I've heard that "ATK shut down the rimfire lines" before, but I've also read authoritatively that it's urban legend, not to say Bravo Sierra.
I believe the latter. There's no machinery in a rimfire line that could be used to make centerfire ammo, so there'd be no benefit to them in it. I think the story may be trying to hark back to WW2, when rimfire ammo did disappear for a few years because the military ammo demand was taking all the brass and powder that could be made. That situation does not obtain today. Last I read CCI was running 24/7, putting out
4 million rounds per day. I'm sure the rest are doing the same.
There's been a huge number of new shooters buying .22 rifles and pistols. They all want to shoot. That's the problem. Exacerbated by hoarders and scalpers who buy what's on Walmart shelves and run home to list it on Gunbroker or Craigslist. There's still guys offering ammo at $15 a box around here.
Reluctance to build new capacity will disappear once we get the Dictator Wannabee out of office. CCI and Remington both report that they are increasing capacity.
Since CCI and Federal are both under the ATK umbrella, it's not a surprise that some ammo marked for one is made by the other. As far as I know, the Speer name has never been used to market .22 ammo.
I see that ATK has just this year spun off all the sporting goods businesses including ammo into a new company called Vista Outdoor.
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