The problem isn' t nescessarily a true shortage. Some gun shops are stockpiling a small amount of ammo to keep for guys who buy guns from them. It' s more to protect their customers. My experiance with the .17 wasn' t too good. I shoot alot of gophers around my neck of the woods, and found the .22 mag still does a better job on those little beggars. I shot one gopher in the neck facing me head on. We paced it off around 120 yards. The little .17 went in, but did not come out the other side. Yet others I talk to like them. I' ll stick to my .22 mag