Reloading log info needed.

Good to hear - BTW, congrats on the purchase of one of the finest reloading machines out there. The Dillon reputation speaks for itself.

Observations from my experience. Under most conditions handgun loads do not require as much information or as many details as precision rifles.

Also, I've found for hunting rifles, one can easily decide on the bullet to suit the purpose and then load something safe, accurate enough and fast enough to serve one's purpose. No point in developing a 150 grain bullet load for your .30 caliber (or bigger) elk rifle. For target guns, you'll probably fiddle with a lot of maybes.

By the way, I use 'numbers' which is the Apple version of Excel. Along with loads and results, I keep a record of the rifle or rifles for that caliber. Height, weight, scope or iron sights and such. With a little use, you'll develop your own information requirements and format.

OP, if you are interested I can send you a copy of my spreadsheet so you can check it out.

I should add a caveat to my original post detailing my use of only a package info label and no log book of any kind.

I load only mid-range 'plinking' ammo, handgun and AR, all pistol ammo uses plated bullets, and for the .223/5.56 I use a generic 55gr BT jacketed one. In my 'yoot' I was on an Army pistol team shooting .45 bullseye competition. These days I simply maintain MOD (Minute of Dead' accuracy with no interest in tight groups or scores. I further have no interest in 'experimenting'. I use HP-38/Win 231 for all handgun fodder and have load data for each make/style bullet I buy which translates to my not needing to maintain a detailed log. I pick one load in the mid-range and a Lee disk hole that matches and stick with it.

I gladly acknowledge and respect those who continue to seek the one-ragged-hole or find their reloading joy in working up a specific load for every firearm they shoot, using a variety of powders and bullet weights. Good on ya' mates. It's just not for me.

The wonderful thing about this fun hobby is that it offers a way for everyone to happily participate at their budget and interest level. From the $35 Lee whack-a-mole to the multi-thousand dollar Dillon full bore ammo plants we all can enjoy reloading.

Muddydogs said:

It does get easier then a notebook with excel sheets. I don't have to go find the notebook when I need to know anything, I just open the drive on my phone, computer or work computer. I keep my electronics charged so there's no waiting around there. By the time you get your notebook and open the page I have already looked at the info on my phone without moving my butt off the couch.

To each there own and I don't care what people do with there info but I get tired of the anti computer crowd or tech challenged crowd always talking down on the guys that use the tech. The anti crowd always have a hundred reasons why paper is better but most of there reasonings just show how little they know about the tech or how to use it.

Click to expand...

I'm not anti computer at all. I just find it easier and quicker to open the note book I keep on the reloading bench and don't have any need to hunt for than I do to mess with my computer, tablet, or phone which are always charged, by the way. There are more ways than one to skin a cat, you do it your way, I'll do it mine and I won't disparage you as anti anything. Enjoy your time sitting on your butt on the couch.

My wife offered to make me a spreadsheet in Excel.

I really don't need it. I only do three calibers. 40 S&W, 45 ACP, and 5.56/223. I don't do that many different loads with any of them. So for all the more I change, writing them down is all I need!

I lost a notebook before so thats why I start on the computer and print out sheets to use and key the data in afterward so I can make backups.
Scan targets as well.

Since my chronograph got stolen recently, keeping records is something I don't have to worry about. But when I was using it, I normally didn't bother to record all of my results, just for my hunting loads that are pretty well maxed out. Target loads I was never worried about as far as velocity goes, it was accuracy I was after. I print my targets from targetz..com and normally use the 3" circles with a 1" solid black center and they are 4 to a sheet. When testing a new gun or load, I would write all specifics by each circle as to which gun and load. I kept the targets and that would give me a good reference poing when I took a gun out to the range to shoot, I would look at old targets and that's the bullets I would shoot in a particular gun. These days for 95% of my shooting with .38's I use only 3 different loads. 148gr hbwc with 3.0gr Bullseye and also 130gr and 158gr coated lead both loaded with 5.0gr of Universal. I've never owned a gun that would shoot at least one of these loads pretty darn good. I also play around with other bullets and powders, but these 3 bullets are always with me on every range trip.

OP to PM someone, click on their name, then click on the "start a conversation" link.

I actually drew my own target so I could add spaces to write in the load and gun information.

I use an Iphone app called ammotracker. Easy to use and has all the info I need

I have always used the 3 ring sheets Lyman reloaders log. Simple and easy