I would assume that significant portions of the supply were being "bought" by store insiders, who then plan to be the ones selling it later at an inflated price.
They probably have buyers already lined up....
FWIW, four years ago was the only time I got caught semi flat footed & that was only because I had three new rifles in different chamberings that I was trying to develop loads for. When I got down to about a thousand large rifle primers we were about ten months into the buying frenzy...since then, I've been buying either 22's or primers every payday up till the latest frenzy...I'm probably set for life even if I double my shooting habits.
