Anyone know why 243 has become so scarce and when some might be available?

I haven't found it to be scarce in MN, just about every store has something, even if the selection is poor. Both Cabelas and Gander Mountain show it available online. if you have one near by, you can save the shipping cost by having it sent to the store.

It's available pretty much everywhere I look. There was a good deal on some in the classifieds yesterday. To bad I don't own a 243.

saw lie 20 boxes at wm yesterday

No shortage here up north. Was once upon a time.

Academy, Walmart both had it yesterday.

There was a big shortage during deer season. It's back. Because of the ammo shortage, I think a lot of guys who normally buy 1 box for deer season, bought 5. "Just in case".

If anyone sees Rem 100gr core lokt. Post it please, as I haven't seen any of it lately...

I haven't either but I was in Pilot Point today.

I have been having trouble finding them here in Tyler. They had some academy about a month ago and purchased every box they had (5). There seems to be plenty online though.

you're just wanting loaded ammo,
or components, or dies?. . . .

Academy in Frisco, ace hardware in Pilot Point, walmart off 380 in Cross roads, walmart off university in Denton, and Cabellas in Allen had plenty of 90-100gr ammo. It's the lighter stuff that's hard to find it took me almost 2mths to accumulate 300rds of 58 and 80gr bullets.

I've seen it at WM in Mineola and Lindale.

It was odd that 243 and 25-06 were hard to come by during The Great Ammo Scare of 2013. I can find it here and there, but seldom the brand or projectile that I am looking for. Academys in San Antonio are doing pretty good.

I am seeing more of it on the shelves and a better selection now that deer season is over.

I would guess that manufacturers cut production of .243 and .22 after the 5.56/.223 demand around a year and a half ago. I figured they used the raw materials that normally would be used to make the .243 and .22 to try to meet the demand of 5.56/.223. You couldn't find loads for a standard AR a year + ago now there is a surplus at every store and no .22/few .243. I see Independence brand 5.56 everywhere for $8-9 and for what ever reason my AR shoots them amazingly tight. However, I need a bloodhound to track down any .22 and thankfully I still have quite a few boxes of .243 I bought from someone here a couple years back.

The biggest thing with rim fire ammo is it's a low margin business. When demand went up for all ammo it was last in line for investment. I think that a combination of hoarders being stocked up and companies starting to turn their attention to the rim fire market we are finally seeing some availability.

Both of these posts make total sense.

What's getting my goat, lately, is the lack of 7mm components. It is very frustrating. Maybe these two reasons listed helps explain it. 7mm isn't near as popular as 223, or 30 cal, so they stopped making it a year ago, or more. You can bet once supply catches up I'm committing to a large supply. And it's not to hoard, I use what I buy, just buy in bulk.

I think that today's ammo business, is concentrating on those calibers, that lend themselves to long runs and high volume. Most of the bullet manufacturers will supply loaded ammo first then components. The greatest demand and biggest customers will be supplied first.

It's all about the money! The ammo manufacturers will make and sell the calibers that are most in demand. That's how they make money and stay in business. That's why you see 9mm, and .223 ammo starting to reappear. The ammo will come back first because they make the most money on loaded ammo. The component market will be supplied once the ammo is back on the shelves in sufficient quantity.

And before you tell me that you found powder and/or primers at Cabela's or your LGS, yes there are some supplies of components that are trickling out. It is not in the manufacturer's best interest to kill the reloading market or the distributors and gun shops. These people will be valuable revenue sources once the supply chain catches up, so the manufacturers have to allocate enough product to keep them open and surviving.

But like any other business the ammo manufacturers are going to make what is most in demand and will make them the most money. It's capitalism. And the ammo and supplies will come back just as fast as they can make them, if the hoarders will slow down a bit.

OK, rant off!