Reloaders experience with QuickLoad software - worth it?

My gunsmith swears by it.

Never used it. I imagine if it works anywhere close to how it's described it would save a lot of components and barrel life

[quote]save a lot of components and barrel life[/quote

Thats a big appeal to me. I dont get to shoot often and when I do, I just want to practice shooting with what I hunt with.. components are very expensive and hard to come by, load data is limited, traditional loading techniques are very component and time intensive. I just wasn't sure I could trust it. I tried Gordon's reloading tool, and I've found some book starting loads come up as kabooms in that tool. Now I'm scared to do anything other than buy factory ammo.

You might be overthinking it a little bit, and if you’re trying to find ways to use magnum primers in standard loads then disregard everything I’m about to say. I’m by no means the most experienced reloader here but I am experienced with buying an expensive thing to get something done when what I had would have worked just fine.

Primers and brand of brass will change loads slightly and impact group sizes, but they are intended to be universal. What really determines if you can use load data is the powder and bullet. The manuals you have will get a long way with what’s been somewhat available. Obviously you should start low and work up, but that’s true of any load data in your particular chamber.

Not trying to talk you out of it, I just imagine you’re shooting critters and not taking up F-class, and you have what you need already to make safe and MOA capable loads.

what cartridges do you plan to load for ?

My Advice ... BUY Lapua brass. Don't try to save money buying inferior cheap domestic brass. I've loaded the same piece of brass 45x's pushing a 25 gr Berger at 4100 fps. (.17 Little Nasty - my own cartridge design). I tried to save money by buying Win brass which only lasted 8 rds. before the primer pockets expanded making the brass useless. Buy the Lapua once and 100 cases will last you an eternity. It's regarded by many competition and LR shooters as the most consistent and best brass in the World. Made in Finland to extremely precise tolerances. If you can't find Lapua, buy Alpha Munitions

If you, or any other OB'er needs help locating components let me know. I'll contact my goto sources and help find what you need.

I used to have a cracked copy of it. I didn't have to pay for it. I'm sure there's still a torrent somewhere.

Many load data pages will give you the most accurate load recipe, FYI.

I wonder if you couldn’t use the 869 in the .338

Well, looked it up and it appears the 869 is too slow for the .338

Would work for the .338 lapua though.

I can’t imagine why a beginner reloader would need it. Some are gear junkies, though.

I would never trust a computer algorithm over my own eyes when it comes to load safety.

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over my own eyes when it comes to load safety

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Well, I don't really know what I'm looking for. I've read the books, but I've never actually seen a high pressure load. I'd hate for the first one to be yanked out of my banana peeled barrel.