documenting your reloads

[jcims]

Hi all...

Do you have a favorite method of documenting your loads? I'm just getting started and it seems there are quite a few 'parameters' to track...which are worth keeping? I've got a chrony in the mix as well.

Any good log books, software, etc?

Thanks!

[steveno]

I just made a spreadsheet using Microsoft Excel. you can present the data anyway you so desire

[AJ Peacock]

I use the Sinclair logbook. Its something like $5.75 http://www.sinclairintl.com go to the online catalog and search for 'logbook'.

It's not overly busy, letting you track pretty much just whats needed.

Bullet, powder, OAL, notes, primer, case etc.


AJ

[Rico567]

I have found that a box of 3x5 cards is convenient, and fills all my needs.

[dodgestdshift]

I use this form, and place it in a loose leaf notebook:


CALIBER 44 Remington magnum___________ GUN Ruger Redhawk____________________

BULLET/
BALLISTIC COEFFICIENT Speer 200 grain Mag Tip Hollow Point / .165__________

PRIMER CCI 350 Large Magnum Pistol____________________________________

POWDER W-296_________________________________________ WEIGHT(gns) 26.7____

CASE Remington Peters_________________________________________________________

CASE LENGTH (in) 1.280 in______ CARTRIDGE LENGTH OVERALL(in) 1.591______


DIE SETTINGS

SIZER std_______

EXPANDER std_________

SEATER MFG RCBS________ SETTING LENGTH (in) _3.058__________

CRIMPER MFG Lee____ SETTING set to touch case___________


RESULTS

DATE 05/20/04________ TEMPERATURE 70 degrees F________________

CONDITIONS _Partly cloudy_________________________________________________

GROUP SIZE(in) _____________________ NUMBER OF SHOTS IN GROUP ________

RECORDED VELOCITIES @ ___10________ FT.

_1491_____ 1513______ 1493______ 1501______ 1449______ __________ __________

__________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________

__________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________

AVERAGE VELOCITY 1489.4___ EXTREME SPREAD 64_____________

STANDARD DEVIATIONS 24.18________ 21.63__________


COMMENTS



The form I copied fit on an 8x11 sheet of paper. I measure the bullet seater die and record the length so I can reset it whenever I want to this bullet.

[jcims]

dodgestdshift,

Thanks for posting that form...i think i might print myself a few for this weekend. I'd never thought of actually measuring the seat/crimp die...i like it. May order the sinclair logbook anyways, just so everything is together.

thanks everybody!

[dodgestdshift]

jcims:

Just remember that the measured length of the seater/crimp die only works if you don't screw with the crimper setting. Changing the location of the lock ring to adjust the crimper, will change the length overall of the cartridge using that die. This is not a big problem, because if you set the crimp, it shouldn't change, and any changes of the seater die stem setting are for differing length overall for differing bullets.

If you have to change the crimper setting for differing loads, you might consider using a separate die to crimp. I use the Lee factory crimp die for all my loads (except 45 ACP where I use the Lee taper crimp die) and it works great. The die cost less than $10 and is worth its weight in gold.

[shu]

to go with the actual cartridges, i use a label size form (5 rows 2 columns on letter size page) with: chamber, bullet weight and type, bullet manufacturer's model nr (if any), powder, powder weight, primer , case manufacturer, overall length, and date.

in the computer i use a database written in linux shell script. each record has the above information plus: test date, test firearm, temperature, ten velocity readings, mean, spread, standard deviation (these three being calulated by the script program), distance, group, and remarks.

a while back i found a free (gpl) windows graphing program
http://www.padowan.dk/graph/
which have used to study load data from various sources. speer #13, my major trusted source, gives 13.9 to 15.5 grains of H110 for their #4211 158gr jhp in 357mag at 1.570 overall length. hodgdon and other sources offer their ideas of powder weight and o.a.l. for H110 with 158gr jhp. these i plot togather, o.a.l. on the ordinate and powder weight range on the abscissa. sometimes it makes sense (sources suggesting more powder also have a longer o.a.l.); sometimes it's just plain scary!

lately been dabling with the MySQL server which comes with linux (redhat and fedora), trying to learn a bit of SQL, using past reloading data.

-shu

[Peter M. Eick]

I use load labels and serial number each box back to an excel spread sheet and word file. These files are where I keep track of which gun it was fired in, chrono, accuracy and recoil results along with Pressure Ring measurements. Thus I can document my thoughts about why I loaded it a particular way, and the results and then I put comments for the next time I reload.