New QuickLOAD user in the dark

[Jeff A]

As I sit here and look at the latest version of QuickLOAD I am actually without a plan to how to begin using it. I have three varmint rifles. One 22-250 is done with load development after having installed a new Shilen barrel. A second 22-250 (A Ruger 1) sits waiting for load development. The 3rd rifle is a Cooper in 6mm which I am partially through load development on.

I am an experienced reloader and I am generally software proficient. Any assistance would be appreciated.

 

[LRPV]

I was wondering if there is a good write up somewhere on the ins and outs of Quickload? I have looked at buying the program a couple of times and checked out the sample on the website and it scared me off I guess. I was overwhelmed by the amount of input that it seemed to require.
Jason

 

[louielouie]

I have just bought & started using QL after I read this http://www.the-long-family.com/optimal%20barrel%20time.htm The focus is on having QL generate load data based on the Optimum Barrel Time concept and jives with empirical data that I've already developed for my rifle. The only puzzler amonst all the different inputs in QL is nothing about primers.

 

[Jeff A]

I have heard and understand the concept of barrel time, at least I think I do, being an indicator for accuracy. I can compute the barrel time for a particular load that I have developed but how do I find out the "Sweet Spot" for the barrel time without old fashioned load testing as usual?

 

[40X Guy]

I just bought the new version of Quickload last week and this helped: http://www.accurateshooter.com/gear-reviews/test-quickload-review/

I feel your pain as i spent about 2 hours the first night after downloading basically just figuring what to click on, but its all coming together now the more i play with it.

Frank

 

[Jeff A]

Thanks for the link. I'll read it now.

 

[louielouie]

In the link I posted, there is a list of calculated OBT's for barrel lengths from 16" to 36" in 0.5" increments with 7 nodes each. For example, my 25.5" barrel at node 5 has a 1.3042 OBT which I can achieve in the 49k ~ 51k psi range but the lower node 4 with an OBT of 1.1683 would require pressures around 60k psi and I'm not that desperate for those velocities.
Then I generate a list of powder/charges that will have the same OBT, listed in order of velocity and see what I have on my shelf. There was roughly 75 fps spread between the lowest velocity powder/charge (with H4350) and highest (AA3100) in my 260 Rem with 129gr red-tip bullets. This is where I start.
Are you still awake?

 

[Jeff A]

I'll get it slowly. ;D

 

[CPorter]

You still have to do a little bit of testing to find the sweet spot. After calculating the OBT you go into the propellant table setup window and click the barrel time of entry load button. This will give you a chart of powder loads around that time. Pick your powder and enter it in the charge window & calculate. Then go to option menu and set the load table increment step. I do user defined increments and set it to .2 grains. Then click on the charge variations table. It should give you a few steps around the barrel time that can use a chronograph to verify powder burn rates to your powder.

 

[Jeff A]

Thank you all. This should give me ideas. Others always welcome.

 

[mhiltz]

Another thing that I have found out is that the H20 water case capacity is set on a very average default setting. I could never get the pressures right they were always way over, and the velocities weren't that close either. So I take a fired case with the spent primer still in and weigh it, then I fill it with water to the very top of the neck and weigh it again, the difference is your acctual case capacity.(cases vary so you might do 5 or so this way and take an average) Enter that number into that slot and things will get a lot more accurate. Just in case you haven't stumbled on to that little detail yet.

mhiltz

 

[Jeff A]

Another thing that I have found out is that the H20 water case capacity is set on a very average default setting. I could never get the pressures right they were always way over, and the velocities weren't that close either. So I take a fired case with the spent primer still in and weigh it, then I fill it with water to the very top of the neck and weigh it again, the difference is your acctual case capacity.(cases vary so you might do 5 or so this way and take an average) Enter that number into that slot and things will get a lot more accurate. Just in case you haven't stumbled on to that little detail yet.

mhiltz

I'll make a note to do that right away on my 6mm. I wish I had not processed all my .22-250 brass already!

 

[lurcher]

There are two youtube videos that explain a few things You can down load them. They only scratch the surface. A series of instructional video's would be great.

 

[Clark]

My Quickload thumbnail instructions


1) Click on the Quickload icon on your desktop
2) Click on "continue".
3) select a cartridge
4) click on the 7th icon on the tool bar. It is the second image that is binoculars over a case.
5) click on "ok"
6) Click on "ok"
7) Click on "ok"
8) Click on "yes"
9) Select a bullet
10) select a powder
11) type in a powder charge
13) type in a barrel length
14) click on "Apply&Calc" in the charge section
15) Wait for 10 seconds for the velocity and pressure to appear

16) Click on the QuickTarget icon on your desktop
17) Click on continue
18) Click on "Receive Data from QuickLOAD"

19) Click on the 16th icon on the Quickload tool bar that says "1 2 3".
20) Enter a maximum pressure of 65,000 psi
21) Click on "Apply&Exit"
22) Find the powder in that list, that you own, that gets the highest velocity
23) Select that powder in the charge section

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3RkvTxW4lE
Kevin Adam
http://www.shootforum.com/forum/

 

[Jeff A]

Thanks for the list Clark. Very helpful. Is it just me or am I the only one who thinks a $150 program would label the icon buttons or at least have a bubble text for what they do?

Tried to adjust a load for ambient temperature the other day and the icon the the help file shows that you can do that with was not present. Ideas on that?

 

[Clark]

I load 60 different cartridge, and I would pay 10 times the price in a heart beat.

My wife, son, and cousins write software.
I complain every chance I get that pull down menus are like driving somewhere and having to memorize a half dozen turns.

I have the same trouble as I do with Quickload with every program that has menus; movie maker, chrome, mozilla, Ifanview, Brownell's website, thunderbird, WindowsMedia, Windows-settings-control panel, etc.

And the worst is websites like Leupold. Go there looking for the lowest weight rifle scope with parallax adjustment, zero stop, adjustable turrets, second focal plane, and a reticule with units that match the turrets. It hurts my feelings. Those of us that want a chart, don't want to back track 10 times from ill defined categories.