A valid discussion on QL

N

Nvreloader

New member
Guys

How about a valid discussion on Quick Load, and how to get the most from this program, for you.

This post is for actual user of QL, not the endless chatter about it as useless, not worth the time or trouble to use,
or it is too expensive, or your uninformed thoughts that it doesn't work work for what ever you think it should,
even thou you don't run or have it, etc.

There are little hidden tweaks that can and will make it better, which will provide the best results for what ever powder/bullet combo's tested at the range.
Then after range testing, you can refine the range test results, to better match your data, which will save you time and funds, and in end the long run.

Lets get started,
Feel free to add your own thoughts/suggestions/Ideas or questions on how you do any step or Ideas pertaining to what ever steps being discussed etc.
The methods posted is what I do or use, and I am not saying this is the only way of doing it.

IMHO, One of the first steps,
Is to be sure to enter the internal H2o Case Capacity of your rifle brass, this case capacity comes from a normal fired case from your firearm,
that has NOT been resized, trimmed etc.

How do you get the H2o capacity of brass?
One method is to have a container of water, (baby food bottles works perfectly), fill with water,
then add a couple/three drops of dish washing soap, (the dish soap stops the forming of bubbles inside the case when filling),
lightly mix the soap and water together.

Take the case with the fired primer still in place, number the case,
(I do a 5 round sample from the lot of brass I intend to use,
this lot of brass has ALL the same Head Stamp/brand, and have been previously weighed to .01th gr).

I turned some Teflon base plugs, one each to fit the .175"-.210" diameters of standard primers,
with the overall base diameter of these Teflon primer plugs at .625",
this larger base makes the case more stable/easier to use on the scales etc,
as ALL my brass has been SS pin tumbled with the primers remove to have clean cases to start with etc.

Weigh the numbered cases (DRY) as accurately as possible, with what ever sample size and log each numbered case results.

Take the first numbered case, and fill the case slowly with the water/soap solution, with the long needle inserted down to the primer pocket,
(the best way I have found is to use a 3" long syringe needle, attached to a 15/20 cc syringe) which should cover most cases used.

When finished filling/weighing this case, use the 3" long needle, insert to the primer pocket and suck up as much water as possible,
then I snap the case a couple of times to remove as much water as possible and set aside to dry etc.

Fill the case to a flat meniscus, means a flat or water level, at the case mouth, log this water filled case weight, finish doing the rest of your samples.

To find the case capacity, subtract the DRY case weight from the water filled (wet) case weight, this difference is the H2o capacity of that case.

The end results will be the average of your sample of cases.

The next step will be to enter and save this case capacity in QL, for future use.

Tia,
Don
 
Well hello, new guy. Lots of interesting things in your post. Be forewarned though, that trying to pre-empt and control the discussion in "your" thread doesn't work on the internet. You started the discussion but the community effectively owns it.

I find QL to be a miraculous work of modern software. Or, at least, that is what I think since I don't own it, have never used it. I'm 98% a handgun guy, and from what I have read and certainly never experienced, QL doesn't work as well in straight wall as it does in bottle neck. Frankly, I am mystified by internal ballistics and I think it's amazing that QL works as well as it does.

Thanks for giving all of us a chance to add to this discussion and welcome to an open and friendly forum. ;)
 
Sevens Thank you

You posted,
"Well hello, new guy. Lots of interesting things in your post. Be forewarned though, that trying to pre-empt and control the discussion in "your" thread doesn't work on the internet. You started the discussion but the community effectively owns it.

It was not my intent to pre-empt or control this discussion, If I came across too strongly, I apologize for that.
I only wanted to convey, that I would greatly appreciate the valid and meaningful discussion of the original post, to learn and understand how or why QL works, from new or experienced users, or those contemplating buying it.

QL does has a steep learning curve, until you understand it, as I still have to request Help, as I have forgotten the steps to obtain the results wanted when using it.
If you don't understand what is being discussed, or have a question,
Please jump in.

IMHO, the useless dribble, that has been posted, serves no purpose, except to show that poster lacks or does not have the common courtesy and respect for everyone posting here, etc.

I find QL to be a miraculous work of modern software. Or, at least, that is what I think since I don't own it, have never used it. I'm 98% a handgun guy, and from what I have read and certainly never experienced, QL doesn't work as well in straight wall as it does in bottle neck.

A question, if I may, (Please realize, I am not doubting or questioning what you posted, but attempting to understand why you posted that info)

Why do you say that QL doesn't work well, in straight walled cases, can you give an example of what you are talking about?

Frankly, I am mystified by internal ballistics and I think it's amazing that QL works as well as it does.

Thanks for giving all of us a chance to add to this discussion and welcome to an open and friendly forum. "

Tia,
Don
 
I played around with a demo version a while back, thought it was pretty cool, just not $150 cool.

I can't help but think they would sell a lot more copies at ~$50 ea instead of $150 ea. Probably make more money overall.
 
QL doesn't work as well in straight wall as it does in bottle neck.
Click to expand...

I've heard that, too and I'm not so sure I believe it the way it's said. I only reload 9mm and have found QL to be reasonably accurate. The lack of accuracy in its calculations for straight wall cases, I believe, comes not from QL itself, but the low volume of handgun cases compared to rifle cases. Consider that a 0.1 gr difference in a 9mm where the powder weighs 4.2 gr is a much higher percentage than if you are using 45 gr in a rifle cartridge. So too, the difference in case volume as it affects initial pressure.

Most people use a progressive press for handgun loads, so powder weight can vary by 0.1 gr from load to load. Case volume is also going to vary a bit within a single headstamp and even more when they are mixed. Most people do not sort handgun brass by headstamp. I do, although the reason is because certain headstamps work better with my press and are more consistent. Also with when using mixed headstamps the neck tension will vary.

So I think it's these variations rather than QL itself that accounts for its "inaccuracy." If someone knows why the cause is QL itself I'd like to hear from them.
 
I also load for several straight walled pistol cases 30 Carbine, 10 mm, 357/38 Spcl, 357 FL wildcat,
with lead and jacketed bullets and have found no problems with QL results,
as long as I input the correct spec's etc.

I have had to tweak some areas to match the chrono readings, which is normal.

Tia,
Don
 
I can't help but think they would sell a lot more copies at ~$50 ea instead of $150 ea. Probably make more money overall
Click to expand...

Maybe, maybe not. Remember that QL already has a limited audience, further limited by shooters that do not reload and by anyone that does not use a PC.

Still, it would be nice to either do a special to test the waters or lower the price, but charge for updates that would be more frequent. I would vote for the latter.

QL becomes rises in value the more you reload different calibers or change your components.
 
I use it every time I work up a new bullet load. From what I can tell in my limited experience, there are better powders out there for specific calibers that should give better accuracy, powder burn % and ballistic efficiency. An example would be IMR4831 or H4831 that I used to load for 7mm rem mag because that was the "go to" powder. When entering everything into QL, the output was mediocre at best. So I started searching for more efficient powders using QL. It has improved my groups and I waste far less money "experimenting" with every possible powder for that particular load. Its nice to be able to just enter in what caliber, bullet, h2o and seating depth, then see the most efficient powders in a nice table that I can then choose from. It has been well worth $150 IMO.
 
I find Quickload to be pretty accurate so long as you enter your case volume correctly. There are a few area's that need a little tweaking but overall I am glad I have it.

I use it to work up loads, it has paid for itself already since bullets, powders, and trips to the range aren't as plentiful and cheap as we'd all hope.

Working up loads in software helps eliminate marginal loads so I can focus more on the better ones.

I am a very basic user since I've only had it a few months but I really like it.
 
Thanks guys,

I have found that I can zero in and find other powders that may give better results than the powder "I think" may work, this saves spending funds on marginal powders,
and is not found in most manuals, especially on the Wildcatting end.

At todays prices (average of $25/lb), it only takes 4-6 jugs of powders bought (and found not to work well enough) to have payed for QL.
I normally have a pistol and rifle of each caliber, and found that I can match powders for better results for each use.
Plus I can research different powders/bullet results, by setting the perimeters in QL to search for different powders, without guessing which powders "might" work.

If you take the time to make a searchable chart to see the different perimeters of Burn Rate, Heat of Explosion and Ratio of specific heat range,
you can find powders that are on each side of the powder you are wanting to test or looking at. This chart can ONLY be made for the powders that QL has in it's files.

I have seen numerous complaints that such an such powder is not in QL,
the main reason for this, is mainly for shotgun type powders are normally tested to around <15000 psi for shotgun loads.
Several shotgun powders are listed/tested in QL, that can be used in pistols/rifle loads and have been tested for each application, mainly the Alliant/Hodgdon brands.

YMMV,

Tia,
Don
 
Guys,

I just heard that there is a new QL update disc out, dated Dec 2016,
that has the new Endron powders listed in it. :D

I have not heard back form Ed, yet,
so I don't know whatever else is included.

Tia,
Don
 
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