QuickLoad

[Brad]

Ever wonder if the software is helpful?
Here is a bit of data I generated for Waco and his 308 long range pursuits.
This is a table showing small changes in powder with a single bullet and OAL. This shows 80 to 110 percent of case capacity.

This is just a bit of the data the program can generate. I find that for rifles the predicted velocities are pretty close to the chronograph.

Cartridge : .308 Win. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .31, 165, NOE 310-165-FN(GC) XCB
Useable Case Capaci: 52.474 grain H2O = 3.407 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.760 inch = 70.10 mm
Barrel Length : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-17

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 81 40.93 2006 1474 22423 7985 81.8 1.546
-18.0 83 41.95 2067 1565 24090 8338 83.8 1.492
-16.0 85 42.97 2128 1659 25877 8683 85.7 1.441
-14.0 87 44.00 2190 1757 27792 9019 87.6 1.392
-12.0 89 45.02 2252 1858 29845 9343 89.3 1.345
-10.0 91 46.04 2314 1962 32049 9653 90.9 1.300
-08.0 93 47.07 2377 2069 34415 9949 92.4 1.256
-06.0 95 48.09 2439 2180 36959 10228 93.7 1.214
-04.0 97 49.11 2502 2293 39697 10489 95.0 1.174
-02.0 99 50.14 2565 2410 42646 10730 96.1 1.135
+00.0 101 51.16 2627 2529 45826 10950 97.0 1.098
+02.0 103 52.18 2690 2651 49262 11147 97.9 1.062
+04.0 105 53.21 2752 2775 52975 11320 98.6 1.028 ! Near Maximum !
+06.0 107 54.23 2814 2902 56998 11467 99.1 0.995 ! Near Maximum !
+08.0 109 55.25 2876 3031 61363 11588 99.6 0.962 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 111 56.28 2938 3162 66105 11680 99.8 0.932 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 101 51.16 2792 2857 56244 10801 100.0 1.004 ! Near Maximum !
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 101 51.16 2406 2121 36783 10248 87.9 1.220

 

[RicinYakima]

You are right Brad, it is an excellent tool. While I don't have the program, others have run charts for me. As long as you realized you are working with models, it is great. Your last five lines says a lot, if you take time to think about it. Empirical data is best, but this gives you something to hang your hat on! Thanks, Ric

 

[Brad]

I like to run the data then pick a start load and get some chronograph data. I then adjust start pressure a little to get a better alignment between the two. After that it can be scary accurate, often within 25 fps.

Where it can really shine is with powders like Unique or 2400 with cast. Being able to generate a load window is a huge plus.

 

[freebullet]

I've been sold on it...still haven't bought it as my disdain for computers wins.

 

[Brad]

I've been sold on it...still haven't bought it as my disdain for computers wins.

If you ever want some data, let me know.

 

[earlmck]

Good ol' QL has given me more "bang" for the buck than any other software I ever bought: I frequently get my starting load for a new toy with QL though have learned to measure my actual case capacity and actual bullet and not use his bullet data because he has some errors in the bullet database. And that table like Brad generated for Waco is a handy thing to look at when you are contemplating a new load.

Sure wish he'd update his powder database to cover the bunches of new powders that have been released the last few years. He does have the new IMR powders covered but none of the new ball powders from Alliant or Hodgdon.

 

[Ian]

Quickload has payed for itself many times over in component savings and range time. While we still must actually test every load to be sure (there are some surprises with some powder/cartridge/bullet combinations that are off by a lot more than 10%), some bad apples can be weeded out promptly and by "running the numbers" with a lot of different candidate powders you can see how each one behaves within the system. You can also see how much pressure bump seating the bullet another .010" deeper makes, and all sorts of useful stuff.

The visual pressure/time/bullet travel curve that QL generates is a godsend for those of us figuring out how to work with a given alloy, it's amazing the differences in pressure rise between some similar powders giving similar velocity. Also, if you own an M1 Garand, M-14, or other gas-operated rifle, QL is invaluable for generating port pressure predictions with odd powders or reduced loads when using cast bullets.

If it wasn't for QL, there's no telling how much powder I would have burned before finding the right one to make my 10.5" .458 Socom cycle heavy subsonic bullets and have the lowest possible muzzle pressure.