Hey folks, I'm working on an app for handloading/load development and more and I wanted to share some of what I'm working on in case anyone here is interested in trying it. Some of the screenshots are from an iPad and some from an iPhone.
A few caveats before I even get to the app:
Here's a video (snippet) of the app running through a shot plan. All I need to do is start a new session on the chronograph and the app advances to the next planned shot string. This way the app moves through the loads and recipes I have planned, imports each session and shows shot data directly from the device. If I (or you!) are so inclined you can add notes about the group, or recoil or anything else before advancing. It's also possible to disable auto-advance, and the app the will remind you to start a new session.
(Note: for load recipes, you only need to fill out what you're focused on. All fields are option. Recipes can also be easily "cloned" from each other so you can take a recipe and clone it, then just change the one parameter you're focused on.)
From there it allows me to create a plan of how I intend to work through those loads at the range, and then run that plan. I can take notes along the way. Eventually I plan to add the ability to include photos (say of shot groups), to further reconcile the data and make decisions about load data.
It does a lot more. It improves on a number of things I believe are missing from Athlon's app. It allows me to assign a firearm and load to the sessions that are downloaded off the Chronograph, before they're downloaded. It also allows me to export (and import) load data and load recipes. This makes it easy for sharing or record keeping.
It allows me to split up shot sessions, so if I'm being really lazy and I just leave my chronograph recording at the range, I can reconcile everything at home, after the fact.
It's been designed to have a painless workflow. If you're at a screen to select a load or recipe and you need to create a new one, you can do it right there. Basically, it contains everything I need or want for keeping track of how my loads are developed and behaving with as little friction and as much flexibility as possible.
It's only a week or two old, so it's going to get a lot of updates, and I'll post them here as I make them.
A few caveats before I even get to the app:
- Currently iOS only (iPhone and iPad)
- Chronograph supported: Athlon Rangecraft
- No iCloud Sync at the moment
The Genesis (or why I built it):
Easy, I really like my Rangecraft Chronograph. I really DON'T like the Athlon Ballistics app. When I started handloading, I found the app less than ideal to reconcile my shot sessions. Additionally, the app didn't work in a way I liked, but that's just a preference thing. I also had strugged to remeber which notebook I wrote my stuff down in. Once I left a notebook at the range and didn't find it again... so yeah, a mix of stupidity, laziness, and here we are.What it does
Well, a lot. But at the heart of the app, it allows me to create load development or shot plans and then run through them, keeping detailed records of what I did, what were the individual settings/parameters, and how it worked out.Here's a video (snippet) of the app running through a shot plan. All I need to do is start a new session on the chronograph and the app advances to the next planned shot string. This way the app moves through the loads and recipes I have planned, imports each session and shows shot data directly from the device. If I (or you!) are so inclined you can add notes about the group, or recoil or anything else before advancing. It's also possible to disable auto-advance, and the app the will remind you to start a new session.
What it doesn't do
Ballistics calculations. There are a bazillion apps out there. We don't need another one.More details
The app helps keep records of all the parameters of load recipe (case, powder, bullet, primer, charge weight, seating depth, neck tension... everything), along with notes and addition details.(Note: for load recipes, you only need to fill out what you're focused on. All fields are option. Recipes can also be easily "cloned" from each other so you can take a recipe and clone it, then just change the one parameter you're focused on.)
From there it allows me to create a plan of how I intend to work through those loads at the range, and then run that plan. I can take notes along the way. Eventually I plan to add the ability to include photos (say of shot groups), to further reconcile the data and make decisions about load data.
It does a lot more. It improves on a number of things I believe are missing from Athlon's app. It allows me to assign a firearm and load to the sessions that are downloaded off the Chronograph, before they're downloaded. It also allows me to export (and import) load data and load recipes. This makes it easy for sharing or record keeping.
It allows me to split up shot sessions, so if I'm being really lazy and I just leave my chronograph recording at the range, I can reconcile everything at home, after the fact.
It's been designed to have a painless workflow. If you're at a screen to select a load or recipe and you need to create a new one, you can do it right there. Basically, it contains everything I need or want for keeping track of how my loads are developed and behaving with as little friction and as much flexibility as possible.
Interested?
If you're at all interested I plan on cleaning up the app (found a few bugs at the range today) and then making it available through Test Flight (Apple's beta testing tool in the App Store). I'll keep this thread updated with when it's available for download. The betas will require an email address (Apple's requirements, not mine) but they'll all be completely free. I'm looking for just a handful of interested folks to start, and then add more people as the app gets more stable, eventually releasing it publicly (but that's a ways away).It's only a week or two old, so it's going to get a lot of updates, and I'll post them here as I make them.
Quick FAQ
- Can I use it without an Athlon Rangecraft, to keep records of my loads/shot sessions/etc?
Yep. It will work without it! I have a few minor tweaks to complete to make that work nicely, but that was always the plan.
- Will it support Android?
Depending on how much response / interest there is, I'm strongly considering an Android version. My primary programming language is Scala, and I've wanted to learn Kotlin for a while, so this would be the chance.
- Will it support Garmin devices?
I'd love to. I'm hoping I can find someone at one of my local ranges who's willing to lend me a Garmin so I can have a whack at reverse engineering the bluetooth protocol it uses.
- iCloud Sync / Does it sync between devices?
Not at the moment. The app's been built to support it . I'm also considering a direct device-to-device export/import option. Ultimately, it will probably end up with both options, one for the privacy conscious who don't want any more data in the cloud (cough online forum coughsmartphone app cough), and one for those who want convenience.
I'm relying on a quirk of the the underlying hardware / firmware for what's seen in the video with auto-advance, but you one could easily plan a ladder, with a record of powder charges or seating depths and run through it, then take a monolithic chronograph session and split it up. Lots of options already.
