Quickload says my load is unsafe? - 9.3x57

CoryTheCowboy

CoryTheCowboy

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Hey everyone,

I finally had a chance to do some shooting with my x57 yesterday and I was impressed with the results. I don't have a Chrono, but I thought I would use Quickload just to get an idea of what my muzzle velocity was. I clicked 9.3x57 and only changed the following to:

Bullet: 270gr Speer
Powder: 48gr BLC-2
C.O.L - 3.027

And immediately I got the "WARNING! CARTRIDGE EXCEEDS PRESSURE LIMITATIONS!" etc, etc. The brass all looked normal, bolt opening was as smooth as ever, and I didn't see any other pressure signs. I was told that as long as the cartridge would feed reliably in your gun, C.O.L wasn't a big deal (within reason of course). From a quick measurement, it looks like I'm seating the bullet right to the bottom of the case neck.

I'm just wondering does my load seem right?

Thanks,

Cory
 
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SAAMI says 37710PSI for the cartridge and your load is evaluated at 41200PSI by Quickload for 2205FPS, so if recoil is smooth and primer looks ok, I'd say it's ok...but...

Since I never reloaded using BLC-2, I can't say if Quickload overrate it as it does it with some powders when I compare the velocities, I think you'll need a chrono ASAP to confirm that and to protect yourself and the firearm from an accident.

Also, if you increase the OAL, the pressure will drop.
 
Unsafe in what?

In a Ruger Number 1, I would expect to be able to safely load and fire ammo that would take apart someones possibly badly built 'custom' rework of a WW1 era Mauser military rifle.

Does the software have an option to just turn off the dire warnings and give you the calculated pressures only?

Cheers
Trev
 
41,000 psi is still a mild load, just happens to be more than the SAAMI spec. If it were me, and if i were shooting it in a M98 action, I would not be too alarmed just yet. That's your decision to make, though.

AS a point of reference, IIRC the 30-06 is rated for about 52,000 psi by SAAMI. Your load is still 10K psi lower than a 30-06.

The best way to confirm the Quickload pressure is with a chrono. If your measured velocity matches the Quickload predicted velocity, then the Quickload pressure is most likely accurate.

Quickload does overestimate pressure sometimes with some powders.
 
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444shooter said:
QuickLoad predictions should be taken with a grain of salt. Have you checked this load in a manual?
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Quickload does seem to favor somewhat aggressive predictions but, it also takes some getting used to. It allows for quite a number of parameters which are easy to overlook or get wrong. "Don't ask how I know" :rolleyes:.

The longer you have it the more you'll use it and the more you will rely on it, aggressive predictions and all. I use manuals as a X-reference same as I used different manuals as a X-reference before I had Quickload. Because of QL's superior versatility, however, you can't always find a suitable manual to reference it to which is actually one of ts strengths. Great software !
 
Don't get me wrong, I love QL and will continue to use it. Just cross reference it with manuals and also check velocities.
I also have Load From A Disk, but it only goes up to 50k psi.
 
Sorry bout this d:h:.

How come you're making em so short?

At COL = 3.228, which appears to be standard, QL has you at psi=34541 using 48gr BLC-2 and psi=38867 with 50gr. Its your COL=3.027 thats making things look so hot.

I once made up some 9x57 for an uncle out of 8x57 brass and though the seating looked strangely long, the cartridges worked great. Just wondering.
 
Did you adjust the H2O capacity, bullet length and Overall Cartridge length to YOUR specific measurements?

For quickload to predict properly, it must have the correct inputs.

Have you actually run it over a chronograph to see if QL matches your actual velocities?
 
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HKMark23 said:
Sorry bout this d:h:.

How come you're making em so short?

At COL = 3.228, which appears to be standard, QL has you at psi=34541 using 48gr BLC-2 and psi=38867 with 50gr. Its your COL=3.027 thats making things look so hot.

I once made up some 9x57 for an uncle out of 8x57 brass and though the seating looked strangely long, the cartridges worked great. Just wondering.
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I made them that short because in one of the books I ad read they said seating the bullet to the end of the neck was a good place to start. Then the accuracy was good when I was shooting.

I'll load some up to 3.228" and see how they shoot. Guess that means I should go shooting again...darn ;)
 
CoryTheCowboy said:
I made them that short because in one of the books I ad read they said seating the bullet to the end of the neck was a good place to start. Then the accuracy was good when I was shooting.

I'll load some up to 3.228" and see how they shoot. Guess that means I should go shooting again...darn ;)
Click to expand...

Again my apologies Cory, if I'm laying a bunch of stuff on you you already know. Conventional thinking on the accuracy matter has it that seating bullets out to just short of touching the lands is often best for accuracy. I'm not trying to imply that what you've read isn't valid as I've also read there are some exceptions to this "close to the lands" convention.

Anyhow, enjoy your shooting and, if you have time, let us know how you do with those longer COL's. If nothing else, these will give lower peak pressures and a lower/longer peak pressure may increase muzzle velocity.
 
HKMark23 said:
Again my apologies Cory, if I'm laying a bunch of stuff on you you already know. Conventional thinking on the accuracy matter has it that seating bullets out to just short of touching the lands is often best for accuracy. I'm not trying to imply that what you've read isn't valid as I've also read there are some exceptions to this "close to the lands" convention.

Anyhow, enjoy your shooting and, if you have time, let us know how you do with those longer COL's. If nothing else, these will give lower peak pressures and a lower/longer peak pressure may increase muzzle velocity.
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Sorry if I came across as rude, that wasn't my intent at all. I had read that being closer to the lands increased accuracy, but then right after it said that if the C.O.L was too long it would increase pressure. I'm new at this, so I thought I leaned on the side of caution (shorter C.O.L), but after reading some of the replies, I guess I didn't.

I never turn down a chance to go shooting, and I guess this just gives a valid excuse :D
 
CoryTheCowboy said:
Sorry if I came across as rude,
Click to expand...

:) Certainly didn't take it that way.

Anyhow, yep, if you seat em too long so the bullets touch the lands you'll get high pressures sure enough. Seating to SAAMI specs, (per the manual), shouldn't get you into that kind of trouble though. To check, make a dummy round and color the bullet ogive with a white board marker. Carefully chamber then remove the dummy and any contact with the lands will show up clearly as regular marks on the colored ogive. You can then seat deeper if necessary. Again, I'd expect you're good as gold just seating per the manual but if you have a whiteboard marker handy this simple check can be reassuring.
 
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