Records, logs and labels

[Lovesbeer99]

Ok, so I know I need to record my load data, and label my ammo boxes, but with what data points? Anyone have specifics or examples? I assume the following, but should I have more?

Powder brand and charge weight
date
bullet style and weight, manufacturer
case manufacturer
caliber
primer

Did I miss anything?

Thanks.
Lovesbeer99 (but shoots safe)

 

[ReloaderFred]

Lyman makes a log book that you can use. It has listings for primer, powder, bullets, etc, including lot numbers, along with a record of the brass. This includes how many times it's been reloaded, length, over all length of the loaded round and room for notes. They're already 3 hole punched for putting in a binder. I copied them and make them two sided, so the binder doesn't get too thick. I have each caliber listed in it's own section, so referring back is easy and quick.

I've made up two books, using the Lyman pages. One book is for pistol and revolver loads, and the other is for rifle loads. I don't need one for shotgun, since I only load one load for shot and one for rifled slugs.

I make my own labels on my computer, using the Works Program and mailing labels. The Avery 18167 labels (1/2" x 1 3/4") are ideal. Use the smallest font and make it bold. I list the bullet, powder charge, overall length, primer and date on each label. I put one on the top of my Berry's plastic boxes, one on the front and on one side, so no matter how they're stacked on the shelf, I'll be able to see at a glance what's inside.

I also made up a generic label for small lots that is pretty much a copy of the ones that come in bullet boxes. It's on the Avery 6245 labels (1" x 2 5/8").

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[RustyFN]

Here is an example of the label on an ammo box that I use.
Berry's 115gr RN plated
4.0 grains of Titegroup
CCI small pistol primer
OAL 1.135
I don't date them because they don't last me that long. As far as my log I bought the Lee software for $12. I will enter the same data plus the disk size I used so the next time I use that combination I will know where to start. I will still weigh everything like I am working up a load to be safe. There is also some room to make notes on each load. There is a place where I can keep a log of my guns and serial numbers and what they are worth. They also have some ballistic calculators for figuring out some different things. Hope this helps.
Rusty

 

[Walkalong]

I use an Excel sheet I made. It has tabs for all the calibers I load or have loaded. I can email it to you.

It can be changed around anyway you want to include anything you want. Here is a garbled sample with no lines. Hard to read Huh!


Load # 55 # 56 # 57 & # 58 *** 56,57,58 2 1/2 on 55 Seater Setting(s) : 55 -0.095 / 56 -0.005
Date : 12-06 Conditions : 57 -0.100 / 58 0.000
Case : Mixed Primer : WLP OAL's : 1.190 / 1.200 / 1.260 / 1.245
Powder : AA # 2 Setting's : # 55 30.5 on 10X - # 56 27.4 on 10X - # 57 27.00 on 10X # 58 25.5 On 10X
Bullet : Berry's # 55 Weight : 185 Gr. 6.3 Grs. AA # 2 Type / Dia. / OAL : SWC / .452 / .534
Bullet : Berry's # 56 Weight : 200 Gr. 5.8 Grs. AA # 2 Type / Dia. / OAL : Pltd HP / .452 / .547
Bullet : Hornady # 57 Weight : 200 Gr. 5.7 Grs. AA # 2 Type / Dia. / OAL : FMJ-CT / .452 / .617 *
Bullet : Zero # 58 Weight : 230 Gr. 5.4 Grs. AA # 2 Type / Dia. / OAL : JHP / .452 / .646
* Ranier 200 Gr. SWC / .452 / .633 can be substituted for Hornady 200 Gr. FMJ-CT.
Pressure : 185 & 200 Berry's, None -- 200 Gr. Hornady, A Little Bit -- 230 Gr. Zero, Some / Stop here
Accuracy : 200 Gr.Hornady, Exellent. 230 Gr. Zero, Very Good to Excellent. 185 & 200 Berry's, Very Good
Recoil : Berry's 185 & 200 Gr. SWC's gave equal recoil but 185 gave much more muzzle flip for recoil.
Comments : AA # 2 did very well. It was very accurate , clean, with very little smoke. A bit fast burning?
Berry's 200 HP and Zero JHP Very Nice!
Looking for Defense 4" CDP II
Practice Velocities Berry's 185 SWC Berry's 200 HP Hornady 200 FMJ-CT Zero JHP
4" Barrel (add 50 for 5" ) HI 892 HI 829 HI 829 HI 776
Subtract 50 FPS for 3" LO 878 LO 807 LO 814 LO 765
AVG 886 AVG 821 AVG 821 AVG 770
185 Gr. Bullets ES 14 ES 22 ES 15 ES 11
875 to 900 FPS SD 4 SD 7 SD 4 SD 4
3" CDP II
200 Gr. Bullets Berry's 185 SWC Berry's 200 HP Hornady 200 FMJ-CT Zero JHP
825 to 850 FPS HI 876 HI 793 HI 789 HI 744
LO 838 LO 772 LO 752 LO 726
230 Gr. Bullets AVG 849 AVG 784 AVG 776 AVG 735
775 to 800 FPS ES 38 ES 21 ES 37 ES 18
SD 13 SD 9 SD 14 SD 7
250 Gr. Bullets Lost 37 FPS Lost 37 FPS Lost 45 FPS Lost 35 FPS
725 to 750 FPS Least Recoil Least Recoil Most Recoil Middle Recoil

Confusing here. All laid out nice in colums in the spread sheet.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I've been tempted to put my data in my computer, but since I've had two computers crash and burn in the last five years, losing everything in them, I'm more comfortable doing it the old fashioned way, with pen and paper. I know I should back stuff up, but it's more trouble for me to do that than it is to just put the information in my binders and have them handy on the shelf when I need them. I guess that's because I'm old and comfortable with the older methods........

Fred

 

[okeybug]

Check out MEC's sight. I saw one you can download for free. You might also check out the different bullet makers sights. I think I made my last one with Microsoft word.

 

[Walkalong]

but since I've had two computers crash and burn in the last five years, losing everything in them,

Back it up every time you make a change. I learned the hard way also.

My load log is on three different drives ( C: and two flash drives ). I print new pages out and put them in a 3 ring binder everytime I finish a page's data and I burn a disk occaisionally as well.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Walkalong,

I'm just an old retired cop, doing good to be able to e-mail and post on forums, let alone learn all this new fangled computer stuff. I haven't even figured out how to post pictures to these sites.

I'll just stick with writing my stuff on parchment and putting it in binders. I can find the binders, but some stuff I've saved on my computer is lost in computerland somewhere..........

Thanks anyway,

Fred

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Fred,

I worked on computers and data bases for years. For the most part, I'd rather take notes in my notebooks. The only time I've lost any data on them is when the wife packed one of them somewhere when we moved. My expectation is I'll eventually find that one.

Dave

 

[Walkalong]

I hear you Fred and Dave, paper works fine.

My dad made it all his life without ever even owning a computer. Died a happy man. World War II, Korea, and Vietnam vet. Retired a full bird Colonel in the USAF. ( drafted into the Army Air Corp ) Put my first gun in my hand. MHRIP..................

I do print all data and put it in a binder for easy reference. I have my old log book put away with all my old lead bullet data. ALL of my benchrest data is handwritten only.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Thanks, guys. You're making me feel better.

Fred

 

[Matt Dillon]

Try software called Pointblank. It is great for recording all kinds of load data, as well as printing out ballistics data for your rounds. It is freeware, and has a few quirks, but I store all of my load data in this free application. You can back it up by copying the entire pointblank directory to CD, memory stick, other hard drives, other computers, etc., so there is little chance of losing it all. I can heartily recommend it, and I use it to not only store all of my data, it also has a firearm inventory section, and with every box of ammo that I create, I print out the sheet from Pointblank to go with it, and you have all of the data you need to shoot the load and duplicate it in the future

 

[Ala Dan]

I use a bound notebook (along with container labels) to record my data,
including the make-model-and S/N of the firearms the load is to be used
in.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Let's see here.

.45 ACP (in sharpy) Seated to 1.200
185 gr JHP (Rem)
5.7 gr W-231 WSP primed

Written on a 3/4" X 4" masking tape stuck to a MTM box. No date. That is listed in my ledger with all the load data listed on the box.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Labels

Lovesbeer--Midway sells adhesive labels in rolls of 100 that fit my needs just fine. Data include: Caliber, Bullet weight, brand, & style, Powder weight & brand, Primer, Case, Times Loaded (irrelevant with pistol ammo), Case length, OA length, Date, and 2 lines for notes. These labels are 2x2.5" in size.

I write on these with an ultra-fine-point Sharpie, and find them to be highly satisfactory. Using a waterproof marker like the Sharpie might some day avoid a hassle.

I also maintain a Handloaders' Log book, in a preprinted book from MTM (the moulded plastic ammo box company.) Think that came from Midway as well. The data that log book will take is quite extensive, including some things I don't care about, but hey, it was all set up, no futzing. Comes with a series of tabbed pages, one for each cartridge. It's in a 3-ring binder, so relevant targets, etc, can be added as needed. There are also pages for keeping track of each separate firearm you own, and other pages to be used as targets.

These things work for my needs, very well.

 

[Walkalong]

I just write it all on a post-it sticky note and toss it in the ammo bag with the rounds. The sticky follows the rounds from primed brass to the bin to the bag. Double check at every step.

I might take four loads in sandwhich baggies with stickys in them all in the ammo bag to test and then log results when I get home.

 

[scrat]

i made a whole bunch of little papers that i pretty much copied from a small speer sheet that was in one of my bullet boxes years ago. You just got to remember to take a pen with you at the range. on the sheet it has all the load data and date. then i just write the results on the paper. then when i get hom i put it in a log book.

im about 300 miles away from home for a few days of work. when i get back i will see if i can post a copy

 

[temmi]

I use...
Date Loaded
Cartridge/ Caliber
Powder: Brand and Charge Weight
Bullet: Manufacturer Style and Exact weight / Advertised weight (150.2/150 Gr)
Case: Manufacturer and Weight Range (190.0-190.4 Gr )
Primer: Name and Manufacturer
Expected Velocity
OAL to Tip
Rifle (My son & I have 30-06s)

 

[tasco 74]

not too picky about keeping any records but i do lable each reloaded box of ammo as to bullet weight,caliber,powder charge,and case brand sometimes.... i picked up a whole roll of lables on a spring cleanup day we had here one year. they were from the local groc store here... they had changed names so they threw out the old lables... now when i fill in the info and stick em on my boxes it looks as though they came from the groc store... works for me though!! free lables!!

 

[WildeKurt]

Spreadsheet

Someone hearabouts created a nice spreadsheet that keeps track of costs and such. A couple of the sheets do labels too. Very nice. I think I found it up in the sticky section. Also, Pointblank seems to work well. Pretty self expanitory too.

 

[SIRVEYR666]

I use standard address labels, 1" x 2 5/8" (Microsoft template #5260). You can buy packets of 750 labels for around $7 at any office supply store. They work great, and the "sticky" doesn't stick to the plastic boxes when you remove them.

 

[Charshooter]

I keep a test load log and then load 50 round boxes ( 25 on some large rifle loads)with an ID number and all the info stated here on the box. My wife crosses that info into the Excel program and uses Access to pull data for me