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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
Custom action pressure ceiling.
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<blockquote data-quote="Fitch" data-source="post: 375250" data-attributes="member: 19372"><p>Message received. Being safe when venturing into the unknown is a worthy goal.</p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p>Used within it's limitations as an engineering modeling tool set, QuickDesign (to get the wildcat cartridge geometry properly modeled and then transferred to QuickLOAD if it isn't already available in QuickLOAD) combined with QuickLoad is about the only tool set available for gaining a quantitative understanding of a new cartridge and setting up a load map before firing it. The power of that tool set combined with the two external ballistics programs that come with it is phenomenal.</p><p> </p><p>By "used within it's limitations" I mean one has to respect the fact that it may not be perfectly precise in predicting pressures and muzzle velocities - but it is a whole lot more accurate than guessing. I don't know what it's track record is on pressure predictions because I don't have a way to measure actual vs predicted pressures. To the extend that muzzle velocity is an indicator of pressure (with out going into all the variables there) QuickLOAD is at times incredibly accurate at predicting muzzle velocity. Being within 2% is remarkably common. Being as much as 5% off is unusual. On that basis I've been comfortable backing off 10% from the predicted max loads in QuickLOAD and working up. I shoot all the loads through the chronograph and compare the measured vs predicted muzzle velocities as a way of assessing the quality of the QuickLOAD model.</p><p> </p><p>To get that sort of accuracy it is necessary to get into the details - the user manual that comes with QuickLOAD is excellent and quite thorough. A good accurate measure of the water grain capacity of fired brass from the chamber in question is important. So are an accurate COL for the cartridge with the bullet being modeled, accurate data on the bullet itself, and barrel length measurement (bolt face to muzzle exit). </p><p> </p><p>I haven't used it on a total unknown cartridge yet. Used in conjunction with load manuals from the bullet manufacturers it is frequently a significantly better predictor of muzzle velocity than the data in the manual. There have been a couple of occasions where I modeled a load from the manual and went "Whoa! That's too hot!", backed off and never was able to reach the manual max because it was too hot. </p><p> </p><p>There have been other occasions where QuickLOAD would suggest powders that weren't in the manual would be better, and they were better (higher muzzle velocity). QuickLOAD has a "load table" mode that will scan every single powder in it's database, model it for your bullet, brass, and barrel length, throw out those that would exceed parameters you set (like percentage fill and peak pressure), and list the rest in descending muzzle velocity order. </p><p> </p><p>I'm an engineer by education, training, and 35 years of experience in Aerospace where we spent most of our time trying to do what had never been done before. QuickLOAD is the closest analog to the computer modeling tools we used in the space program that I've seen for reloading. I can't imagine reloading with out it after having used it for the last three years.</p><p> </p><p>It is one of the few programs that is always up on my computer. QuiclLOAD, QuickTarget Unlimited are there right now with load data for the 7-mag I got from my nephew. There is a very good review of QuickLOAD on 6mmbr.com.</p><p> </p><p>Did I mention I think it's an incredibly useful tool?</p><p> </p><p>Fitch</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Fitch, post: 375250, member: 19372"] Message received. Being safe when venturing into the unknown is a worthy goal. Used within it's limitations as an engineering modeling tool set, QuickDesign (to get the wildcat cartridge geometry properly modeled and then transferred to QuickLOAD if it isn't already available in QuickLOAD) combined with QuickLoad is about the only tool set available for gaining a quantitative understanding of a new cartridge and setting up a load map before firing it. The power of that tool set combined with the two external ballistics programs that come with it is phenomenal. By "used within it's limitations" I mean one has to respect the fact that it may not be perfectly precise in predicting pressures and muzzle velocities - but it is a whole lot more accurate than guessing. I don't know what it's track record is on pressure predictions because I don't have a way to measure actual vs predicted pressures. To the extend that muzzle velocity is an indicator of pressure (with out going into all the variables there) QuickLOAD is at times incredibly accurate at predicting muzzle velocity. Being within 2% is remarkably common. Being as much as 5% off is unusual. On that basis I've been comfortable backing off 10% from the predicted max loads in QuickLOAD and working up. I shoot all the loads through the chronograph and compare the measured vs predicted muzzle velocities as a way of assessing the quality of the QuickLOAD model. To get that sort of accuracy it is necessary to get into the details - the user manual that comes with QuickLOAD is excellent and quite thorough. A good accurate measure of the water grain capacity of fired brass from the chamber in question is important. So are an accurate COL for the cartridge with the bullet being modeled, accurate data on the bullet itself, and barrel length measurement (bolt face to muzzle exit). I haven't used it on a total unknown cartridge yet. Used in conjunction with load manuals from the bullet manufacturers it is frequently a significantly better predictor of muzzle velocity than the data in the manual. There have been a couple of occasions where I modeled a load from the manual and went "Whoa! That's too hot!", backed off and never was able to reach the manual max because it was too hot. There have been other occasions where QuickLOAD would suggest powders that weren't in the manual would be better, and they were better (higher muzzle velocity). QuickLOAD has a "load table" mode that will scan every single powder in it's database, model it for your bullet, brass, and barrel length, throw out those that would exceed parameters you set (like percentage fill and peak pressure), and list the rest in descending muzzle velocity order. I'm an engineer by education, training, and 35 years of experience in Aerospace where we spent most of our time trying to do what had never been done before. QuickLOAD is the closest analog to the computer modeling tools we used in the space program that I've seen for reloading. I can't imagine reloading with out it after having used it for the last three years. It is one of the few programs that is always up on my computer. QuiclLOAD, QuickTarget Unlimited are there right now with load data for the 7-mag I got from my nephew. There is a very good review of QuickLOAD on 6mmbr.com. Did I mention I think it's an incredibly useful tool? Fitch [/QUOTE]
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Custom action pressure ceiling.
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