Reloading log critiques

K

KBrun

New member
Hey guys, as a new release I'm still tweaking my process, part of which is how I record stuff in my log.
Here is a picture of how I currently do it:
uploadfromtaptalk1453568534863.jpg
I record powder first, and go down the line for each part of the final cartridge. What do you see in there you might change? Thanks in advance
 
Whatever works for you. I use a three ring binder so I can add pages and keep them in order from smallest to largest. I key everything to the bullet. That goes in the margin, where the holes are, and everything else on lines - powder, charge, primer, etc. Leave a lot of room between bullets to add more data later, and leave room for date, comments, crono readings, etc. I've been at it for about 40 years and I've got quite a collection of data. Maybe I should publish it.
 
I just need to find someone that will transfer 45 years of load data in paper notebooks into a searchable data base... So I can ignore that too!
 
I use a very simple MS-Excel spreadsheet and while I have a few tabs with other info, my log is merely line by line entry. I catalog EVERY round I make.

Caliber, bullet make, style, weight, powder type and charge weight, COAL, primer, brass headstamp, and I also include what kind of ammo box I put it in to.

The box of ammo itself, if is a "newish" load of me testing, trying new or recently developed loads, is marked with the same info on a post-it note.

The box of ammo, if it's simple range fodder (9mm/124gr or .45 Hardball) simply has a DATE on the box and I can search the log with the specific date if I need to know precisely what is inside those loaded rounds.

My log allows me to keep track of how many rounds I've loaded annually and I keep round counts on my guns as well, because I enjoy doing that.

Personally, I think using paper is lunacy because I would be broken without my records and I have like 5 copies of me spreadsheets right now, I'll never lose them. Searching them is a couple simple key clicks.
 
If you can come back to your log one or three years from now and get reliable information, then it's good to go. I personally list bullets first, then powder and charge, then primer/brass and then "other" (notes on crimp, OAL, any specific methods, etc.). I have my "log" in my documents section on my computer and I print the loads and put them in a 3 ring binder....
 
"I just need to find someone that will transfer 45 years of load data in paper notebooks into a searchable data base... So I can ignore that too!"

If you don't use it, why bother?

I transferred several years worth of legal pad information to a excel spread sheet. Then I copied the entire spread sheet as pg 2. I sorted pg 2, now I have information sorted by caliber and date. Do I use it? I haven't since this morning, to reference a load for .243.
 
If you make your own list of items save it and print it out you will have a consistent pattern to fallow. Over the last 40 years I have found that the more you can put down the less you will not need to remember (assume).
I always run out of note space that helps in the years to come. You can learn a lot from what may seam like not important notes. Assume nothing and you will learn more.
 
I just write in the Reloading Manual. There are very few guns I seem to keep for any length of time anyway. I have had a couple of my favorite bullets go out of production. I don't know, it just hardly seems worth the effort for me.
 
"I just need to find someone that will transfer 45 years of load data in paper notebooks into a searchable data base... So I can ignore that too!"

If you don't use it, why bother?

I transferred several years worth of legal pad information to a excel spread sheet. Then I copied the entire spread sheet as pg 2. I sorted pg 2, now I have information sorted by caliber and date. Do I use it? I haven't since this morning, to reference a load for .243.
Click to expand...

Because I know what 'Worked',
but I'm always looking for what 'Works Better'.
I'll go with a little more/less powder, different brand of primer/bullet,
Search around for that 'Jesus Load' that never misses.
 
Some people can keep it straight in their head. Not me.

I put the bullet, powder , charge length, pressure, velocity, on the box so it cannot come off and can be seen from the top looking down.

I write down that info on a sheet of paper as well just before fire a shot. I start writing down the velocities from the chrono on the sheet.

Now the hard part. Connect the target with the piece of paper. Walk toward the target, and write the cartridge and range on the target. e.g. "50 y 308"

Two hours later, measure group sizes and write up a lab report.
Get the load connected with the group size and the chrono readings and the rifle and the date.
Send that email to someone who cares. pretend they care. You will care later. Next year when you don't recognize that gun, that email will be your friend.
 
The most dangerous words in the English language - I'm getting an idea. Here's the drill: Your loading station creates a cartridge and puts it in your box, say Row 2 Column 4. A sensor at the bottom of that hole is activated and your computer creates a file called R2C427052.5H4350 and all the other details. At the range, removing that cartridge open the file and accepts the crono reading, atmospheric conditions, target info and any comments - called high, gust of wind, etc. Hit send and it all goes to the cloud, accessible by caliber, date, primer, whatever.
Would I do it? Hell no, paper and pencil and I'm good to go.
 
Clark, I use 'White Boxes' for my new/developing loads.
Bullet, powder, charge, primer, brass, date all marked on the end flaps of the box.

As shooting progresses, velocities and grouping get marked on the box.
The side of that generic white box fits right in a 'Recipe' box!
The 'Also Ran' loads wind up getting transferred into the books, to slowly die of starvation,

While the accuracy loads wind up in the recipe box for further investigation, and get transferred to the 'Favorite Loads' book that I keep ON the bench, not in a bookcase someplace, propping up the boxes of ammo that didn't work out so well...

The 'Favorite Loads' book doesn't have a ton of entries compared to the common load books, but the pages are dog eared to no end!

The recipe box isn't that alien, we do call this 'Cooking Up Loads' after all...
 
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