How to mark or identify test loads?

[BB in Texas]

Anyone have a good method for marking cases for easy identification and inspection of test loads?

Does marking the head with a colored sharpie pose any risk of damage to the firearm?

I shoot at an indoor range and it’s not always easy to retrieve my test loads to inspect the cases after firing.

 

[Dunross]

I use colored Sharpies myself. Typically red and black. Mark on the base one black strip for X load, two stripes for Y load, three for Z load, then switch to red if I still have more loads to test. Record the color and number of stripes for each load next to the load record in my book. This way I always know what each one is. Have never had them wipe off by accident, but they can be tumbled off later for reloading.

 

[edwardware]

I usually write a batch letter on the side of the case in sharpie; the head's too small. Almost all of my handloaded ammo is so marked, because I'm always experimenting, looking for a bit more understanding.

 

[BB in Texas]

I use colored Sharpies myself. Typically red and black. Mark on the base one black strip for X load, two stripes for Y load, three for Z load, then switch to red if I still have more loads to test. Record the color and number of stripes for each load next to the load record in my book. This way I always know what each one is. Have never had them wipe off by accident, but they can be tumbled off later for reloading.

thanks for the excellent idea.

 

[BB in Texas]

I usually write a batch letter on the side of the case in sharpie; the head's too small. Almost all of my handloaded ammo is so marked, because I'm always experimenting, looking for a bit more understanding.

that’s a good idea I hadn’t heard of. Have you had any trouble with the letter rubbing off (prior to tumbling, that is)?

 

[edwardware]

Have you had any trouble with the letter rubbing off?

The marks need only persist from the shop, into the cartridge box, and into the action, so it's not a hard run. The do tumble off in walnut fairly well after firing.

 

[mcb]

I use Sharpies, often I just put a colored dot on the primer. Sharpie comes off nicely in the tumbler.

 

[dgod]

Sharpies by color with a note stating the load by color.

 

[entropy]

I mark the box with a stick on label. I always box test loads. I use a black Sharpie for cases that are to be tossed after firing. Any ammo not marked (I have a couple ammo cans of bulk .45 ACP, and bandoliered .223 ammo cans) is a tried and true load.

 

[RMH]

Sharpies by color with a note stating the load by color.

This is what I do also

 

[mcb]

Sharpies by color with a note stating the load by color.

Yep, I use painters tap on the box and write a legend with the Sharpie for the color marked loads. I use painters-tap/Sharpie to label the boxes later when I have settled on the load and record it there for reference. The tape stays put but comes off without residue for reuse.

 

[Walkalong]

Does marking the head with a colored sharpie pose any risk of damage to the firearm?

My Dasher bolt face is blue from that, no issues after 100s of rounds

 

[Walkalong]

If I have three or four test loads, different powder or powder weights, but the same bullet, I use sharpies to mark the primers, dot, line, cross, circle..... I make the same mark on the stickies to go with them.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Ditto Sharpies. Office supply chains typically carry multiple color sets, including metallic colors. I used to borrow my wife's nail polish for the outdoor range. Ninja Red shows up real nice even in the tall grass.

 

[WeekendReloader]

I use colored sharpies and put a circle around the primer. Just place the tip of the marker in the grove and zip it around for a nice mark. I also mark the loading note that goes in with the ammo to tell which color is what load.

 

[Blue68f100]

I generally use a extra fine Sharpy and write the load charge on the side of the cartridge. If I have the same load and different primers (same color) I mark the primers with a sharpy.

 

[Walkalong]

I generally use a extra fine Sharpy and write the load charge on the side of the cartridge. If I have the same load and different primers (same color) I mark the primers with a sharpy.

I do that when I have say three each (charge weights) of a rifle load. 32.3, 32.4, 32.5, etc

 

[Slamfire]

At some level of load development, there are not enough colors to distinguish all the loads.

Common practices are separate labeled boxes, or baggies.

 

[CMB]

Or write on the side of the brass with sharpie as others have noted

Example:

55gn Ver.4
24.3 X-term @ 2.35


Horn 60
23 X-term

The symbols are endless in a limited color world

Bullet note is nice, sierra 63 and 65 SP look the same once complete

 

[WeekendReloader]

At some level of load development, there are not enough colors to distinguish all the loads.

Common practices are separate labeled boxes, or baggies.

Red, Green, Blue, Black, and None circles around the primer. Then add a horizontal line of different colors across the back for a '-'. Then add horizontal and vertical lines (both lines of the same color) for a '+'. This gives you 45 distinct markings using only the four colored sharpie markers.

 

[Warpiece]

I have a few hundred rounds to pull down because the sheet with the load data ended up somewhere other than with the cartridges. Also had some that were for ladder testing and charges got mixed.

I started just writing group numbers on them, that wasn't enough if the sheet got misplaced, I usually try to test multiple batches of various loads. Having the bullet, powder, and charge written on it is about as fool proof as it gets.

Only issue I've had so far, the wash and wax seems to make it easy to wipe off with any handling.

 

[swg1]

 

[Ranger99]

I put a note with all data in with the
rounds I load that's the same info as
what I write in my data book.
JMHO- I'm not much on writing on the
rounds themselves because it can
be illegible by the time it's shifted around
in the box, handled loading into the firearm
or magazine, fired and ejected and
retrieved. Rounds are easily kept separated
in the plastic storage boxes I use.
I can't think of an instance where I got
any mixed up, although I guess anything
is possible

 

[db_tanker]

sharpies and corresponding dots on the case head have always worked for me in identifying my ladder loads.

 

[e rex]

I put my rounds in a zip-lock bag along with a note telling me what is in that batch. You can do as many batches as you can buy zip-locks.