Load Development, how do you mark your loads?

I use masking tape. This allows me to peel the tape off the rounds and adhere the labels to the test target. This saves me a lot of time while I'm out testing. I don't try to analyse the target in the field. I wait until I get back to the bench to do that.





Yes, I have knocked over the box of ammo, but it's very, very rare. This usually happens when the outdoor table was not made completely stable before starting the tests.

Difference color Sharpie. If I am working up a new load I put different color Sharpie on the primers to denote each charge of the ladder. If I run out of colors I go to putting stripes around the case. Sharpie comes off real easy in the tumbler.

I use markers on the cartridge base. This survives firing just fine.

Typically I have four or five loads per 50rd box. Load One may have a single red stripe, Load Two will have two red stripes. Load Three one black stripe, Load Four two black stripes. Load Five will have one red and one black stripe.

Each load is marked before I start the next. Just have to remember to record the load with it's corresponding color code.

Even if I spill the box completely I can still i.d. each round.

When I'm done with them they can be tumbled clean again to use later.

Yep. Sharpies work great. Develop your own system. Colors, symbols, numbers all work. Sometimes I write the actual powder charge on the case.

Different colored sharpie on primer.

Sharpie! While I'm planning the batch in my databook, the empty brass is sitting in a loading rack (recycled plastic carton from factory ammo) and each set gets a stripe, or two, or a letter, . . . etc.

Failing to label each cartridge is just asking to mix them up.

I load up 10 rounds and put them in a ziploc baggie with the info written down. Once I fire them I pickup the case and put it back in the baggie (If I can find them that is). Note the string so I can compare the data from the chronograph later on the info paper.


WB

I label an MTM box row 1-10 column 1-10 and keep track of that on my load data sheet. I make sure I don’t spill it. Will I spill it someday? Hope not.

Sometimes I just write the load on a business card and keep it in the box, other times I put the information on the outside of the box and or specific row. I guess I am not the first person to make a mistake so I often just write the load on the case too, if there are a bunch of different ones. For just a couple, I might color just the primer and leave that on a note in the box as well, a line drawn down the bottom of the case across the row is quicker and you could go both vertically and horizontally and have and X vs - vs nothing. If your a real fumble nuts, the ziplock freezer bag is your friend, put the separate loads in their own, then put them all in another, water resistant and each bag gives you writing space.

I used to do the different colored Sharpies on the primers; now I just use a black Sharpie and write the charge on the case. It comes off when I wet tumble. I also print a more detailed data sheet and it goes in the box with the cartridges. I take notes on that sheet when developing loads.

I also do the colored Sharpies on the primer. Put a piece of paper in with them which describes which color corosponds to which charge.

i write the powder charge on the side of the case.

murf

Like many, I mark the cases with assorted colors of Sharpies.

Often I will just color the primer annulus but other times I will use the primer flat.

There are also (low QTY) occasions when I will just write the charge-weight on the side of each case with a Sharpie.

BTW, alcohol will remove the pigment from such "alcohol markers", as will a decent ride in the vibratory case cleaner.

Zip Lock baggies with the load written on it in Sharpie.

I write the powder charge on the brass case with a sharpie.

Use the DAA marker jig thing, and keep a record of color combos. For large batches, to determine age and whatnot before I dump in an ammo can.

For testing, the tape trick above is genius.

I write the charge on the side of the case. I've had friends pull some out and look. They may or may not go back int0 the same spot if more than one was removed.

I use different colour sharpies on the bullets and also include a sticker on the inside of the MTM boxes. Here's an example of some 303 loads I made last year

I keep a detailed sticker on the lid.

Nature Boy said:

(picture of bullet marking)

Click to expand...

I can confirm that the colour transfer works! However, it does depend on the paper you use and bullet types and speeds. It was more of an unintended consequence of me marking the bullets for identification purposes per my post above.

Walkalong said:

Been there done that, now I mark them. Here is one way to do it. Dots, lines, circles, X's, etc.

Click to expand...

I do something similar to this for load workup, except I put dots on the brass next to the primer. I also keep a 3x5 card in the box with charge weights per dot.

Example: One dot = 5.1gr, two dots = 5.3gr, 3 dots = 5.5gr, 4 dots = 5.7gr, no dots = 5.9gr.

Doing it this way lets me look in the box and know straight away which round has which charge. If I have more than five test weights, I simply repeat the process with a different color sharpie.

chris