I've been running Quickload for a short time now.

Has anyone run tests with the ambient temperature function to match Quickload's expected velocities to actual ambient chrono measurements?

I don't know if earlier versions of QL had the function--but it's on 3.6. The earlier versions may have it. However, I called Ramshot powders yesterday and the tech I talked to hadn't noticed the temp function until I pointed it out to him.

I'm not sure I've noticed it either. Where is it located?

+1

Click on the little button that looks like a hand holding a pen or a brush, to the left of your powder selection. When you select this "button", another will appear above the "apply and calculate" button. This button will have a "T" on it, and will allow you to vary the temperature from the default 70� setting.

I don't have Quickload in front of me here at work, so you'll have to bear with my general instructions.

First, locate the powder container, the upper right of the four containers in the main screen.

To the left of the pull-down menu where one selects a powder there's a button. Selecting the button allows one to change powder parameters such as burn rate factor (Ba), etc. Select the button.

Near the bottom of the container, after selecting the above mentioned button, a new button with a thermometer appears near the left side of the container. Select the thermometer button. The default temperature is 70. Change the temperature to whatever you like and hit "recalculate". Now compare your previous velocity, pressure, and barrel time. If you selected a lower temperature, velocity and pressure are lower, and barrel time is slower. If you selected a higher temperature, velocity and pressure are higher, and barrel time is faster.

Does your Quickload have that feature?

I built my loads for this weekend's shooting to match optimal barrel times at 80 degrees (already a bit warm here in Louisiana). I had to back my loads down by about 0.3 grains from the default 70 degree setting, or at least that's what Quickload suggested.

Also, when you change temperature, the burn rate factor changes automatically. If you've altered your burn rate factor to match your powder, only alter it at 70 degrees. Quickload will then change off the 70 degree setting when you change temps.

I'll hopefully notice some different results this weekend. My best 5-shot Partition group last weekend was 0.945 inches, and my worst was 1.142 inches. But according to Quickload the velocities were a touch too fast (2750 fps and 2760 fps, respectively), as QL tells me I'll see optimal barrel times with 180 grainers and Ramshot Hunter at 2730 fps. The optimal barrel time I'm attempting to match is 1.228 milliseconds.

Edit: Also, the 1.142 inch group that resulted in avg 2760 velocity was shot about an hour after the first group. Being an hour later, it was probably 5 or so degrees warmer, and I believe resulted in the higher velocities. Larger group size also is a definite potential, but the sample size is definitely too small to say.

I've messed with the temp function on my install (v.3.4), and I only found it moderately helpful, and really only with 'old-line' IMR powders. Not so much with the Thales/Hodgy Extreme powders, and definitely not with Winchester Ball powders.

The instructions actually say it works (or was designed/intended?) for the old-line IMR powders, IIRC.

Thanks all.

So, an update on this. If you're trying to match optimum barrel times with OAL and powder charge, I wouldn't recommend using the temperature function.

Previous 5-shot MOA groups in some cases doubled and tripled in size. Unambiguous results that Quickload should not be used in that way to assist load development.

I would recommend matching optimal barrel times with OAL and powder charge at default temp, however. That has resulted in very good groups with very little effort thus far.

v/r
Joel