QuickLOAD Challenges

[Hawk in WY]

I have used QuickLOAD successfully for many years.

I am developing loads for the Barnes 50 gr Varmint Grenade for two .223 rifles.

The first, a custom rifle with 26 inch Proof barrel, shot H335 OK, but Accurate 2520 made bug holes. I adjusted the burn rate to match the actual velocity, found an OBT load, and was done.

The second, a Blaser LRS with a 25 inch barrel, is proving a challenge. The problem is actual velocities are below what QuickLOAD predicts by over 300 fps. I have never seen such a big difference before. The Barnes recommended max load of 2520 is 29 gr. QuickLOAD predicts 90,000 psi. I haven't gone above 26.7 gr—no pressure signs. Everything shoots into one moa.

If the first rifle were showing similarly odd behavior, I would conclude QuickLOAD has the 2520 data seriously wrong, but their assumptions worked in one rifle, but not the second.

LC brass in the first. Lapua in the second.

I'm stumped and would appreciate some help.

 

[padom]

I have used QuickLOAD successfully for many years.

I am developing loads for the Barnes 50 gr Varmint Grenade for two .223 rifles.

The first, a custom rifle with 26 inch Proof barrel, shot H335 OK, but Accurate 2520 made bug holes. I adjusted the burn rate to match the actual velocity, found an OBT load, and was done.

The second, a Blaser LRS with a 25 inch barrel, is proving a challenge. The problem is actual velocities are below what QuickLOAD predicts by over 300 fps. I have never seen such a big difference before. The Barnes recommended max load of 2520 is 29 gr. QuickLOAD predicts 90,000 psi. Everything shoots into one moa.

If the first rifle were showing similarly odd behavior, I would conclude QuickLOAD has the 2520 data seriously wrong, but their assumptions worked in one rifle, but not the second.

LC brass in the first. Lapua in the second.

I'm stumped and would appreciate some help.

Quickload is only as good as the data put in

You have the right barrel length and case capacity input?

 

[Hawk in WY]

Quickload is only as good as the data put in

You have the right barrel length and case capacity input?

Yup.

 

[Hawk in WY]

Another way to state my problem is that the first rifle with a 26-inch barrel shoots very close to the QuickLOAD prediction, and the second rifle with a 25-inch barrel shoots 300 fps slower with very close to the same load.

Does anyone have any thoughts as to why a similar rifle with a similar load would shoot 300 fps slower?

Does anyone have any experience developing a load for the 50 gr Varmint Grenade?

 

[RegionRat]

Does anyone have any experience developing a load for the 50 gr Varmint Grenade?

Yes, being in CA I was forced to develop non-tox ammo after the lead bans and this was one of the bullets I use anywhere near irrigation or when I don't want pass-throughs or ricochet risks, however I landed on CFE223 as the powder and kept the speed at about 3050 with a REM 7 1/2 primer for the cold weather.

In several factory hunting/carry guns, I didn't get any drama from the bullets or the powders. I did try H335 but didn't try the 2520 so no help there.

I will suggest that if one rig made sense with your reloads and the other did not, then get some factory ammo and see if the two rigs still contrast. At that point, it points at the second rig doesn't it? Good Luck and in for the range reports.

 

[Holliday]

Oops….Apologizes for the mispost