Reloading Log

I'm a stationary nerd, so I always have a special pen for "gun stuff" and a special book for "gun stuff", currently a Rotring 600 pen with Energel refill and a Midori MD notebook, B5 sized for my loading and shooting notes. I've got a fairly standard notation for reloading, if you look at any of my ladder test threads they are effectively a copy of the notes I took in the field.

Repetition and consistency are key to successful reloading, shooting, and journalling/record-keeping.
 
Remember we are dealing with rocket science. I use a three ring binder for each cartridge . I have had my wife make up spreadsheets and I printed them . There are three sheets . They list powder,weight, setting and it's lot #, case and it's lot#, primer and it's lot #, bullet and it's lot #, case length,loading notes, and range results, with notes on weather, velocity , group size, plus general notes.. Since there have been times with more than one rifle, the load for a rifle is also noted. It wouldn't do to shoot a M700/M70 load in the BSA. Except for 30-06 loads , there is a letter prefix for each cartridge. Like A-xx for 338-06 A-Square . I then can track that loading on the ammo box. Targets sometimes get saved if worth while.
 
I use some "spread sheet" which I printed up on my old printer and use those. I have used these for probably 30 years and works well. I too have forgotten to write down different things in my log book so as a back up before I go to the range I write on the target and in the ammo box. Load, rifle, primers, AOL etc. and the weather conditions as well on the target. Then if I get busy or I am still doing load development I still have the previous info on hand then transfer it to the "spread sheets" once I am finished into my 3 ring binders. I now keep one binder for each rifle along with the best test target groups along with its notes. Might be a bit of over kill but not so long ago, I forgot to write down the info on the target and so had to redo the entire load test (25+ rounds) to clarify I was keeping the proper info on that rifle.
 
downwindtracker2 said:
Remember we are dealing with rocket science. I use a three ring binder for each cartridge . I have had my wife make up spreadsheets and I printed them . There are three sheets . They list powder,weight, setting and it's lot #, case and it's lot#, primer and it's lot #, bullet and it's lot #, case length,loading notes, and range results, with notes on weather, velocity , group size, plus general notes.. Since there have been times with more than one rifle, the load for a rifle is also noted. It wouldn't do to shoot a M700/M70 load in the BSA. Except for 30-06 loads , there is a letter prefix for each cartridge. Like A-xx for 338-06 A-Square . I then can track that loading on the ammo box. Targets sometimes get saved if worth while.
Click to expand...

Wow you are very meticulous, that is much more data than I record, but I like it.

P.S. I read your sig and that made me laugh out loud, great sig!
 
Thanks, I'm not a anal type, but that is the only way you can understand what's going on. For instance, I found primer lot # do matter. Or with a change of powder lot#, simply load up to the velocity of your pet load, you'll get your clover leaf again. When I started loading the 338-06 or the 264WM, there was either none or very dated information, so I was on my own.

Oh I also list date loaded and date fired.
 
My current system is:
1 Book per rifle (Composition Book, ~200 pages, 9.75"x7.5")
All the rifle data is entered on the front page, followed by round count, and a page for specific bullet coals to the lands, then each oage ia filled as load data, range log. maintenance, etc as it occurs.
My future system is still paper based, but with a template load sheet made where I just fill in the blanks.
 
The main things is to keep details of anything different that you do with tooling, components, such as which press you used (if more than one on bench), dies you used, trimmed, other tools used?, etc. Then every dimension of the fired brass, oal, base dia, shoulder dia, neck dia, base to datum length. Then measure it all again with the sized case, record it all. You'd be surprised with how handy some of that info becomes down the road. When you go to shoot it, record anything you can think of while shooting it, temps, wind, sun, rain, snow, fog, your mood and attitude to shooting, gung ho, tired, sick, anxious, distracted? May tweak a memory about it a week or two or three or a year or two or three later, that you forgot about when looking at the target and have a question about something you may or may not have done.
Saved me some work at times, made me go recheck something else, solved problems. And it just isn't that difficult to do.
 
I don't get too crazy about it. I glue the target in my booklet and write down all the relevant details. Most important thing is which gun it was shot in. The data is almost irrelevant when you switch guns. Once you find a load I like, I then hoard up the components and development is done until I want to try another bullet. I typically don't switch bullets though.
 
It looks like it comes down to personal preference and what you intend to do with the info. There is a basic safety aspect to it. For example, if a manufacturer puts out a recall you should be able to check records and identify anything in your inventory that can be affected. This should be a minimum for the actual reloading records. If you only load one cartridge for deer hunting and shoot less than 50 rds per year this should be all you need.
If you are a long range precision shooter you will use your records as another tool to getting the most out of your ammo/rifle to improve your scores. It could be that different firearms in the same caliber like different loads. In this case every range trip and/or every round down range can be documented.
Maybe you are a "data junkie" who likes to add up what your hobby has cost you over the years (hint; don't do that) you will set up your records to capture all that info.
Anyway, assess your needs and build your books to suit.
 
I should have added a couple of things I make note of and add to the log . COAL for each bullet type, like Nosler 180gr Accubond, to the lands as well as the magazine box length in a note section of the log. A the beginning I have a official diagram of the cartridge and some write up. Like Chuck Hawks or Ballistic Research. I'll print some load data off powder and bullet makers .
 
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