Exbal or LoadBase ?

[Willy 1]

Anyone have any opinion on which is the better of these two programs and why? Also what are you guys running these programs on for handheld devices? What I was thinking about buying is a HP 110 or 220 pda. any opinoin on these units or are there better out there.
Thanks

PUBLISHER'S EDIT

By the way, some may not know that Gus Ruiz and I have an arrangement whereby I sell his Loadbase ballistic program by Patagonia at the LRH Gear Shop.

He set me up to be the ONLY source of the stand alone Desktop only OR Mobile only Editions. I also sell the combo for him.

Len Backus

 

[jwp475]

I use Exbal and it has never ever let me down

 

[bigngreen]

It depends on what your trying to do and how much you want to get into it and how far you want to do it. I have Loadbase 3.0 and Exbal on my Dell Axim 51 and they are hard to compare, both have some strengths and weakness.

 

[Willy 1]

I am hoping to have a program that is reliable out to 1500 yards or more in a number of different guns 338 edge 300 ultra 338 lapua etc. The program I am using now it seems like you got to fiddle with the numbers a lot to get the correct numbers. It just does not do it the first time around it seems to come up with more drop than is actually needed.
Thanks

 

[bigngreen]

I've taken both LB and Exbal out to 1450yrds quit a bit and LB is right on with the G1 BC I was using while Exbal was 2 MOA low. To get Exbal on was not hard but require multiple BC's which LB did not require nor can you use with LB. LB has the ability to use G7 or G1. LB is kinda slow to get open but once open it is fast, Exbal is fast but I've experienced a lot of it dieing and needing to reboot which makes it frustrating to use. LB has multiple wind zone capability. I don't know if you want to deal with Spin drift and Coriolis but LB does a great job with them, Exbal is workable with this variables.
Loadbase is much easier to save and retrieve different loads and targets from! Exbal has trajectory validation out to 1000yrd, which has proven to me the best feature, I've dialed in 4 rifles this past month and all have made kills with little more work than a validation but that seems to only hold a little ways past a 1000yrds for me.

LB now has a Kestrel screen if you link to the new bluetooth capable Kestrel, and is GPS capable also for targeting, giving you range, azmuth and slope. I haven't played with the GPS targeting part but it looks like it would be amazing if set up correctly.

Loadbase is set up so you can shoot your loads and find the BC and drag specifically out of your set up then use those numbers, also has ability to compensate for powder temp. Exbal has a simple trajectory validation then you have to tweek to keep it on at farther distance.

Loadbase is a complete ballistics solution, with great after sales support and regular updates. Exbal is simple and works good for simply tweeking till right then leaving it alone. If you are kinda into techy stuff LB is the way to go, if you have a hard time with computers Exbal is the way to go!

Loadbase 3.0 comes as a bundle from Patagonia ballistics with desktop and PPC versions, only in the LRH gear shop you can get it separated for less.

By next Fall I'll be running LB on a Trimble unit with a GPS module linked to a blue tooth Kestrel getting live enviro data while it is out in front of my shooting position on a weather vane on a tripod. And Exbal will stay on my PPC for fast, close shooting. I could make a case for both really!

 

[jwp475]

Updates are availible for Exbal and the latest version has G-7 capability. I have never experienced the need to reboot with Exbal on my desk top or my Trimble.

 

[Broz]

I too have both Exbal and LB3.0. I will agree with 95% of what BnG states with the exception of,, I do not have any problems with my Dell Axim X50v shutting down and having to reboot with exbal. Also I have made first round cold bore hits on my target at 1596 yards using Exbal and was within 6" of point of aim. I have several rifles in exbal and find it plenty fast to change rifles. Last week I was hunting antelope with my wife. She was shooting the 6mm br and I had the 300 win. I was using one pda for both rifles and switched back and forth many times. No time issues and I kept both rifles dialed in.

I shoot alot , and my favorite practise is cold bore first round hits on 1 moa sized rocks. Last time out I started with my 338 Lapua and a 300 grain Berger sent to a rock at 1762 yards. First hit was spot on for elevation and about 1 moa left (15~17 inches) due to me under estimating the wind. A one moa correction in windage and scond shot was spot on. After using both I have gone back to exbal for my field use. One shot kills again this season on 2 antelope out to 650 yards and a 6x6 bull at 803 yards.

I want to add I have played with the LB3.0 enough to trust it and it has many things to trial run and play with on my home PC. I get e-mails all the time with free updates for LB3.0. I realize this is of value but for me all the updates are a pain. I have been using exbal for hunting for going on 4 years now. Still using the first edition the way it was origionally installed and G1 BC's. I have recorded many many antelope one shot kills in the 800~900 yards range, a WT deer at 1137 and a bull elk at 1130 yards. Maybe the reason I choose exbal in the field is from my success , my confidence level and my "If it aint broke dont fix it" mind set.

One thing I will ad in closing. I have noticed that with smaller calibers... my 6mmbr specifically, past 900 yards I need to add a few moa to my elevation. But I have not tried to correct this since the little 6mm bullet has slowed to a point that I would not try to take game due to lack of energy. But to 800 Yards it is spot on. BnG was your experience with needing to add elevation past 1000 with a smaller cal too?

Sorry for the long post and I am in no way doubting what BnG stated. We have met and shot together. I know he walks the walk in the world of long range shooting and hunting. You can trust what he types to be stated from real field experience and he keeps great notes.

My Summary, either will work, exbal is much easier and faster for a not so computer savvy guy like me.

Jeff

 

[Willy 1]

Thanks for the info guys. I went ahead and purchased LB 3.0 but that does not mean I will not get exbal also.
Thanks Again

 

[bigngreen]

One thing I will ad in closing. I have noticed that with smaller calibers... my 6mmbr specifically, past 900 yards I need to add a few moa to my elevation. But I have not tried to correct this since the little 6mm bullet has slowed to a point that I would not try to take game due to lack of energy. But to 800 Yards it is spot on. BnG was your experience with needing to add elevation past 1000 with a smaller cal too?
Jeff

Jeff, I've only noticed it with lighter cals but so far that's all I have to work with till I have 169.5 Wildcat bullets for my 270 WSM, then I can play with you guys, they'll hit transonic within a hundred yards of your Lapua
It seems that when the parachute comes out on these lighter cals the multiple BC is a must have with Exbal. I did my trajectoy validation at 300yds, 590, 735 and I think if I take my gong out and add a 1000yrds it would extend my range without multiple BC's, as it is I have a berm at 1030yrds and Exbal don't like anything over 1000 for validating, but I can see why, because after that it would not be able to adjust with only a velocity adjustment.

Willy 1, I think you'll like Loadbase 3.0, did you buy the whole bundle or just the PPC version?

 

[Willy 1]

bigngreen
I purchased both parts pc and handheld. Also a Dell axim 51v. I have a few questions about some of the terms in loadbase. These are in the ballistics portion.
1- Drag Coefficent where do you come up with that?
2- Angle to line of sight in the wind and target parameters. In the wind portion I am taking it the 180 degrees whould be at 12 oclock. And the same for the target.
3- In the field charts under firing charts the first colum is mrad target moa or iphy can you give me a explanation about that?
4- have you tried the reticle hold and if so is it accurate it looks like a great tool for if you are in a hurry hunting and don't have time to dial in.

Thanks for the info.

 

[jwp475]

Jeff, I've only noticed it with lighter cals but so far that's all I have to work with till I have 169.5 Wildcat bullets for my 270 WSM, then I can play with you guys, they'll hit transonic within a hundred yards of your Lapua
It seems that when the parachute comes out on these lighter cals the multiple BC is a must have with Exbal. I did my trajectoy validation at 300yds, 590, 735 and I think if I take my gong out and add a 1000yrds it would extend my range without multiple BC's, as it is I have a berm at 1030yrds and Exbal don't like anything over 1000 for validating, but I can see why, because after that it would not be able to adjust with only a velocity adjustment.

Willy 1, I think you'll like Loadbase 3.0, did you buy the whole bundle or just the PPC version?

The latest version of Exball has the ability to use either G-1 or G-7 drag coefficients

 

[Willy 1]

One more question about Loadbase. For the program that is run on your handheld device do you download it from where you purchased it directly to your handheld or does it go to your pc then to the handheld? Just want to do it correct the first time.
Thanks

 

[bigngreen]

The latest version of Exball has the ability to use either G-1 or G-7 drag coefficients

You must have a version I don't for your PPC, I'm running 6.5 which as far as I can tell is the latest version still for sale and does not support G-7 BC's but does support multiple BC's which a guy can get about the same thing done with. The desk top version does however support G-7 but that does not help me out having one version differ from an other in how you input vital data.

 

[Boss Hoss]

I have both and use the Exbal --- Loadbase is too difficult to use. I do not see that product as being around in the long term.