I've been reloading for nearly 45 years and normally confined myself to published data and conservative estimates based on known information. I admit that when I venture off the published data I'm strictly guessing about pressures based on typical pressure signs.

Now, many folks seem to be talking about (I assume) a software package called Quick-Load. You just call it QL.

My questions:
Is this software program accurate to 1%,2%...10%?
If I have this program can I get rid of my loading manuals?
Is this safe to use with wildcats such as the 6 X 45 and 55 grain bullets that I can't find data for?
Are most of the powders known to this software? Does it know all the powders from Hodgdon. IMR, Alliant, Ramshot etc? In other words just how good is this product?

One more thing.....where do I get it? cost?
Please confine replies to this software and it's uses....

Let me start by saying that I have almost all the ballistic programs available to the public.

Secondly, let me say that NONE of them give the same results as "real life" testing.

However; Quickload/Quicktarget/Quickdemo come the closest/

I would NOT base my reloading on any of them, but rather after I go to the range, run my loads through the chrony, I come back home and plug my data into the programs just to see how close they come.

If you want to see how Quickload compares to the "real world" go to http://stevespages.com/table1.html and look at the bottom lines. There you will find the actual velocity recorded and the "predictions" made by Quickload, as well as "estimated" velocities found in various printed manuals.

There is quite a discrepency in many of them...

Below is an example of just one:
http://stevespages.com/357magpi.html

Here's where you'll find it:

http://www.neconos.com/shop/index.php?shop=1&cat=2

I have quickload and love it--here are my answers to your questions as best I can do.

It is very accurate BUT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE that often powder lots vary by as much as 5% so at it's best it could be no more accurate than that.

Do not throw away your loading manuals--as you've seen they vary by alot to because of different barrels, test equipment, powder lot variations etc etc.

It does recognize most all popular powder. It can help you work with wild cats.

You can reload without it---but it is fun to have and for me it was worth the $150 paid for it--especially cause I'm hard to shop for and it made a great x-mas present for my wife to give me (always good to give them a shopping list of what you need or want!!)

I use it to forecast speed of different barrel lengths, bullet wts etc etc. It has a side kick program that comes with it (at least it did when I ordered) called quick target which helps me calibrate mil dot scopes.

How I use it.....I look at a load I'd like to try. Say 180 grain in 30-06. I have it publish loads at whatever pressure I think I'd like to push my gun to. Then I take that info and start comparing to reloading manuals. I especially like to take the higher end loads that quickload showed me and start looking at accuracy loads in my nosler, sierra and barnes books. Those will be the ones I look at and try first---good velocity with somewhat known accuracy.

Lets put it this way---if you think your time is worth $10/hour I can guarantee you will get a full 15 hours of enjoyment out of this program if you are an active reloader. If $150 comes hard for you just stick to your manuals---if $150 is chump change then it's a must have!!

I really like Quickload, but to get the most value out of it, you also need a chronograph.

If you put in the right input values, your results will be very close (within the tolerances of powder, primer, etc, etc, etc).

I have found it very useful to take known values (observed Chrony speeds), and then bootstrap QL to calculate those values. From there, other predictions will be very close, usually within 75 fps (almost always).

When loading for wildcats, or for combinations of bullets/ cartridges for which there is no data, this is a great help. As a matter of fact, I put more faith in Quickload, properly bootstrapped, than in loading manuals. JMO, Dutch.

You've seen me post considerable QL data on this forum - hence you can see for yourself, if its accurate enough for you. In some cases it's very close (amazingly close) to piezo electric pressure-barrel measurements, in others its somewhat off (but then who's right?). QL was developed by a famous, first-rate German ballistician, whom I'm told is brilliant.

Dr. Oehler and the Speer Bullet ballisticians say it's the best internal ballistics program available - but it's not perfect. The major problem - and QL warns the user - is variance in lot-to-lot powder burn rates. QL uses data fed to them by the manufacturers, who are giving "average" test parameters for their powders - your lot may vary considerably (maybe -/+ 10%). QL provides estimates for these variations. Moreover, powder burn rate vary with caliber and bullet type - flip flopping on the powder burn rate chart.

QL is really good for developing a new load. I put in desired mean maximum PSI with bullet type/wt, caliber, barrel length, etc. and ask what is the best powder(s) to use. QL will tell you, and virtually all powders, bullet types, and calibers are within the program. Moreover, you can design your own cartridge, if you're a wildcatter.

Also, knowing the velocity, you can get an estimate of PSI very easily.

Finally, after playing with the program a bit, you really begin to develop an understanding of internal ballistics. The QT component provides the external ballistics.

QL is worth 5 times the cost! Get it, if for no other reason than to play.

quickload is worth the powder it will save you... so you don't choose 47 different powdrs, you can relatively test them, one on one, and eliminate several, as if it's flawed, it's flawed for all..

i like it alot...

jeffe

QL is great in combination with Chris Long's shock wave theory because it can accurately estimate optimal barrel times.

I've worked-up loads for a number of cartridges guided by optimal barrel time estimates and they've all been very close - with some right on. I've gotten to the point that for a new load I'll just run it through an optimal barrel time analysis, have QL predict a charge and bracket that load by 0.3 grains. I'll load five cartridges of each charge and shoot groups. When I'm careful about measuring case volume, bullet length and weight, and cartridge and barrel OAL, the velocity (and I presume pressure) estimates are amazingly close to chronographed values. I haven't failed to arrive at a satisfactory load with this method yet.

Another nice feature is it's ability to produce a table of propellents that match criteria that you set - barrel time, pressure, velocity, % burned, % case filled, etc.

If you figure-out how to use it it'll pay for itself in saved powder and projectiles very rapidly.

I got QL from NECO

In my opinion "QuickLoad" data can be used with a chronograph to varify results with the same reliability as published data in most cases.

Published data is only accurate for the rifle that was used to gather such data. Neither is "gospel".

In either case, chronograph varification is required to know if the loads are safe.

A "fast barrel" is a high pressure barrel, there is no "free lunch".

If chronograph data shows higher velocities than predicted in either case, chances are that pressure is higher.

Most of the time my "QuickLoad" predictions have been astonishingly close to real life chronograph data.

I have however, on one occasion, had "starting loads" predicted by "QuickLoad" exibit signs of unacceptable pressure.

"QuickLoad" can be very useful for predicting performance from "wildcat" loading, IF the data entered is valid.

Garbage in, garbage out!

USE EXTREME CAUTION, along with all of the accepted loading practices and you will be fine.