balderclev
Member
Looking forward to checking all my loads.
Just got Quickload
- Thread starter balderclev
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It costs about $150. It's a great app that calculates velocity, pressure, power factor, recoil numbers, etc. It has data about hundreds of powders, bullets, cases, and guns. It will do calculations particular to your gun and reloads so that you can see the results of changing one parameter. You can use it to find alternative powders that give you the same results as the one you like, but can't find.
If you want Quickload to give meaningful results, it's important to measure your bullet's diameter and your barrel's groove and bore diameters and the rifling land width to calculate the bore's cross sectional area; they're inputs to QL. For example, the 308 Winchester's SAAMI specs allow bullet diameters from .306" to .309", bore diameters from .300" to .302" and groove diameters from .308" to .310". While 30 caliber bullets and bores are typically somewhere between their diameter limits. Barrel groove diameters are sometimes as small as .306 and bores as small as .298". SAAMI spec cross sectional area minimum is .0736 square inch but some barrels are less. If your particular barrel and bullet dimensions are not accurately plugged into Quickload's software, then resultant pressure calculations can be off quite a bit from what they really are.
I think Quickload's a good way to compare load recipe A to B for a given cartridge, it's not an exact number for your rifle. For example, it uses the mildest primer suitable for the recipe entered; it may not be the primer you use. But it's an excellent tool to learn how different components and barrel parameters effect pressure and velocity based on average powder characteristics for the powder type used.
Download the demo program from Quickload's web site, try it to see how it works using the input data you select. Pay close attention to the startup screen explaining the software limitations. Here's a good review:
http://www.6mmbr.com/quickload.html
I think Quickload's a good way to compare load recipe A to B for a given cartridge, it's not an exact number for your rifle. For example, it uses the mildest primer suitable for the recipe entered; it may not be the primer you use. But it's an excellent tool to learn how different components and barrel parameters effect pressure and velocity based on average powder characteristics for the powder type used.
Download the demo program from Quickload's web site, try it to see how it works using the input data you select. Pay close attention to the startup screen explaining the software limitations. Here's a good review:
http://www.6mmbr.com/quickload.html
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bluetopper
Member
For several years I've been expecting the cost of Quickload to go down or for someone else to market a similar product........none has occurred.
Would very much like to have it but I'm a cheapskate.
Would very much like to have it but I'm a cheapskate.
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Romeo 33 Delta
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I didn't have it for years ... thought it was just too expensive.
Finally bought it a couple of years ago and my only gripe is ...
I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT LONG, LONG BEFORE I FINALLY DID!
If you're really into reloading, especially Wildcatting and extremely obsolete calibers ... you really shouldn't be without it.
And ... NO, I'm not getting any kickback for this endorsement.
Finally bought it a couple of years ago and my only gripe is ...
I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT LONG, LONG BEFORE I FINALLY DID!
If you're really into reloading, especially Wildcatting and extremely obsolete calibers ... you really shouldn't be without it.
And ... NO, I'm not getting any kickback for this endorsement.
It's also good in these powder shortage days to use it to see if an available powder is acceptable for use in your application. Certainly not for peak performance or max load use, but just to see if the powder has any chance at all of working with the cartridge you are interested in.
OP
OP
balderclev
Member
A steep learning curve. I can see that I will learn a lot just by what I will have to know to use it.
Easy, start with known loads you already have data for.
If you don't have your own chrony data, look up load data on websites and see if they match or are close to Quickload results, then start changing seat depth, powder charge, powder type, barrel length, bullet type (one at a time of course) and see how the MV and Pmax are affected. You can use the propellant table setup to see what the acceptable powders would be or the incremental load table to see what a virtual "work up" would look like.
If you don't have your own chrony data, look up load data on websites and see if they match or are close to Quickload results, then start changing seat depth, powder charge, powder type, barrel length, bullet type (one at a time of course) and see how the MV and Pmax are affected. You can use the propellant table setup to see what the acceptable powders would be or the incremental load table to see what a virtual "work up" would look like.
Toprudder
Member
I just picked up my copy. My first impression, after playing with it for just a couple of hours, is that it does not work for pistol loads very well. That is the main reason I bought it. I have not gotten into rifle reloading yet, which is where I hear it does a better job.
Toprudder
Member
I was looking at 45acp loads. Don't remember which powder, but I remember thinking it wasn't close to my data or the online load data. I'll have to go back and look again and post it here.
Mauser69
Member
Seems way too expensive for just normal calibers with plenty of published data.
It works well enough for me in 9/38/357/40/45ACP pistol loads. What I get from it is that I can see whether a particulary powder would be a good candidate or not for the bullet and cartridge I wish to load. Most of my bullets are Lee cast with a few plated and jacketed main stream bullets, all of which are on Quickload. I then look at the calculated pressure and velocity vs barrel length trace with a 75% SAAMI Max load. If the trace looks awkward, the MV is too low or the cartridge fill is well above 100%, the powder is not a good match for load development. If not, I compare it with my favorite powders to see how it would compare.
Dave P
Member
I say it can save money by reducing barrel wear (less shots fired, less custom ammo, less trial and error) by letting you simulate the loads on your PC.
I have been very successful with various 308 loads.
I have been very successful with various 308 loads.
Does Quickload let any bore/groove diameter be used as well as bullet diameters?
30 caliber barrels on this planet have groove diameters from .3065" to .3090" or more; bore diameters from .2970" to .3020". That means quite a spread in velocity and pressure for a given load. Bullet diameters range from .3070" to over .3090" just to compound the issue.
30 caliber barrels on this planet have groove diameters from .3065" to .3090" or more; bore diameters from .2970" to .3020". That means quite a spread in velocity and pressure for a given load. Bullet diameters range from .3070" to over .3090" just to compound the issue.
Andrew Leigh
Member
It always amazes me, not just on this forum but others too.
The average hand loader never considers bore diameter, bullet diameter neither can they compute these or the effect of these, this is true for pressure, speed, powder burn rate from powder batch to powder batch. But mention QL and we drag out every spec in the book and suddenly QL is required to compute every variable known to man, previously considered relatively unimportant and or beyond the computing power of the average hand loader.
What is the problem with QL, simply fail to understand?
The average guy loads from tables without a chrony (nothing wrong) but mention QL and suddenly QL is woefully inadequate as it does not take into account different primers etc etc ...... which never were a problem until we mention QL.
I am lost. QL has saved friends and I countless rounds during load development. Has zoned me in on loads and has taught me about internal ballistics.
The average hand loader never considers bore diameter, bullet diameter neither can they compute these or the effect of these, this is true for pressure, speed, powder burn rate from powder batch to powder batch. But mention QL and we drag out every spec in the book and suddenly QL is required to compute every variable known to man, previously considered relatively unimportant and or beyond the computing power of the average hand loader.
What is the problem with QL, simply fail to understand?
The average guy loads from tables without a chrony (nothing wrong) but mention QL and suddenly QL is woefully inadequate as it does not take into account different primers etc etc ...... which never were a problem until we mention QL.
I am lost. QL has saved friends and I countless rounds during load development. Has zoned me in on loads and has taught me about internal ballistics.
Toprudder
Member
Ok, I had a few minutes so I pulled out QL.
Hodgdon online data, for Speer 200gn JHP .45, seated 1.155", shows a range of 5.2 to 5.9gn. If I enter the info for that bullet and powder, that seating depth, at 5.9gn it shows overpressure (slightly) and a muzzle velocity of 980fps. Hodgdon shows velocity of 906.
Universal powder. Online data 6.2gn, 1.155", 949 velocity. QL shows pressure over by 963psi, velocity 1019.
I don't have Speer bullets to test loads with, I was using Xtreme 200 RN, and was finding velocities lower than either. In the case of Universal powder, 6.2gn, my velocity was 809fps, but I was also seated to 1.185".
I did not alter any parameters other than bullet type, powder charge, barrel length, and seating depth. Yes, there are places to adjust barrel groove diameter and cross section area.
Hodgdon online data, for Speer 200gn JHP .45, seated 1.155", shows a range of 5.2 to 5.9gn. If I enter the info for that bullet and powder, that seating depth, at 5.9gn it shows overpressure (slightly) and a muzzle velocity of 980fps. Hodgdon shows velocity of 906.
Universal powder. Online data 6.2gn, 1.155", 949 velocity. QL shows pressure over by 963psi, velocity 1019.
I don't have Speer bullets to test loads with, I was using Xtreme 200 RN, and was finding velocities lower than either. In the case of Universal powder, 6.2gn, my velocity was 809fps, but I was also seated to 1.185".
I did not alter any parameters other than bullet type, powder charge, barrel length, and seating depth. Yes, there are places to adjust barrel groove diameter and cross section area.
Andrew Leigh
Member
Was looking for the Speer bullet option but all I get is a bullet weight in the online data. Could you please point me to the correct place?
EDIT: Ok found it.
EDIT: Ok found it.
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Andrew Leigh
Member
Toprudder, which specific .45 cartridge did you select for the exercise?
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