I am loading mostly rifle calibers. I just picked up a Swiss K31 so now I want to load 7.5x55.
I have the basic books from Hornady, Lee, Lyman, Nosler but I might want to go off-book with some loads. So, I need a predictive tool, I guess. I don’t want to overfill or over pressure anything.
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What you’re talking about is quickload, it’ll allow you to model loads from a database of powders and bullets.
Really what you should get first is a good chronograph. A good chronograph will do much more to keep you safe than quickload. All rifles are individuals so data from reloading manuals is only really accurate under the conditions and using the rifle they tested in the book. Knowing the velocity your rifle is actually giving you with a given combination is the best indicator a reloader has of pressure without going to a strain gauge pressure testing setup like the RSI pressure trace system.
Buy the chronograph first, then worry about quickload. Without being able to accurately measure velocity everything else is just a guess.
Do you have a chronograph and know how to use it?
Do you have a comparator and overall length gauge know how to use them?
Are you neck sizing only? Are you using match quality dies, especially the sizing and seating die?
Are you rifle barrels match grade?
Do you record all of your data (powder and load weight, chrono data, group size, bullet data and so forth)?
Have you defined your goals?
Here is a freebie for data.... https://loaddata.com/
There are software programs that you can use to develop loads using powder/bullet/seating depth that are not conventional. I think these are subscription services which makes sense because in the last 5 or so years there have been quite a number of powders that were discontinued and new ones introduced.
There are many forums dedicated to handloading where you can ask a question, free advice. Personally and this is just my opinion, I would put the money that it costs for a program into the high quality dies and powder scale and get at least a dozen load manuals. Two books to consider, Powder Profiles and another titled Cartridge Comparison Guide 2. And stick to published tried and true loads.
Having said that I have worked up 1 rifle and 2 handgun loads using powders that have no data for the calibers I loaded them for. I did this because I had a bumper crop of odd powder and was looking for a use for it. As an individual that consumes 12K to 14K handloads per year I don’t think it is worth buying any software or working up loads using powders for calibers that are not recommended or have published data.
A good but low traffic forum for handloaders is handloadersbench.com There are guys there that use predictive software and might be able to help. Another forum which I don’t use is cast boolets http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/ These guys cast their won bullets (duh) but also get into the nitty gritty of everything handloading.
“I just picked up a Swiss K31...”
I’m envious. Almost had myself talked into one, years back when they were cheap, but I didn’t want to take on another caliber. Wish I had.
I ogled the K31 adverts many times, but never bit. The one rifle I took the most care reloading for was a Chilean Mauser 95 that was given to me. I rebarreled it with a Madsen Machine gun barrel and chambered it in 7mm Mauser. I was using book loads but taking care in case prep I was able to consistently shoot ragged 100yd one-holers with it. I am now doing load prep for a cartridge that’s not in the books, the 358Yeti. I have just started, prepped the cases, and loaded 50 fireform loads. I haven’t shot them yet. I am using Quickload for load development. Make sure you know the signs of pressure.
Setting the seating depth based on the rifles throat. What's better for your rifle? On the lands? One mil off the lands? Two?
Preciseley setting the shoulder bump using flat gauge stock.
Sizing the neck for optimum tension.
Annealing.
Sorting bullets by weight and length.
Measuring runout.
There's more. I think a very important part is to establish, control, and measure your process.
CC