I have been using Quickload for 7 years.
I am a complete software bone head, but it is user friendly for types like me.
What I do with Quickload:
1) Choose cartridge
2) choose bullet from the bullet library. If there is not that bullet, I choose a similar bullet, and change the bullet length and weight to match. Choose barrel length.
3) Chose an over all length for the cartridge. For the predictions to be exact, the bullet should not touch the lands. If it is crammed into the lands, the start pressure must be adjusted.
4) Click on "apply and calculate" in selected propellant. Read resultant velocity and pressure.
5) In propellant table set up [123 in the toolbar], click on "apply and calculate". Choose max pressure and filling ratio.
6) Expand the box, "checking propellants", and read the top velocity possible with a powder I own.
7) Re calculate using the best powder.
8) Open QuickTarget
9) Click on "receive data from Quickload"
11) click on "apply and calculate.
12) Adjust distance between bore and scope to 2", adjust zero to 200 yards. Adjust wind to 10mph. Adjust range increment to 10 yards.
13) click on "apply and calculate", read the drop, drift, and velocity at each range.
14) Play with the zero range unit the highest point is 1" above point of aim. recalculate.
Quickload can be very accurate with velocity.
For a bottle necked cartridge, the prediction is often in the middle of the numbers taken from a string on the chronograph.
Quickload can be very inaccurate with velocity and pressure.
For an overloaded straight wall pistol cartridge, the prediction is often 1,000,000 psi and 2,000 fps, but in reality, the primer does not piece. The bulk of the powder blows out the muzzle as muzzle flash.
Quickload can be accurate for straight wall cartridges not overloaded, but operated near the SAAMI pressure range.
When I changed computers and could not find my disc, NECO was nice enough to just charge me for an update and get me going again.
http://www.neconos.com/
I have ~$150 into Quickload and updates for new powders and new bullets.
I would pay $1500 if I had to.
I snuck over to the right end of the demand curve.
I own 50 load books, but don't use them anymore.