SMOKELESS LOAD DATABASE READY!

[KerryB]

The time has finally come to release the initial version of the smokeless load database although we still have a great deal of data to sort and add in the near future. It was my wish to have a single location where smokeless muzzleloader shooters could find most of the known loads available in a user friendly format. The data will be available in the Savage/Smokeless Muzzleloading forum under the sub-board “LOAD INFO”. I know this has been a long time coming and even though it was my idea to start this project, I want it to be perfectly clear that I could not have completed it myself. I asked for volunteers to assist in putting this project into an Excel or PDF format and I received an immediate offer from CraigF to perform hours and hours of tedious work sorting data and building it into a useable database. DBinNY joined the project shortly afterwards and has been invaluable when it comes to helping CraigF use the spreadsheet software. Without these two, none of this would have been possible, so firstly, I want everyone to give them the credit and thanks that they deserve. Secondly, I would personally like to thank all of the members, administrators and moderators who contributed load data as well as helped examine and edit the data. Due to liability issues, I will not provide individual names of contributors, however they know who they are, and I want them to know that this project is only possible because of their load development work and all smokeless shooters in the future will benefit directly from their efforts. Your generous sharing of your findings and knowledge is something to be proud of!
Now to the data itself! You will find a multitude of loads in several PDF files covering .50 saboted, sabotless, and duplex, .45 saboted, sabotless, and duplex, as well as .40 caliber loads. You will find loads for many different powder and bullet combinations in each caliber and you will notice that there are some similar loads with slightly varying velocities. We also noticed this during the compilation phase of this project and we generally deleted a load only if there was an exact duplicate already listed. It must be recognized that variations in barrel dimensions, powder lot numbers, primer brand, seating pressure, ambient temperature, chronograph inconsistencies, as well as limitless other variations will cause differing velocity results with almost exactly the same load. With that in mind I would ask that you not consider this data absolute, nor consider it faulty if our numbers don’t exactly match your results or other available data.
I would like to ask all users of this database to notify CraigF, or myself of any data that you feel is questionable, dangerous, or grossly inconsistent with other known data so that it can be reviewed by the database managers. I would also like to ask users to share loads which you have that are not already listed here, or if you have chronograph data for any of our current loads which are lacking velocities. We would prefer at least three chronograph velocities for each load if possible, although one reading is better than none. The actual load data thread under “LOAD INFO” will be locked, but I would encourage members to feel free to make posts concerning the database on this thread. Let us know if you have ideas on how to improve this database for the benefit of all those smokeless muzzleloader shooters now and in the future. Thanks, KerryB

[jims]

Salutations for all the work done by all.

[Deleted]

Thanks for all the hard work ! Rocky

[craigf]

Thanks Kerry, this was your idea though...

There is a .375 file coming too.

Also, these files are being stored on a file hosting site for free. What this means is that there is limitations being it is free. One is that there is a limit to how much data can be transferred in one day. So if you can't see the files, try again the next day. Better yet, you can download them and save them, they are PDFs, on your computer. The second limitation is that this web site's paying customers come first bandwidth wise. We have noticed that the site has gone down now and then, but it doesn't last long when it does. I am currently working on an alternative solution though.

One big thing. These files are continually being added to and corrected. Every time I make a change to one of the files I put the date of the change at the top of the file. So..... if you want to have the latesest and best data, check the date on your file that you downloaded agaist what is linked too. Also, a huge help to/for me is if/when someone finds an error, please download the newest version and check if the error is still there before PMing me. If it is PLEASE PM me so I can fix it. The reason why I ask that you check first is that many people will catch the error and I may get 35 PMs about one, many after I have made the fix.

Thanks Kerry for the opertunity to give back to the board by helping with this project!
Craig

[Rifleman]

Well done gentlemen. I know how much work goes into a project like this and you guys have certainly spent alot of time doing all this. Thank you,
Rman

[hankinindiana]

Great job! Thank You.

[shoot2reload]

Absolutely spectacular! Thank you so much!!

[sw]

Thank you for all the work.

[ET]

I consider this a monumental task of listing all those loads for others to have access too.
My thanks to all those involved sacrificing their time to accomplish this for helping others.

Ed

[dave d.]

:)thankyou guys this was a big task to tackle you and craig did a great job...

[Dave W]

Pat yourselves on the back gentlemen, you deserve it, fantastic job! Thank you.

[tick]

Thanks men! Terrific job done by all involved.

[Harley]

This is beautiful work; can't wait to look it over more carefully.

Harley

[deadeye]

well done,very grateful!

[fowlplay]

Thanks Kerry and all the other members that was involved in this time consuming adventure.
Great Job, Steve

[Richard]

Thank you Kerry and all your cohorts for putting together this valuable information. I'm hoping to add some information when my .45 Pac-Nor gets up and running.
Richard

[younghunter86]

Wow, you guys did a great job! Being able to print of hard copies of the pdfs will be very helpful. Thanks for your effort!

[lc]

Thank you for a job well done.It will be great help to everyone now & far into the future.

[runningdog]

Thank you very much for the information and thank each of you for all of the hard work.

[KerryB]

Thank you for all the kind comments gentlemen. You guys are the very reason why i wanted to start this project in the first place. If it weren't for all of the caring and sharing people here, i might not have been so interested in trying to return the favor. I have been on the receiving end at this forum too many times and now i am just trying to do my part to pay back a little of my debt here. Please keep me in mind if you develop new loads or collect velocities for our current loads and we'll add them to our database. Lets keep this ball rolling and make the database better and better. Remember to check the latest database and save it to your computer from time to time as new loads will be added as they are received. If you save the data to your computer, you will always have it available should the host site be down temporarily. As Craig said, check the version date at the top of each PDF page to verify release date and you can always have the latest data available. Thanks again for all your comments and opinions..........keep em comin! KerryB

[Deleted]

Thank you for your hard work. I owe everything I know to men such as yourselves.
Zen

[craigf]

Thanks for those who found some of my mistakes in less than 24 hours. I fixed them and there are new files for 50, 50 basic, and 50 duplex.

[shoot2reload]

Slight edit may be needed: 50.pdf and 50 duplex.pdf are dated 2008.

Thanks again for the awesome collection!

[DBinNY]

Good catch shoot2reload. That's my fault. It usually takes at least until the end of March before I'm fully into the new year. The good news is that I've been watching the account usage and we've only transferred a little over 17MB of an allowable 150MB in the last 24 hours so it looks like the capacity will work for us. As Craig mentioned, anything over 150MB causes it to lock until it drops below 150MB for the last 24 hours. A little inconvenience we can do without. But anyway, the price is right.

[rbinar]

8-)The load data was a work meriting a big "thank you" from everyone. I would like to see Judd (ewc) add his numerous loads to the 40 caliber selection. Steve White will be able to add to those as well.

One explanation needs to be made. Various loads in the table list bullet speeds in a range according to a corresponding amount of powder. It is possible a shooter will be in the lower range of speed with the maximum recommended load in weight. You cannot assume that because the data says it's possible to go faster you can keep adding powder until you do.

The differences are caused by many things from bullet fit, barrel length, and breech plug design to loading pressure. The thing to keep in mind is when you hit the recommended powder weight limit in grains that's the end of known "safe" data.

[craigf]

RB, if you are patient you may be pleasently surprised......

[KerryB]

Feb 15, 2009 21:06:04 GMT -5 rbinar said:

8-)The load data was a work meriting a big "thank you" from everyone. I would like to see Judd (ewc) add his numerous loads to the 40 caliber selection. Steve White will be able to add to those as well.

You will definitely see EWC's .40 data soon as i forwarded it to Craig in a Word document just a couple of days ago. I also have a large volume of data from Steve that we will be sorting and adding very soon as well. I can only imagine what this database will look like in a few years...........

[craigf]

Feb 15, 2009 22:14:55 GMT -5 KerryB said:

Feb 15, 2009 21:06:04 GMT -5 rbinar said:

8-)The load data was a work meriting a big "thank you" from everyone. I would like to see Judd (ewc) add his numerous loads to the 40 caliber selection. Steve White will be able to add to those as well.

You will definitely see EWC's .40 data soon as i forwarded it to Craig in a Word document just a couple of days ago. I also have a large volume of data from Steve that we will be sorting and adding very soon as well. I can only imagine what this database will look like in a few years...........

Kerry likes to keep me busy..... ;D

[minst7877]

Wow what a wealth of information this is. Thanks to all who contributed.

[smokeless77]

Thank's guys it's a BIG help.