Why is 243 ammunition so damn expensive?

You have to load pal. I buy cheap plinker projectiles off the EE when they come up, and save my hunting bullets for the fall. FYI the 80 grain TTSX is pretty hard to beat out of the .243 but very hard to get your hands on at the moment. Take the time to learn it’s worth it!
 
I went to Bass Pro today. They had a grand total of three (3) boxes of 243 in stock! $65.99 for the Hornady 95gr SST and $59.99 for Hornady 80gr GMX (some heritage sh!t). I grudgingly bought just one box of the 95gr SST. Other than high end Norma or RWS centerfire ammunition (which are somewhat worth the inflated cost), I have never seen such INSANE prices!

A few years ago (2017-2018 ish) Rampartcorp was distributing Norma hunting ammo through their shield programme. I want to say it was about 30-32$ per box regular price. I loaded up on 300 win mag but wish I had bought the other calibers. Didn't get them because I didn't yet own rifles in those calibres (only recall 270 win and 243, no 308). Live and learn. Saw the same box of 300 win at a site sponsor for $120 recently. Worth a premium, maybe. Worth 6 bucks a pop, no.
 
Pretty soon we'll all be reloading cast for everything. That's assuming one can scrounge up the other components. I have cast bullets, but I'm low on powder and primers. Everywhere you look, its the same, "sold out". It's very frustrating.
 
Pretty soon we'll all be reloading cast for everything. That's assuming one can scrounge up the other components. I have cast bullets, but I'm low on powder and primers. Everywhere you look, its the same, "sold out". It's very frustrating.

If things keep going the way they're going it'll be flintlocks, homemade BP and round balls cast from wheel weights soon enough.
 
More obscure chamberings really get hit these days.
I regularly see ammo priced at above $100.00 per box
of 20. At $5.00 per round, I am glad I reload for my 308
Norma and 8mm Rem Mag. Even the 257 Bee is stupid.
Dave.

I'm getting out of a few cartridges currently and re-assessing my needs. I think the .257 Wby is better served in the hands of someone with more disposable income - mine has a Timney and sits in a B&C Medalist, it's super accurate and hasn't done more than punch paper in a few years. No way I'm spending $100/box on ammo! It's almost like they want us to all be shooting 6.5 Creedmoor or something...
 
I went to Bass Pro today. They had a grand total of three (3) boxes of 243 in stock! $65.99 for the Hornady 95gr SST and $59.99 for Hornady 80gr GMX (some heritage sh!t). I grudgingly bought just one box of the 95gr SST. Other than high end Norma or RWS centerfire ammunition (which are somewhat worth the inflated cost), I have never seen such INSANE prices!

Yikes, that's not in line with the affordable, mild-mannered .243 at all. How does it compare with 6mm Creedmoor offerings? I keep seeing piles of 6mm CM everywhere but no guns! I think something in 6mm would be well-used in my hands.
 
No idea, but 243 is normally EXTREMELY common here in southern Ontario. It's pretty much on par with 30-06 and 308 and 6.5CM in terms of widespread use.
 
I never inspect prices of rifle ammunition, it's like walking by camoflauge clothing, I don't pay it any heed, hence 1982 reloading. However, prices did increase with reloading components. I am finding bullets here and there, however no powder or primers. At one store in Calgary, a box of Nosler Accubond 6mm 90 gr. was $63.00, I thought, "that's a big jump since my last purchase", however I ventured to another store and the same bullets were priced at $67.00......holy poop! A CGN member informed me of H-4350 for sale yesterday at a certain store, by the time I inquired, it was gone. Get use to it boys, when time passes, things always change.
 
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