Quickload or RSI Shooting Lab

[VA_XTC_Shooter]

I have been debating on purchasing software to support my reloading addiction.

I was curious if the forum had some opinion of the two and being the most beneficial to a reloader and competitive shooter. It appears to me that QL focus more on the specific load estimations for pressure, velocity, etc. and Shooting Lab focuses more on the external ballistics and target info.

Because I don't build my own cartridges, I use standard 223 and 6mm BR, I am inclined to go the Shooting Lab route, but wanted to solicit input here first.

Thanks!

 

[jepp2]

I have only used QL, and wouldn't reload without it. Just too much valuable information that I can't get anywhere else. You do know QL has Quick Target for downrange ballistics, right?

 

[Gappmast]

Me to when it comes to QL wouldn't load without it. I think the Quick target will give you all you want for external ballistics

 

[Lannister]

I have Shooting Lab and like it a lot. It's the most user-friendly ballistics program I've seen. It comes with very good internal documentation, and customer support from Jim Ristow is outstanding, as is his lifetime free upgrade/support policy. I switched from a Mac to a PC and he supplied the new version on CD at no charge - not even a media/postage fee. Jim is very knowledgeable and willing to share what he knows; I've spent hours on the 'phone with him and learned a lot, as well as bringing up a few points he hadn't thought of that are now incorporated in the program.
If you'd rather go free with no support, the JBM ballistics calculator will give you the same results, but you don't get the rest of the Shooting Lab package.

 

[DRNewcomb]

I think QL and SL fill two different needs. QL (as I understand it) is a load estimation tool to help you work up a starting load: an interior ballistics program. (Someone can fill in the rest as I don't have actual experience with QL.) I do have RSi SL and do use it for tracking my loads. I will say that it has taken some getting used to. If you've ever played the computer games Myst or Riven, there are things about SL that remind me of those games. Specifically, how changing something in one window will have an effect on things in a different window. There has been quite a bit to learn and the documentation is not always as helpful as I've needed it to be. The information flow is not what I'd call "intuitive". The developer, Jim, is very helpful and will answer questions. This has helped me to develop a working modus operandi with SL but I still think I'm not fully understanding some features. The program really wants you to micro-manage your ammo inventory. You can either tell it that you shot 57 rounds on Tuesday at West Podunk Range at 54ºF and 72% humidity with a SW wind, if your in a lazy mood, or you can plot each round fired on an image of the target. The results are that the rounds are deducted from your inventory. I have yet to quite figure out how to account for rounds you find in the bottom of the shooting box or give to a buddy. Last time I updated SL (updates come frequently) the only interior ballistics tools it had were load volume and stability estimators. It doesn't do the sort of load estimation that QL does. It does integrate well with chronographs. IMHO, YMMV, etc.