Your reloading / shooting logbook
- Thread starter hicap40
- Start date
MGYSGT
Silver $$ Contributor
I am no expert by a long shot. No pun intended. I keep a book for each rifle. Each rifle has an ammo box that holds the ammo for that rifle, mags, lube, etc. The book is a spiral bound (4X4 inches) I got from Staples. After each shoot or reloading session, I write down Number of rounds fired and total rounds on that barrel, along with the load data. You know, Powder, C.O.L., Brass used, Primer, Bullet. I sometimes cut out the target and paste it in the book when doing load test. Just makes it easy to see what a load did with a particular bullet later. If I later sell the rifle, I pass the book along to the new owner.
dcali
Bullet Maker
I don't keep a "log", exactly. I keep a current "best load" for each of my barrels and update it as needed to keep in tune. I make notes along the way with it if anything unusual sticks out, but I only have a few rifles, and I purposely limit my components to a manageable number.
I keep only information that will be useful in the future. Primer lot numbers, for example, are not. Failed loads are not (I'm already keeping track of the good ones, which provide a starting point for the next one when needed). Sure, I might miss something now and then, but I rarely regret not keeping extensive notes.
Basically, I retest my loads every so often, using the last known good load as a starting point. Knowing every single detail (brass lot number, firings, etc) hasn't been useful to me in guiding me to my next load.
What I'm too lazy to do that I wish I did is to keep a detailed log of what has been fired through my barrels. powder, charge weight, bullet, shots fired, group size. Over time, I think that could be useful information in trying to predict barrel life, but I just can't be bothered. I usually can guess pretty well how many rounds have been fired from memory, and that's good enough.
I keep only information that will be useful in the future. Primer lot numbers, for example, are not. Failed loads are not (I'm already keeping track of the good ones, which provide a starting point for the next one when needed). Sure, I might miss something now and then, but I rarely regret not keeping extensive notes.
Basically, I retest my loads every so often, using the last known good load as a starting point. Knowing every single detail (brass lot number, firings, etc) hasn't been useful to me in guiding me to my next load.
What I'm too lazy to do that I wish I did is to keep a detailed log of what has been fired through my barrels. powder, charge weight, bullet, shots fired, group size. Over time, I think that could be useful information in trying to predict barrel life, but I just can't be bothered. I usually can guess pretty well how many rounds have been fired from memory, and that's good enough.
topclass2017
Gold $$ Contributor
I made up a load data sheet that I can use for each rifle. At the range I record data in a spiral book and then transfer it to my "permanent" data sheet when I get home. for what its worth, I've attached the file - its in excel format. Free to use as you wish.
CharlieNC
Gold $$ Contributor
I keep all my info in an excel file. The nice factor vs paper is if in the future you decide to modify the info that you keep (eg add a new parameter) it is easy to do so and have the old data compatible with the new revision such that all of the info can still be easily analyzed together; change to layout to a more understandable form, etc. Cut and paste is near instantaneous vs time consuming on paper. I'm a visual person, graphics in many different forms is easy and fast. Too many advantages using excel vs paper for me.
I use Excel. I have a different tab/sheet for each caliber I load for.
I keep track of the obvious data you'd expect.....bullet and weight, powder, charge, COL, BTO, etc. etc. And I have columns for velocity (when I'm working up loads) and comments in general. I'll shade loads that perform well in green.....and really bad ones in red.
The somewhat-unique (I think) thing I do is make a "batch number" for everything i load - based on the date I loaded it....such as 20190708-01 or 20190708-02. This way I can label the ammo box with minimal data....but it links back to all the details in my spredsheet. the "-01' and so-on designations are for those scenarios where I have multiple loading sessions in one day.
I keep track of the obvious data you'd expect.....bullet and weight, powder, charge, COL, BTO, etc. etc. And I have columns for velocity (when I'm working up loads) and comments in general. I'll shade loads that perform well in green.....and really bad ones in red.
The somewhat-unique (I think) thing I do is make a "batch number" for everything i load - based on the date I loaded it....such as 20190708-01 or 20190708-02. This way I can label the ammo box with minimal data....but it links back to all the details in my spredsheet. the "-01' and so-on designations are for those scenarios where I have multiple loading sessions in one day.
I did a cut and paste from several sources, then added a little of my own to cover what I was looking for. I use the same target that is on the sheet so I can plot the shots without having to keep a bunch of targets around. I am trying to upload the file, if you like it feel free to download and use it or modify for your needs.
danny
Silver $$ Contributor
I am using a simple Database on my other phone, MobiDB Database, and the advantages are great. I even put in the ability to store images of the target. One of the biggest advantages is that I can't read my handwriting, so I have some real clarity. While my recent experiment with MobiDB has been great, it is a bit buggy and can freeze on my phone, and it works a bit slow. I am looking to transition to another product.
Danny
Danny
I use Samsung S note.
I shoot the attached target and fill out the information then scan with on target. Once I have all the info I save the pdf on my computer and Google photos, then create the s note file.
Each rifle gets it's own folder. I can track the entire load work up. This way I avoid repeating the same recipes.
I shoot the attached target and fill out the information then scan with on target. Once I have all the info I save the pdf on my computer and Google photos, then create the s note file.
Each rifle gets it's own folder. I can track the entire load work up. This way I avoid repeating the same recipes.
Attachments
Cory porter
Silver $$ Contributor
Legal pad for notes and round count and 3 ring binder to keep target and load development Info for each rifle.
jepp2
Gold $$ Contributor
Same here. Was developed by someone else, but works great for me. Screen shots to show left side of worksheet (reloading log) and right side (shooting log).
I just use the iphones notepad. Separate page for each barrel. This tracks round count and the results of the load development and the results of every match. I also take pictures of development groups and insert them into the notes.
Also I have every ibs target I’ve ever shot in practice or competition with the load used and barrel and conditions present at the time. This allows me to keep track of my aggs and scores and track trends.
Also I have every ibs target I’ve ever shot in practice or competition with the load used and barrel and conditions present at the time. This allows me to keep track of my aggs and scores and track trends.
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rwj
Gold $$ Contributor
The app titled ”Numbers” works well for Apple based systems... their version of Excel. Very handy because the files can be edited and/or viewed on any IOS based device from anywhere (range) providing the files are stored in the Cloud and you can establish an internet connection. If remote, just first download the file onto the mobile device.
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wkdickinson
Gold $$ Contributor
Here is a form that I developed. I use "OnTarget PC" to analyze the group size and group center.
I was a general contractor, and kept a log for thirty years. In the beginning, after a very short while, I realized that all the "log forms" out there left something out. In real life, there was always something that wouldn't fit into the form anywhere, but was important enough I wanted it documented. So I switched to simple pad and paper.
After a log got destroyed in the rain, I switched again, to Rite in the Rain books. That was what I used for more than twenty-five years. The soft sided books can have a pencil folded into them to keep the page, and they fit in the hip pockets of Carhartt's.
Over the years, I used all the styles they sell, but kept coming back to Old Reliable, #374, the Universal Field Book.
Simple lines, write everything you need to write, from a simple one line statement about the weather during the concrete pour to a detailed, multi-page list of facts about an accident. Finished your task? Cool. Write it down. Plumbing sub calls in with a problem? Logged. Whatever it was, I wrote it down.
I put dates at the top, every day started a new page. I wrote the weather as the first line. Then I just started every statement with the time.
For shooting, I kept the habit. A Universal Field Book, each trip to the range or reloading session starts a new page. I keep a separate database for my loads. The log is just a log. What I shoot, where I shot it, whatever I think needs to be written down.
Over time, people (usually young engineers) have told me my log wasn't sufficient in some way, but more than once I've had documentation that no one else had.
So I guess it works for me.
After a log got destroyed in the rain, I switched again, to Rite in the Rain books. That was what I used for more than twenty-five years. The soft sided books can have a pencil folded into them to keep the page, and they fit in the hip pockets of Carhartt's.
Over the years, I used all the styles they sell, but kept coming back to Old Reliable, #374, the Universal Field Book.
Simple lines, write everything you need to write, from a simple one line statement about the weather during the concrete pour to a detailed, multi-page list of facts about an accident. Finished your task? Cool. Write it down. Plumbing sub calls in with a problem? Logged. Whatever it was, I wrote it down.
I put dates at the top, every day started a new page. I wrote the weather as the first line. Then I just started every statement with the time.
For shooting, I kept the habit. A Universal Field Book, each trip to the range or reloading session starts a new page. I keep a separate database for my loads. The log is just a log. What I shoot, where I shot it, whatever I think needs to be written down.
Over time, people (usually young engineers) have told me my log wasn't sufficient in some way, but more than once I've had documentation that no one else had.
So I guess it works for me.
Steve Donlon
Gold $$ Contributor
I have a log book I enter location, day, temp. time, number of rounds, load data, type of bullets, weight, powder, distance, OAL and results I was after with outcome. I do keep targets or pictures if they are really good.
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