Mountain, in the past few months, I was able to put back about 1500 rounds. So, now due to market conditions, I've been forced to become one of those evil hoarders. If there are about a million other guys in the same boat, that's a lot of ammo out of circulation. (And that doesn't address the zombie apocalypse people stocking 100,000 rounds each.)