Hi Dallen,
I know that it is late in the process but here goes.
Instead of "Load Name" entry block how about entering the firearm that the load is developed for? Makes since because every gun is an individual and we are working up loads for an individual gun and not many others. A drop-down menu to select a firearm from all of the entered firearms in the "Inventory". So instead of a "Load Name" it would be "Firearm". It's just better record keeping.

I think you can put any name you want in the load name box. I use a name that defines the gun, powder and bullet as the load name. It makes it easy for me to know what the load is before I open it.
I thought about building a database using the weapon and all the components as searchable items but it is too complex to be easy to use. The PB load name works because it is simple and flexible enough for everyone from the novice to the records nut like me. You could make it more cmplex by giving eacg weapon a code from a to zzz and each component the same way so that a load name would be a series of letters that you could decode with a database but why?

Popgun is just practicing for his new job of being a lobbiest

Haha just teasing you popgun.


We are having a discussion in the PointBlank testers forum and popgun has some good points and wanted to get a bit more info from the general userbase here hence this post. The topic is how to list load information... right now loads arent tied to a specific rifle but I think we will change that. I'm digging into it to see how much time it will take... it shouldnt be too bad.


-DallanC

Actually, I posted this one first before the other test post.

That is a good idea Chris. Although to simplify things it might well be easier to simply put a Comments box into the load data page.

A load is a load....doesn't really matter what the calibre or firearm is. A .243 load will usually be suitable for any .243, it just may not be the best load for a given firearm. That is where the Comments box can be used....list the firearm for which you have developed this load.

This might stop Dallan from tearing his hair out....he'll end up looking like me.

Cheers, Vince

My two 30-'06's don't share well. One likes WW760 powder with the 165 grain bullet and the other one (my favorite) likes H414 or H380 with the same 165 grain bullet. Different stroke works for more than just folks. I think the smaller or straight wall cases are more tollerant because my two 357 Maximums shoot the same loads and almost always have. I use 180 grain rifle bullets for them and have been using H110. I am trying something new right now with AA1680 to see if I can do better.

Vince wrote:

A load is a load....doesn't really matter what the calibre or firearm is. A .243 load will usually be suitable for any .243, it just may not be the best load for a given firearm. That is where the Comments box can be used....list the firearm for which you have developed this load.

PaulS wrote:

My two 30-'06's don't share well. One likes WW760 powder with the 165 grain bullet and the other one (my favorite) likes H414 or H380 with the same 165 grain bullet. Different stroke works for more than just folks.

And that is the crux of the initial problem. I thought like Vince, Popgun thinks like PaulS.

Most people who use PointBlank dont own several rifles in the same caliber. Most of the requests for features / changes come from people who have "single use". I only own a single rifle in each caliber so having a ".270" load is pretty straight forward but I can see the problem if you have several .270's.

Anyway I've started down the road of this change and I thought up a couple interesting ideas to make the overall "Browsability" of the data as simple as posible. Need another 8 hours or so on it to get things converted over.

Thanks for the suggestions and help.

-DallanC

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Most people who use PointBlank dont own several rifles in the same caliber.

Say that quietly over at varminthunters.com Most of the guys there have multiple rifles in the same caliber. Many varmint hunters over there use Point Blank.

Vince:

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Although to simplify things it might well be easier to simply put a Comments box into the load data page.

You could do that but for those that have a safe full of rifles your talking searching each load comments box to see what rifle it goes with.

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A load is a load....doesn't really matter what the calibre or firearm is. A .243 load will usually be suitable for any .243, it just may not be the best load for a given firearm.

Bolderdash!!! We gotta talk Example and Safety Issue: You work up a load for one 243 rifle. This load happens to be just under maximum pressure, maybe just over the published max load, that rifle can stand but it gives you the best possible accuracy in that rifle. Would you want to put that load in any other 243 rifle of yours or heaven forbid a close friends rifle? Gosh no!

As for the opinion that everyone only has no more than one rifle in any particular caliber is a big assumption. Sure, a starting shooter has a limited inventory but are they the only ones using Point Blank Ballistics Software. Gosh no again! The older we get the more toys we buy only limited by cash on hand (Allowance issued by the wife. Can we say stingy wimen!).

Keep in mind we are discussing v2.0 which only a few have seen and bug hunted. It is much different than v1.8 and I have been trying to talk Dallen into keeping some features/items that he wanted to get rid of and I have suggested some changes to the new features that might make it easier to work with. It's and apple and oranges kind of thing and I have found that Dallen is very open to suggestions even though sometimes I have to keep nagging him about a point or two. But seriously, he has some great ideas that he is putting into v2.0 and most everyone will be happy with the final version when all the pre-release work is over and done with.

Popgun,

That table you posted with how its laided up with the firearms, then goes down progressivly I was like Vince and Dallan but I was thinking about it today and I came to the conculsion its the most logical way to orgenize the loads to please everyone.

Sure you might not have that many rifles in the same caliber or you might only have one firearm right now (like me ) but its not that much more difficult to add the name of the rifle and plus worst comes to worst if you do buy a new rifle in the same caliber you wont mix up loads in the future.

Popgun that menu system you used you should post here for people to get a understanding of how "neatly" organized it is

Dimitri

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Popgun that menu system you used you should post here for people to get a understanding of how "neatly" organized it is Wink

Hey buddy, I think I will just wait and see what Dallen has in mind. He is the software expert and he probably has a better way in mind. Let's keep the guys guessing till 2.0 is ready for release.

Got ya Popgun

Dimitri