QuickLoad Software

[88E30M50]

Hi All,

I just bought a copy of QuickLoad and have to say, I'm really impressed with it so far. I've only been playing with it for a couple of hours, but it can be quite addicting. I love being able to try different powders and charges for a given bullet to see what the estimated performance of the round would be.

There's still a lot to learn on this, but a couple of questions have come up off the bat. First, is there any way to compensate for a hotter primer, such as using a magnum small pistol primer instead of a standard small pistol primer? Also, is there any place that has files for bullet types, guns and powders? Also, is polygonal rifling addressed anywhere or does it have a marginal impact on the velocity/pressures generated?

I'm sure I'll have a lot more questions as I get deeper into this app, but so far I think it's some of the best reloading money I've spent.

 

[Leo]

where did you buy it and what did it cost?

 

[88E30M50]

where did you buy it and what did it cost?

I bought it from their website at quickload quicktarget software and it cost $152.00 plus S&H. I ordered it on Monday and it came in today.

 

[88E30M50]

I've been going over some load data I have to see how well this program models the loads and it is impressive. For instance, I have a light 10mm load that puts a 180g Berry's plated bullet over 6.5g Vitavourhi N340. The program predicts this to be a 1022fps round. When I checked my old chrono records on that, I saw that it averaged 1023fps. That's pretty impressive.

 

[dukeboy_318]

dang expensive software it seems. How is it on powder selections? Does it have all the manufactures?

 

[Fishersjohn48]

Here is the list of powders


ADI AS 30 ADI AS 50N ADI AP 70N ADI AP 90 ADI AP 100 ADI AR 2205 ADI AR 2207 ADI BM2 ADI AR 2210 ADI AR 2206 ADI AR 2219 ADI AR 2206H ADI AR 2208 ADI AR 2209 ADI AR 2213 ADI AP 2214 ADI AR 2218
Accurate Solo 1000 Accurate Nitro 100 Accurate Solo 1250 Accurate No.2 Accurate No.5 Accurate No.7 Accurate No.9 Accurate 4100 Accurate 5744 Accurate 1680 Accurate 2015 Accurate 2200 Accurate 2495 Accurate 2230 Accurate 2460 Accurate 4064 Accurate 2520 Accurate 2700 Accurate 4350 Accurate 3100 Accurate MAGPRO Accurate 8700
Alliant RED DOT Alliant GREEN DOT Alliant BULLSEYE Alliant UNIQUE Alliant HERCO Alliant POWER PISTOL Alliant BLUE DOT Alliant 2400 Alliant Reloder- 7 Alliant Reloder-10x Alliant Reloder-12 Alliant Reloder-15 Alliant Reloder-17 Alliant Reloder-19 Alliant Reloder-22 Alliant Reloder-25
Bofors RP1/NP ~approximation Bofors RP11 ~approximation Bofors RP19 ~approximation Bofors RP4 ~approximation Bofors RP14 ~approximation Bofors RP5/NP ~approximation
Hodgdon Clays Hodgdon TiteGroup Hodgdon HP38 Hodgdon Universal Hodgdon HS-6 Hodgdon H110 Hodgdon Lil'Gun Hodgdon H4227 Hodgdon H4198 Hodgdon Benchmark Hodgdon H322 Hodgdon H335 Hodgdon H4895 Hodgdon VARGET Hodgdon BL-C2 Hodgdon H380 Hodgdon Hybrid 100V Hodgdon H414 Hodgdon H4350 Hodgdon Supreme 780 Hodgdon H4831 Hodgdon H4831 SC Hodgdon H1000 Hodgdon Retumbo Hodgdon H870 Hodgdon US 869 Hodgdon 50BMG
IMR 4227 IMR 4198 IMR 3031 IMR 4064 IMR 4895 IMR 4320 IMR 4007 SSC IMR 4831 IMR 4350 IMR 7828 IMR 7828 SSC
Kazan Sunar 308W
Lovex-S0111 Lovex-D0323 Lovex-S0202 Lovex-D0051 Lovex-D0361 Lovex-S0401 Lovex-D0631 Lovex-S0531 Lovex-D0733 Lovex-S0601 Lovex-D0731 Lovex-S0621 Lovex-D0832 Lovex-S0651 Lovex-S0701 Lovex-D1001 NC A3502 ,test only
Nitrochemie A/S 0200 Nitrochemie A/S 0300
Norma R1 Norma R123 Norma 200 Norma 201 Norma 202 Norma 203 old Norma 203B Norma URP Norma 204 Norma MRP Norma MRP 2
PB Clermont PCL 514 PB Clermont PCL 509 PB Clermont PCL 515 PB Clermont PCL 506 PB Clermont PCL 501 PB Clermont PCL 504 PB Clermont PCL 512 PB Clermont PCL 508 PB Clermont PCL 507 PB Clermont PCL 516 PB Clermont PCL 517 PB Clermont PCL 513/520/9520
Ramshot Zip Ramshot Silhouette Ramshot True Blue Ramshot Enforcer Ramshot X-Terminator Ramshot TAC Ramshot BigGame Ramshot Hunter Ramshot Magnum (Big Boy)
Raufoss RA11 Raufoss RA4 Raufoss RA15
Rottweil P805 Rottweil P801 Rottweil P804 Rottweil P803 Rottweil J706 Rottweil P806 Rottweil R910 Rottweil R901 Rottweil R902 Rottweil R903 Rottweil R907 Rottweil R904 Rottweil R905 SF-033 fl
SNPE Vectan SP 10 SNPE Vectan Sp 7 SNPE Vectan SP 9 SNPE Vectan SP 11 SNPE Vectan SP 12 SNPE Vectan SP 13
Somchem MS200 Somchem MP200 Somchem S221 Somchem S265 Somchem S335 Somchem S321 Somchem S355 Somchem S341 Somchem S365 Somchem S385 TLP A 502(RH) ,test only V1734 7-multiperf ,test only
Vihtavuori N310 Vihtavuori N320 Vihtavuori N330 Vihtavuori N340 Vihtavuori 3N37 Vihtavuori N350 Vihtavuori 3N38 Vihtavuori N105 Vihtavuori N110 Vihtavuori N120 Vihtavuori N130 Vihtavuori N133 Vihtavuori N135 Vihtavuori N540 Vihtavuori N530 Vihtavuori N140 Vihtavuori N150 Vihtavuori N550 Vihtavuori N160 Vihtavuori N165 Vihtavuori N560 Vihtavuori N170 Vihtavuori N570 Vihtavuori 20N29 Vihtavuori 24N41
Winchester 231 Winchester WAP Winchester 540 Winchester 296 Winchester 748 Winchester 760 Winchester WXR

 

[Broom_jm]

There's no way to actual quantify what impact a different primer will have on a load; the QL modeling presumes you are using a primer that is sufficient to properly ignite the powder and that pressure/burn rate will sustain it from there.

The data compiled within QL is already pretty extensive, including huge lists of bullets and powders. The "Data:" drop-down menu has a lot of options to choose from for guns, powders, bullets and cases. You can import additional data into the program from various files...is that what you're asking about?

As far as rifling is concerned, I would imagine QL simply presumes that an appropriately-sized bullet was used that fully obturates the bore. I don't know if it has any mechanism by which to account for such things as different rifling patterns/methods, or for worn and/or sloppy rifling, such as you might find in an old military barrel.

I would also caution you to not put too much faith into what QL predicts for straight-walled pistol cartridges. It is far better at extrapolating data for higher-pressure, bottle-necked rounds than it is for pistols. I don't know why this is, but if you compare a bunch of data from your reloading manuals to what QL predicts, you'll see what I mean.

Have fun and let us know if you have any specific questions.

 

[88E30M50]

Thanks, it really is fun to play with. It's also very educational in that you can set a load and then see what impact the different variables have. I've been reloading for a number of years, yet did not realize the relationship between bullet setback and peak pressures. Now I understand exactly what Shibumiseeker was talking about when he was getting the case bulges with his Delta Elite.

The files I was wondering about were mainly gun files. I don't know if I'd trust a non-official powder file, but I probably would with a gun or bullet file. I can measure and verify a bullets dimensions and weight, but the powder data is still black magic to me. I did see a couple of suggestions on how to remove extraneous data from a working set of files so you can clean up the drop down boxes to only what you use or have.

I think my chrono is going to get a workout this spring.

 

[Broom_jm]

It is REALLY eye-opening to compare load book data, QL projections, and real-life chronograph readings. You start to see how important seating depth, barrel length and bearing surface can be...and how all of this is highly inter-related.

 

[88E30M50]

I took 6 different loads out to the range to chrono them today and when comparing the readings, found that Vihtavouri consistently chrono'd at 97% of Quickload predictions and Accurate #2 was consistently 104% of the predicted velocity. This was across different loads and AA#2, N330 and N340 powders. These are all still at the low end of the range right now, but it does give me another thing to experiment with.

Question: What is the relevance of the Ballistic Efficiency? I assume it's a measure of how much energy that load captures from the powder charge. I was also assuming that higher is better and was expecting the Vihtavouri loads running at close to 34% to work better than the Accurate #2 loads that were around 27%, but in the end, I like the Accurate load better for that particular gun and round. Both were around 930fps in .40 S&W, but the Accurate load was more accurate and had less recoil. Not by much, but it was noticeable in a G27.

 

[MikeDVB]

Ballistic efficiency, if I'm not mistaken, is how much resistance (or lack of resistance) the projectile has while flying through the air. Something with a higher efficiency should have lower drag I would think.

It's been a while. As far as how it impacts your loading - a projectile that is more efficient will require less force to maintain speed and not slow down.

 

[Broom_jm]

I took 6 different loads out to the range to chrono them today and when comparing the readings, found that Vihtavouri consistently chrono'd at 97% of Quickload predictions and Accurate #2 was consistently 104% of the predicted velocity. This was across different loads and AA#2, N330 and N340 powders. These are all still at the low end of the range right now, but it does give me another thing to experiment with.

Question: What is the relevance of the Ballistic Efficiency? I assume it's a measure of how much energy that load captures from the powder charge. I was also assuming that higher is better and was expecting the Vihtavouri loads running at close to 34% to work better than the Accurate #2 loads that were around 27%, but in the end, I like the Accurate load better for that particular gun and round. Both were around 930fps in .40 S&W, but the Accurate load was more accurate and had less recoil. Not by much, but it was noticeable in a G27.

For 40 S&W loads, the 97% and 104% numbers, relative to QuickLoad predictions, is pretty dang good! Both of those are within a pretty narrow range that would keep a prudent reloader safe. Out of curiosity, how well do your chronograph results correlate with the velocity your load book/data suggested you would get? That would be a very interesting study!

From an internal ballistics perspective, and per the value assigned in QuickLoad, Ballistic Efficiency is the percentage of potential energy in the burning powder that is translated to kinetic energy in the moving bullet. The higher this value is, the more zip you're getting for your bang.

As you've already noted, how close together those bullets are when they hit the target is more important, but that is really a different matter, entirely. Barrel harmonics, shot timing, recoil impulse and gyroscopic stability all play a part in how well a given bullet, propelled by a given charge, from a given barrel, will group at a given distance. The type of powder used, and its relative efficiency, usually has little bearing on that.

Now, if you really like how efficient one powder is, you can often tweak your load details (charge weight and or seating depth) to get better/good accuracy from a given powder. As noted, all of these variables interact. In practice, this is easier and safer to do with rifle loads than it is with pistols, and since you're not looking for half-MOA out of your Glock or 1911, you don't have to be all THAT picky about load development. You just find a load that cycles flawlessly and shoots plenty tight...ballistic efficiency be d***ed!

 

[88E30M50]

Thanks for the info guys. I'll keep plugging away and if you all don't mind, will keep asking questions as I come up with them.