How do you keep track of your data

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enine said:
Spreadsheet as well, LibreOffice and sync'ed to my phone and tablet.
Click to expand...

Same here. Google Drive makes it easy to ave it anywhere.

Load data gets printed on Avery labels stuck to the container. I can't read my own writing sometimes...
 
Spreadsheet in iCloud, but I can't lie, I also have yellow stickies all over the place until it gets added to the spreadsheet. A tab for each caliber with chronograph data and an image of the target with each variable...
 
excel with all the info, and i have i column where i put my chrono data that figures my std dev, and ft lbs, and i have the table at the bottom that does the cost per 1,50,100,500,1000. i use a digital recorder when i shoot i read out the vel. then i playback later and plug in the numbers in the spreadsheet.
 
I write it down in a notebook, it is marked LOADING DATA , I hang it on the wall next to my bench.
Computers crash, data is lost, when the power is out....I still have my data.

Old dude, don't need a cloud.
Gary
 
Only been reloading for 3 years, but i have a binder that has every shot i have made with all of my guns (except for Pistols), I have range cards i made with excel and targets to match (attached). I write my notes in the notes section of the cards and then all my tested and good loads go in the front with Primer/powder/bullet/ect. That way i can look to see what powder did what on any given day (good for looking at temp stability and how well it performs at different distances)
Right now i am about half way through a 2" binder, and i am at the range almost every weekend.
 

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gwpercle said:
I write it down in a notebook, it is marked LOADING DATA , I hang it on the wall next to my bench.
Computers crash, data is lost, when the power is out....I still have my data.

Old dude, don't need a cloud.
Gary
Click to expand...
So when the power is out. Do you hand load by lantern or candle light?
 
I use a spreadsheet too. But I also use a DOPE Book and the loaded rounds has all the information in the storage box. It may be over doing it, but I am OCD about reloading. All pistol round test loads are log on spreadsheet. I do little different on Rifle rounds. I only log good loads with rifle rounds. The reason is because each of my rifle rounds are for one gun. Powder, Grains, Bullet, Bullet Wt., Bullet Type, Ogive, OAL, Seating, FPS, Drops at 100, 200, 300, 600, 800, 1000, MOA, Dope information and so on. If I logged the bad MOA loads, I would never get to shoot.
 
gwpercle said:
I write it down in a notebook, it is marked LOADING DATA , I hang it on the wall next to my bench.
Computers crash, data is lost, when the power is out....I still have my data.

Old dude, don't need a cloud.
Gary
Click to expand...

my buddy says there are 3 rules to computors. backup, backup and backup.
i send my spreadsheets to my work computor.put them on a flashdrive. and copy them to my laptop. print off my sheets and keep them in a binder for easy access in my building.

i load 16 different calibers and a spreadsheet with a tab for each is very convenient.

i dont load in the dark anyhow.

old dude as well. dont know what a cloud is but i know my data is in enuff locations i will always have access.

just different ways of getting by. go with what works for ya i always say.
 
How do you keep track of your data
Click to expand...
Mid-size spiral notebook that "lives" on my reloading bench and goes with me on Chrony shooting outings ... my scribble book.

I transfer data from that notebook to assorted Excel files (one for each caliber plus a Reloading Log and a Firearms Index) that I keep on an NAS xHDD in my home, accessible by all of my computers, including the old laptop that I have installed on my island gun bench in the basement (across from my reloading bench).

I manually transfer Chrony data to the appropriate spreadsheets.

For Loads/Chrony Testing (all handguns currently & for several years) I use targets with a minimum of 10 bullseyes each (usually 12). As I am running Test Strings I number the bulls to Chrony string number for easy reference (with the current system I am up to String# 158 as of the work I did 2 days ago). Later, I clean up & annotate these targets and digifoto each (stored in the same directory on the NAS) for quick, easy reference.

I backup all of this data to a thumbdrive that always travels with me.

I must confess that when not shooting I often forget to update the Reloading Log in a timely fashion. Yesterday I spent awhile recreating some of the history & observations, using my daily digi log (a text file I have maintained since 2008) for a few dates and details.

Actually "Reloading Log" is a bit of a misnomer ... I include many other firearms-related details & observations.
 
My method is probably a little overly complicated, but it works for me:

I have a Python script that I wrote for generating OCW charges for a new load. The shooting data is kept in a text file, and I either take my laptop or copy the file to my phone. I shoot the candidates, record some data and take a picture of my targets with my phone.

I then measure my chamber if I don't already know the chamber length. I decide on a charge weight and work on bullet seating depth in increments of 1/100 of an inch starting from SAAMI max to the max the chamber can hold until I find a group that shoots well. I take a picture of that with my phone, and edit the pic (I have a Note 3 so I can "write" on the pictures in the field) and write down the rifle, bullet and weight, COAL, powder and charge weight. My phone automatically uploads the pic to Google Pics, and I drop a copy into an album called "Loads".

This way, I can see how well a particular load works, the load data, and how much I need to re-zero my scope for that load all in one pic. Since it's all up in the cloud, I can access it almost anywhere and don't have to worry about losing a logbook.
 
I started with a spiral bound notebook, with stick-on tabs for marking the calibers. I left some pages in between for each caliber. Boy, I am nearly out of space for 9MM and I also don't have much space for adding new calibers.
I have since migrated to an excel spreadsheet based on J McLeod's and another one that I got through here some time ago. I modified it a bit, added some more formulas and I use tabs for each caliber. It tracks powder used, rounds loaded and I just added some more formulas for bullets used. It's gone from log book to some inventory management.
I've toyed with the idea of creating a database, but haven't gotten to it yet.
 
Seems like I'm in the minority - although I am a 'computer guy' by trade since way back in the 70s (about 10 years before the PC was even invented), I do not use it for recording reload data.

My method is just a simple spiral binder in chronological order. Each loading session is listed by date first, then a number for each specific load done on that date (the date and sequence number is my "lot number"). I use about 10 lines for each load, with the load data on the left side of the page and resulting notes on performance, loading issues, etc. on the right side. No segregation by caliber. The current notebook lives on the reloading bench and gets thrown into the range bag when I head out with my targets and ammo. I still use an old manual Chrony from the early 90s, and those paper records get cross referenced with the lot number and thrown into a folder, rarely to ever be looked at again after the average speed and deviation is entered into the notebook.

Every batch of loaded ammo, box, case, bag or whatever, gets a label that included the lot number for that session, such as "7/12/15, #1" along with other basic info such as caliber, bullet type/weight and Chrony speed. If I ever want more info on the load, I just reference back to the lot number in the notebook.

I do keep another smaller notebook that is organized by caliber just to list my pet loads for quick reference, but the primary Log/Notebook works pretty much like a diary - when I suddenly get an idea that I should try a new load or different powder, bullet, etc., those thoughts just get written on the next available page. That way all of my reloading info and musings are in one place.

Over the years I have tried fancy pre-printed log sheets, log books and spreadsheets, but just cannot stick with them more than a day or two - the spiral notebook is just so much more simple and easy for me.
 
Glock ID website (for rounds fired). Not just for Glocks, mind you: you can track all sorts of guns there from other manufacturers.

All others, Google Keep (a very simple, light note-taking app).
 
doubleh said:
"backup, backup, backup."

My logbook don't need no steenkin' backup.:D
Click to expand...

Mine did. My "Dope Book" which had my range notes for various loads, and all the click information for each rifle at the range was stolen at the range. I had packed it and the spotting scope in the bag, and while I was putting rifles in the car...they vanished.

I didn't notice until I got home. That is one of the hazards of carrying too much stuff to the outdoor range.

I can buy another spotting scope, but I sure wish I had backed up that notebook.
 
that really sux. i hate thieves. i lost my data 1 time so i keep it at several places now. never hurts to have a spare set of notes especially if you got a lot of different calibers.
 
I have used the Midway Reloaders Notebook since it was introduced. I use all of the page types and their targets, which are also saved in the notebook. I've had to expand to a second but plain 3-ring binder; then have one for rifle, the other for handgun. I believe they discontinued the notebook and replacement pages/targets when everybody and their sister had, or had access to, a copier. The binder(s) go to the range to record conditions and results. Chronograph printer tapes are stapled to the approiate page.
 
I use an Excel spreadsheet I created myself, modeled after several things I saw that I liked in various other methods. I also made a printable form (on a separate tab) that I can take to the range and record data by hand, which later gets transferred to the spreadsheet.

I used to use a large spiral notebook back when I started in the 1990s. That data has since been transferred into the spreadsheet as well.
 
therealwormey said:
that really sux. i hate thieves. i lost my data 1 time so i keep it at several places now. never hurts to have a spare set of notes especially if you got a lot of different calibers.
Click to expand...

Taking a cue from Linus Torvalds, I let the internet backup my data. I keep a 3-ring binder with the data in it, but I generally post my loads/results on a forum or two...so if I'm curious about a load I know I've done, I can either go find the right page in my log book, or just google my username, some load details, and generally get the data/results that I posted :)
 
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