Hornady Lock-N-Load Modified Case 280 Ackley Improved Brass

The Hornady Lock-N-Load Modified Case in .280 Ackley Improved is a single, specially prepared brass case used to set up and use Hornady's Lock-N-Load Overall Length (OAL) Gauge and Precision gauges. It is the foundation tool for any reloader handloading the 280 Ackley Improved wildcat, allowing the user to establish a precise, repeatable seating depth for any bullet weight before trimming production brass to match.

Each modified case is manufactured to SAAMI specifications from quality brass with tight wall concentricity and uniform wall thickness. The case head is threaded to accept the Hornady OAL tool, and the neck is oversized by .002" so the modified case functions correctly in the gauge assembly without binding or splitting. Sold as a single case, this component is intended for the reloading bench rather than the firing line.

To use, the modified case is threaded onto the OAL gauge and a comparator/insert is selected for the chosen bullet. The bolt is closed on a fired case to establish the rifle's freebore, then the comparator is trimmed or adjusted to lock in the desired overall length. Production cases are then trimmed to that length, giving the handloader a consistent setup run after run.