.22 LR is crazy hard to find. I suspect that is because there are so many .22LR already in people’s hands and they tend to be very accurate and reliable weapons.
Also, they are quite lethal, despite their history of being used primarily for varmint plinking. If you get hit with a .22LR at 400 yards or under, there is a hole clean through you. If it doesn’t kill you, two or three guys will be needed to cart you off.
Oh yeah, and if you had to get out of dodge quickly and load up on ammo to carry while you flee, you could carry 1,000 rounds of .22 on you fairly easily.
After the 2008 election, the ammo that was REALLY hard to find was .22 subsonic.
I finally was able to buy a box or two late 2009.
I doubt you’ll find that anywhere in a retail store today.