Ballistic Computers

[John25]

I have been reloading for over thirty years (pre home computers and such gadgets) and my loads have evolved from book suggested, experiment and test; sometimes with the aid of a chronograph.

I have never used a ballistic calculator as:- a. I don't think I could better my current loads. b. I have no plans to introduce 'new' calibres to my collection.

I decided therefore that a calculator program would be an expensive luxury.

A while ago I 'found' the Powley calculator

http://kwk.us/powley.html

which I suspect will be familiar to many of you.

Now, given the vagaries of supplies of components and the cost, me being on fixed (pensions) income I am left to wonder, should I use some of my shooting budget on Quickload or similar (would it save me R&D money) or will the Powley do the job?

Whatever route, some testing with a new component will be necessary and I ask should I adopt a 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' approach and carry on as I am?

[Col]

I use the latest edition of Quickload and I find it very useful. I dont think you could substitute it for a good manual
but never the less it does show you lots of variations of combinations and of what you can expect.Obviously the more information you set in the more accurate the prediction. My loads chronographed are usually within +/- 30 fps

[Hauptman]

I'm about to try Point Mass Ballistics solver, which comes with Bryan Litz's book "Applied Ballistics for Long Range Shooting"

Looks easy to use, ie no degree in maths or computer science required.

H/man

[Alpha1]

I have been reloading for over thirty years (pre home computers and such gadgets) and my loads have evolved from book suggested, experiment and test; sometimes with the aid of a chronograph.

I have never used a ballistic calculator as:- a. I don't think I could better my current loads. b. I have no plans to introduce 'new' calibres to my collection.

I decided therefore that a calculator program would be an expensive luxury.

If you have managed ok for thirty years why would you suddenly want to complicate your life with this wizzy stuff. If its free and you think you would benefit from it then fine. But at our age why complicate things. Leave all this puter stuff to the young whipper snappers life is to short and money is to tight to waste on ballistic programs just get out there while you can and shoot.

[Sim G]

I have around a dozen or so manuals on the shelf. I was given Quickload as a gift a few years ago. Even Quickload itself states that the theoretical loads developed by the program should be double checked with reloading data from the manufacturers (paraphrased)

So apart from a couple of weeks playing with all the theoretical variations for a particular load, I've stuck with my manuals and rarely use Quickload...

[EagerNoSkill]

hi John

if you want some QL predictions drop me the key stats and I will do the numbers

As said above they are "predictions" and not absolute!

ENS