Wherever you read that was blowing smoke . Why would Browning stop making the best semi auto rifle ever made .
As far as a Browning Bar 243 they offer it in the Browning Bar MK3 - Ovix , the Browning Bar MK3 Stalker , and the Browning Bar Mark III
They discontinued offering the 243 , 7mm Rem Mag , and the 338 Win Mag only in the Browning Bar MK II Safari . As far as I remember I dont believe they ever offered the 243 in the other Browning Bar DBM models
https://www.browning.com/products/firearms/rifles/bar.html?q=&prodLine=RIFLE&productionType=Current Production|Exclusive Availability|Shot Show&subbrandDesc=BAR&sortOrder=default