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Quickload alternatives?

sacklunch

sacklunch

The Sacklunch Center for Kids Who Can’t Shoot Good
Minuteman
Apr 23, 2023
53
12
Texas
I burned through 300 rnds on a 6 creed in load dev. (Switched bullets after one showed little promise).

Hoping to avoid that mistake with a shorter 22” 6 creed barrel on another rifle. Are there any alternatives to quick load type programming for trying to estimate a rough FPS for 2 dif bullets? I don’t have a PC, so QL purchase it out for me.

I was going to load up 50 ea of DTACs and 105’s in some Lapua SRP brass in an alpha saami spec chamber.

I’d like to hit 2950 with either or both, but not a ton of posted load data and speeds for a 22” bbl (plenty for a 26”). I don’t mind pushing these to max if needed as it’s for a hunting rifle and I need that speed over barrel life.

Any alternatives to quickload or maybe some math I can rely on with my 26” load data to get in the ballpark with this 22” while I’m breaking in that barrel?
 
I haven’t found Quickload or GRT to predict 6 Creedmoor loads accurately. I used QL for years successfully for other rounds, not sure what the issue is with 6 Creed or my chamber. I found the Hornady data to be the closest.
 
I've shot a good number of DTACs and supressed 22" barrels. I'm not sure you'll get there with 115s. Depending on the 105, it's doable, but it'll be near the top of the range, depending on powder.

I haven't had issues with GRT being far off. If I bother to true it, I'm always surprised how accurate the powder charge to velocity estimates get. YMMV.
 
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Carolina Hill Billy said:
I haven’t found Quickload or GRT to predict 6 Creedmoor loads accurately. I used QL for years successfully for other rounds, not sure what the issue is with 6 Creed or my chamber. I found the Hornady data to be the closest.
Click to expand...
If you’re not calibrating the burn speed to what you’re seeing on a chrono that’s your problem.
 
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6.5SH said:
QuickLoad and GRT (Gordon's Reloading Tool), they are both predictive simulation tools not a 1:1 replacement for tested reloading data and safe reloading practices.

ETA:
A simpler online tool that I've had good results with is P-MAX
Click to expand...
Someone just posted this the other day in another thread I came across. I don't know the quality of this site, but it appears the purpose is similar to what quickload and GRT does, all online.
 
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6.5SH said:
Rule of thumb is going to be ~80-100 fps less for 4" shorter
Click to expand...
Yeah, understand that, but my current load in the 26” is 2850 or so at 40.1gr with 105s…not smart enough to find a rough charge weight to hit 2950 without just doing the ladder. Was hoping to get it close during barrel break-in and just fine tune after it speeds up.

I don’t mind doing the ladder, but figured it’d be tough to get a ladder for 2 bullets in just 100 rounds without a decent starting point to get my in the ballpark
 
TheOfficeT-Rex said:
I've shot a good number of DTACs and supressed 22" barrels. I'm not sure you'll get there with 115s. Depending on the 105, it's doable, but it'll be near the top of the range, depending on powder.

I haven't had issues with GRT being far off. If I bother to true it, I'm always surprised how accurate the powder charge to velocity estimates get. YMMV.
Click to expand...
I’ll give Gordon’s a try. Never heard of it, thanks
 
TheOfficeT-Rex said:
I've shot a good number of DTACs and supressed 22" barrels. I'm not sure you'll get there with 115s. Depending on the 105, it's doable, but it'll be near the top of the range, depending on powder.

I haven't had issues with GRT being far off. If I bother to true it, I'm always surprised how accurate the powder charge to velocity estimates get. YMMV.
Click to expand...
Following up on this…I had my 26” alpha reamer chamber on cruise control at 41.2gr of h4350.

Prefit barrel on this 22”, alpha reamer used though, and I’ve got pretty good swipes and dimpled (not flattened) primers at 41.2gn during fire forming. Is that a bit low for pressure on Lapua (virgin) brass or am I missing something?

Nice part was, they 115 DTACs were right at 2950 with that on a first firing, and don’t mind the hot load since it’s a low round count hunting setup. But that struck me as pretty low charge for that high of pressure.

Go-no go gauges were gtg
 
sacklunch said:
and I’ve got pretty good swipes and dimpled (not flattened) primers at 41.2gn during fire forming. Is that a bit low for pressure on Lapua (virgin) brass or am I missing something?
Click to expand...

Could be from the brass fire forming, could be the primers, could be your bolt/firing pin, or you could just be running high pressure.

All barrels are different. 🤷

ETA: That’s a pretty stout load and I probably would have started lower. 2950 on a new 22” barrel is pretty quick.
 
TheOfficeT-Rex said:
Could be from the brass fire forming, could be the primers, could be your bolt/firing pin, or you could just be running high pressure.

All barrels are different. 🤷

ETA: That’s a pretty stout load and I probably would have started lower. 2950 on a new 22” barrel is pretty quick.
Click to expand...
It was only supposed to be 93% fill and no where near max…but as you said, all barrels are different. Wasn’t ideal, but I got through all 50. It was hot, but not HOT
 
sacklunch said:
It was only supposed to be 93% fill and no where near max…but as you said, all barrels are different. Wasn’t ideal, but I got through all 50. It was hot, but not HOT
Click to expand...
IDK. That's pretty quick for a 115. Not sure where you're getting max numbers from, I don't recall seeing actual manufacturer DTAC load data. Usually it's for a VLD but I'd have a close look at bearing surface lengths before using those numbers.

1714485877643.png
 
Earlier in my reloading career, I used to burn up barrels in "load development" and I used to chase velocity goals.

I don't do those things anymore
 
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I use both QL and GRT.
They both have their limitations, and as with any software it’s garbage in - garbage out. They both need the right case capacity and match the burn to your chrono.
I don’t believe they help finding an accurate “node” (if such thing exist) but in my experience, the best accuracy I get is with 100%-105% case fill, 95-100% powder burn and high pressure (above 50K PSI but before ejector swipes).
It also helps with wildcat calibers or to find a powder alternative. Also very helpful for subsonic load development, through QL I found out that Blue Dot was the perfect match for my 500gr cast bullets in a subsonic 450 BM
 
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secondofangle2 said:
Earlier in my reloading career, I used to burn up barrels in "load development" and I used to chase velocity goals.

I don't do those things anymore
Click to expand...
Barrel life not a concern for me in this rifle, it’s strictly a hunting rifle and when velocity matters at range for proper bullet upset in an animal, sometimes you’ve gotta chase it. Targets don’t much care how slow a bullet hits them, but hunters should if they care about proper wounding and quick kills.
 
Last edited:
TheOfficeT-Rex said:
IDK. That's pretty quick for a 115. Not sure where you're getting max numbers from, I don't recall seeing actual manufacturer DTAC load data. Usually it's for a VLD but I'd have a close look at bearing surface lengths before using those numbers.

View attachment 8407866
Click to expand...
Meh, I survived😂. I’ll back it off a bit for the next 75 or so while the barrel speeds up and the rest of the brass is formed. Should be able to hit that speed again with a little less pressure once this barrel settles in a brass is fire formed.
 
sacklunch said:
Barrel life not a concern for me in this rifle, it’s strictly a hunting rifle and when velocity matters at range for proper bullet upset in an animal, sometimes you’ve gotta chase it. Targets don’t much care how slow a bullet hits them, but hunters should if they care about proper wounding and quick kills.
Click to expand...
exactly what animal are you shooting and at what range where 150 fps makes a difference in these purported goals?

And if that's the case why are you using a 6mm?

There is no logical consistency here.
 
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