Question re: the Quickload program...

How well does it support predictions for loads using Cast Bullets? I heard there is a lot of support for condom bullets but haven't heard whether there are data for cast or not.

Any other general issues to report on how well the program works?

Thanks-

Sky C.

several thngs to consider:
1) what alloy you use(thier start pressure looks like it is for a very soft alloy)
2) where the bullet starts.....add more start pressure if you seat the bullet at or near the lands.
3) know your case volume....this can change pressure and velocity.
4)your lot of powder is probably different than the lot used in setting up quickload....you can adjust the powder characteristics once you have some data to work with.
there maybe more but this is what i see....

Sky,
I just started playing with Quickload a couple of weeks ago. Once you have it, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.

It does have the Lyman bullets in inventory. It also allows you to create a category for your custom bullets. My only beef is that it does not remember the seating depth for these custom bullets so you have to reenter the seating depth every time you start the program.

It does not predict the velocity of short-barreled wheelguns very consistently. Of course, it cannot take into account the velocity loss due to the barrel/cylinder gap nor the velocity gain due to the cylinder length. Instead, I adjust the barrel length for each of my guns until Quickload's velocities agree with loads that I have chrono'd. For example, a 2 5/8" revolver uses a 3.7" barrel in Quickload. A 4" revolver uses a 5" barrel in Quickload. That's really not far off, when you add the length of the cylinder.

Rifle velocities are spot-on.

What is most valuable to me is the pressure data for wheelgun loads. Wheelgun cartridges can be very sensitive to seating depth, and of course, conventional loading manuals do not give data for every possible seating depth. Quickload does allow for seating depth. For example, Hodgden shows 14.5 296 max with a 160 gr. 357 mag, but Quickload showed that for my particular 160 gr. cast bullet, 18 gr. 296 would be safe, owing to the different seating depth. I had kinda guessed that even before trying Quickload, but now I can develop CB loads with confidence instead of guesswork.

Generaly if the CB data is not there you can enter the data yourself,this is what I do for the 480 Ruger -475 Linebaugh and 500 SW cast bullets,the loads for straight walled pistol ,Velocity is (low 50-100fps) and pressure is high on there estimates.

[ 11-21-2003, 19:12: Message edited by: 475/480 ]