The Hornady Lock-N-Load Modified Case (A243) is a specially prepared .243 Winchester brass case designed for use with the Hornady Lock-N-Load O.A.L. Gauge, giving reloaders a precise, chamber-specific tool for measuring the exact overall cartridge length and bullet seating depth relative to the rifling in their specific .243 Winchester firearm, a measurement that is fundamental to achieving maximum accuracy from a handloaded cartridge.
Key Features
- Part Number: A243
- UPC: 090255704068
- Type: Modified reloading measurement case
- Caliber: .243 Winchester
- Material: Brass
- Manufactured to SAAMI specifications
- Quantity: 1 modified case per package
- Compatible Tool: Hornady Lock-N-Load O.A.L. Gauge (sold separately)
- Series: A Series
Special Features
- The case head is threaded with a precision fine thread that attaches directly to the Hornady Lock-N-Load O.A.L. Gauge rod, holding the modified case square and concentric to the gauge body for accurate, repeatable chamber measurements that are free of the angular error introduced by cases that rest unsupported in competitive gauges
- The case neck is opened to .002 inch over standard diameter, allowing the actual bullet the reloader intends to use to slip freely into the neck during measurement without being held by neck tension, ensuring the bullet is free to be pushed forward by the rifling to its natural seating point at the lands
- Because the measurement is taken with the actual bullet being loaded rather than a standardized dummy or probe tip, the O.A.L. reading obtained is accurate to .001 inch and reflects the true lands-to-base distance specific to that bullet ogive profile in that chamber, a level of precision that generic gauges with arbitrary probe tips cannot match
- Manufactured to SAAMI specifications, the modified case fits correctly in standard .243 Winchester chambers across all major bolt-action, single-shot, and other straight-line access firearm designs
- The fine-thread attachment keeps the case aligned with the chamber axis during measurement, eliminating the measurement error that results from a canted or wobbling case inside the chamber
Practical Benefits
- The Hornady A243 is the required companion to the Lock-N-Load O.A.L. Gauge for any .243 Winchester reloader who wants to determine the precise distance from the bolt face to the rifling lands in their specific rifle, a measurement that varies from chamber to chamber even among rifles of the same make and model
- Knowing the exact lands distance allows the reloader to set bullet seating depth to a precise relationship with the rifling, whether seating to the lands, 10 thousandths off, or 50 thousandths off, a variable that has a direct and measurable effect on group size and pressure uniformity in precision loads
- The one-time measurement investment pays off across an unlimited number of future load development sessions, as the modified case remains usable for the life of the rifle without replacement
- Reloaders working up loads for varmint hunting, long-range target shooting, or competitive benchrest with the .243 Winchester will find this tool essential for extracting the full accuracy potential from their rifle and components
The Hornady Lock-N-Load Modified Case .243 Winchester (A243) is a practical choice for any .243 Winchester reloader who uses the Lock-N-Load O.A.L. Gauge and demands chamber-specific seating depth measurements accurate to .001 inch for consistent, accurate handloaded ammunition.
| MANUFACTURER | HORNADY |