Quickload vs Gordon Reloading Tool (GRT)

QuickLOAD and the Gordon Reloading Tool (GRT) are two well-known internal ballistics and load development tools used by handloaders and ballistic enthusiasts. Both tools aim to help users evaluate and understand how different components and load variables affect key performance metrics such as chamber pressure and muzzle velocity. They share a common goal of reducing guesswork in handload development and supporting safer, more informed decisions before live-fire testing.

At a high level, QuickLOAD and GRT both allow users to input cartridge specifications, bullet details, powder charges, and other parameters to generate predictions about internal ballistic behavior. Each model includes databases of calibers, propellants, and projectiles, and both provide mechanisms for exploring how changes in seating depth, powder type, and charge weight impact pressure and velocity. In this respect, they function as digital load tables with analytical capabilities that go beyond static published data.

Despite these similarities, QuickLOAD and GRT differ significantly in design philosophy, user interface, database maintenance, and platform support. QuickLOAD, developed by Dipl.-Ing. Hartmut G. Brömel, has long been regarded as a pioneering internal ballistics simulator. Its architecture stems from older computing paradigms, with a desktop-centric implementation traditionally distributed on CD-ROM. Users install QuickLOAD on Windows PCs only, and the interface reflects that legacy: detailed and powerful, but dated in terms of usability and visual design. QuickLOAD’s database historically included a broad range of calibers and powders, but it has not received updates in recent years, meaning that newer components and modern propellants may be absent.

By contrast, the Gordon Reloading Tool (GRT) — created and maintained by Gordon Morrison — occupies a slightly different niche. GRT combines a robust load database with a flexible calculation engine and a focus on component-specific recommendations. While still desktop-oriented, GRT’s organization of data and workflow often feels more natural for users who prioritize comparative load research and direct entry of component specifications. GRT’s load tables are typically more familiar in structure to traditional handloaders, and the program emphasizes clear tables and printable reference sheets.

Another clear difference lies in community involvement and update frequency. ApexLOAD PRO (a modern cloud-based evolution of QuickLOAD) has introduced an updated component database, community feature requests, and browser-accessible functionality — modernizing the core QuickLOAD model. GRT, meanwhile, continues to be updated by its author, supported by a loyal user base and ongoing refinements to its data and ballistic algorithms.