Round counting per firearm (use tracking)

[BobWright]

Why did I start keeping track?

When I was in the Army, I had two 106mm recoiless rifles assigned to me. Each ahd a "gun book" assigned to it to record number of rounds fired. After so many rounds had been fired, that gun could no longer be fired over the heads of friendly troops.

So, decided that might be a good idea, as I'd heard revolvers had their barrels shot out at 5,000 or 10,000 rounds. So I started my log book in 1958 and it just became a part of my shooting program. And, I could look back and duplicate loads as needed. Also, gave me a good handle on the durability of my guns, as I logged in repairs and modifications.

And now some fifty-six years and sixty-five revolvers later, its just downright interesting!

Bob Wright

 

[raze]

when I got into shooting I did keep track then I stopped caring. When people ask how many rounds through the gun I just say a bunch. I started doing defensive courses and competitions and it was a little hard to keep track at them so just said to hell with keeping track

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I keep a little notebook and jot down what I shoot per session. Since I usually only shoot one rifle or pistol at a time, it is fairly easy to look down see how much I shot (i.e. Brought 500rds of 9mm, now have 200rds of 9mm. Only shot one pistol).

I also log any unexpected stoppages with a quick note as to what the problem appeared to be if I can remember it later or time allows.

I've found that very helpful in getting ahead of problems and developing a good preventative maintenance schedule. To use just one example, I had gotten in the habit of trying to rehabilitate pre-ban magazines during the AWB. When I looked through my log book post 2004 and saw how many magazine related stoppages I had, I just squashed all my "needs repair mags" and bought new magazines. That probably cut the amount of stoppages I experienced by 80%. It is amazing how those inanimate little pieces of aluminium will crawl out of their place on the shelf and sneak back into your range bag if you aren't careful.

 

[roadliner]

I don't keep an exact count for any of my firearms. My handgun shooting is about 95% reloads, which I do keep a log book on. However, I own multiples of guns in 45, 44, and 9 mm so I know the quantities of ammo but not the specific's of each gun. I have six 45acp's to feed and could ballpark a figure for each, but that's as close as I care to keep track.

 

[mgmorden]

I use a spreadsheet myself. Pencil and paper doesn't seem useful (no way to aggregate or report on the data without sitting down and doing manual math).

The same workbook also serves as a record of all my guns. One sheet has Gun Make, Model, Serial, and Date of acquisition. Another sheet records date of range trip, ammo type, rounds fired, general notes, etc. The sheet that has the list of guns also has a formula field that automatically updates to always show the current round count through the gun.

In general it helps to let me know when I need to replace springs and such, as well as how much I have actually shot one gun vs another. If I get a notion that "Hey, X shoots way better than Y.", then if I look at my log and notice that I've put 10 times as many rounds through X then it might just be a matter of familiarity.

Eventually I'd like to create a Windows program to track this but haven't sat down and put in the hours to do it yet.

 

[CZ9shooter]

I like to keep my plastic ammo boxes full of my reloads. OCD kinda thing I guess. I almost never shoot factory stuff so I look into the box when I get home. Hmmm, 34 9mm rounds left, so I write 66 down in my notebook on the page for that gun. I even record what type of round used, cast, plated, or jacketed. Then within a day or two I refill the box so its ready for next time.

 

[tactikel]

Since I shoot handloads exclusively for all my non rim fire firearms, I count primers. A brick of LPP means I shot 1000 rounds from my .45Acp.

 

[gspn]

Memo to “gspn” in post #8…. You forgot ATF.

Fixed it.

 

[JR24]

I mostly just kept track on my 1911's to keep up on spring replacement. I've recently decided to start doing it with more guns.

I use the Notebook program on this computer, simple .txt file updated when I get back from the range.

 

[Sav .250]

I just shoot then till I`m done. Then clean them. Simple as that.

 

[Hurryin' Hoosier]

I just shoot then till I`m done. Then clean them. Simple as that.

Exactly! If I was as wrapped-around-the-axle as some people are, it would take all the fun out of shooting. They kind of remind me of my late grandfather who thought that he had to mark the "date received" on all of his newspapers, magazines and other mail. I never did understand just what the point was.

 

[lpsharp88]

I use an app called AmmoBase. You can keep a log of the amount of ammo on hand, and rounds fired through each firearm. I love it

 

[shootstraight57]

I just keep an excel spreadsheet of what I have minus what I use at the range when I return.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

If I want to keep count, I use these.

http://www.impactdatabooks.com/Round_Count_Book_p/rcb.htm

If I'm not going to for some weapons, I just keep a rough count in my head. Usually accurate to the closest 50 or so....

 

[sappyg]

I tend to keep a mental note for the 1st 500 rounds or so. It depends on the gun. Then it starts to get a little fuzzy and I stop bothering about it to the point that I use a rough guesstimate.

 

[B!ngo]

Thanks all. I guess I'm not a complete dope in failing to track things in such detail. It also explains, when buying a used gun, why the round counts stated seem to have a healthy dose of fiction to them.
B

 

[DRYHUMOR]

Round counts mean different things to different people. Maintenance for pistols, break in for rifles, barrel life left for rifles.

Some stated round counts may or may not be fictional, it's in how the statement of the count is interpreted.

1600 rounds through a 7STW may mean you need a new barrel, while the same count through a .223 means there are thousands of rounds of life left in it.

In selling rifles, I notice some folks proudly proclaim "only 1 box shot through it". In my mind that means it is a used gun and the barrel isn't broke in. It means I'll need to run another 1 or 2 hundred rounds through it, and shouldn't pay anywhere near retail for it.

I've bought used rifles with stated low or non existent round counts and it was true.

 

[fordfan485]

I have a pretty detailed set of excel spreadsheets that I use to track rounds fired, purchases, reloading components and firearm purchases and much more. It has grown rather large and am currently in the process of writing an access database to do all of this better.

 

[cfullgraf]

I do not track rounds fired in handguns. At one time, I had one gun per cartridge and my reloading log would provide a close approximate number of rounds fired. But, I have multiple guns in the same cartridge now so that does not work.

For many rifles I do keep a round count. It started when I began shooting Service Rifle competitions.

I have started keep counts on rifles that I am concerned of accuracy falling off or shooting out the barrel.

Sinclair International sells a nice small spiral book with a pre-printed grid for keeping track of rounds fired. I have one per gun, but with added tabs, one book could work for several rifles.

 

[Reloadron]

I guess if I were concerned with the "round count" for each of my guns they would have started with hard bound composition notebooks and advanced to Excel Spreadsheets or tables in an Access Database.

However, I don't bother to keep a round count on any of my guns. Personally I see no need or reason to. If for example one of my rifle I have been shooting for years begins to degrade in accuracy using the same loads I have always used maybe it's time for a good inspection or a new barrel. When I see what I feel is a good deal on a used gun I thoroughly inspect it and if it looks good I buy it without any way of knowing the round count. I am not going to try and predict a failure rate based on a round count. So for me, and just me I see no need.

Again if I were to count rounds with today's means it would be an Access database or the use of an Excel spreadsheet.

Just My Take....
Ron