Sure it does. Go to Walmart early in the morning the day they get their shipments and watch all the private citizens snap it up in minutes. If you’re going to stores where it doesn’t hit the shelves, then they are reserving it for other customers.
They bring out the ammo on Saturday mornings, 7 am. I know the drill, it’s been going on for a year and a half. If you’re lucky, they get four or five 550 round boxes at a time and there’s a line 20 deep. Most days, they get nothing. 9mm is almost as bad, but not quite.
It’s not making it to the shelves. Anyone here who buys ammo can attest to this fact.
My Walmart doesn’t even have shelf space labeled for .22lr anymore ... or for many of the usual rifle or pistol rounds. LOTS of variety in 12guage though.
I tried that at Walmart 2years ago. I started by complaining that they are always sold out. The guy explained that people always show up the day they get their supply and it's usually sold out in a day or two. I asked them when their next shipment comes in. He said nobody knows. They never know whats coming on what trucks until they unload it to restock. I argued that somebody knows! I've never been in line at Walmart to buy ammunition even when they used to have it.
I asked a manager at the gun range I go to why they always have ammunition when people want to rent range time or buy a firearm but never over the counter to purchase and walk out. He told me they'd have a hard time renting range time if the customers had to throw stones at the targets. Humbled, I bought 30 minutes and 200 rnds.