Taking good notes?
- Thread starter Citadel99
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popbang
Member
I include the all load information, range conditions, velocities, accuracy, distance fired, shots fired, condition of platform after firing(i.e. soot, unburned powder, etc.), and overall satisfaction with load.
HogRider
Member
I recommend making some sort of a template in MS Word for you load data and leave plenty of space for additional comments, like range temperature, group size, distance etc etc.
Mine looks somewhat like that:
I used to have loose papers all over the place when I got started, but since i do it in Word it's all nicely organized.
Mine looks somewhat like that:
I used to have loose papers all over the place when I got started, but since i do it in Word it's all nicely organized.
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Mike Irwin
Member
I used to take meticulous notes when I started reloading...
Over the past 8 to 10 years, though, I've REALLY dropped the ball in that sense...
Over the past 8 to 10 years, though, I've REALLY dropped the ball in that sense...
dodgestdshift
Member
I also record my die settings so I can reset them for different bullets.
Edward429451
member
Reloading: load #, Bullet, powder charge, primer, brass, oal, date, # in lot, and comments.
Range: Load#, time, temp, humidity, range, caliber.
Wish I'da always done this.
Range: Load#, time, temp, humidity, range, caliber.
Wish I'da always done this.
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
In early days it is (theoretically) essential .... tho I was never as fastidious as I should have been ... downright laziness!! Once tho you get loads worked up that you stick to ... much less important.
I think it is best done when developing loads .. only way really to keep tabs on all variables. Spread sheet is great .. if you have patience to enter all data! me? Just a small ring bound note book but . even now I am glad to be able to thumb back thru my (near illegible) notes!
I think it is best done when developing loads .. only way really to keep tabs on all variables. Spread sheet is great .. if you have patience to enter all data! me? Just a small ring bound note book but . even now I am glad to be able to thumb back thru my (near illegible) notes!
Mike Irwin
Member
Dodge,
How do you record your die settings? I've never seen dies with numbers on them...
Do you use a micrometer or something to measure the die and bullet seater stem runout?
How do you record your die settings? I've never seen dies with numbers on them...
Do you use a micrometer or something to measure the die and bullet seater stem runout?
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
Don't know whether you have tried this Mike but ... before I had a spare set of 38/357 dies ... I used to mark the threads, lock nut ... and bullet seat insert piece....... with permanent marker, in each set-up position .... it was then possible to all but return to whichever setting i wanted.. with first round out being checked carefully before a ''run''.
The same can be done too I find with a die set which you use for different bullet profiles. It can be surprisingly accurate.
The same can be done too I find with a die set which you use for different bullet profiles. It can be surprisingly accurate.
WhoKnowsWho
Member
Thirties
Member
I make a dummy round every time I seat a new bullet type. This becomes my model for future die settings for those particular bullets. [Handgun]
dodgestdshift
Member
Thirties: When I started reloading about 30 years ago, I tried the dummy round method, but I never could get the LOA right just by the feel of the dummy in the die.
Mike Irwin: Trying to come up with what I thought was a better method than the "dummy round" method, I came up with this.
Sizer die: Once set it for a specific caliber it never has to be changed, the cases don't make any difference to the setting.
Expander die: If the cases are close to the proper length this doesn't have to be changed to get the case expanded properly.
Seater: This one is the rub. Different bullets in different calibers require different settings. When I get the die seating the bullets to the proper length, I take my caliper and measure the length of the die from the top of the stem to the bottom of the die and record the length. When I go back to that bullet just set the die to the recorded length and it is instantly set up with no problems. I use the same stem for every load in a given caliber, If I used different seater stems, I would record which one.
Crimper: If the seater die and the crimper are in the same die, you can set the lock ring once on the die and it will crimp everything in that caliber since the case lengths are extremely close.
Separate crimper die (which is what I use) I record the length of the die, or the instructions in the manual, and keep the lock ring constant. You should not have to readjust this die once it is set properly.
I am not sure what you mean by seater stem run-out. If you mean bullet runout in the case, I never measure run-out. I would think it takes a special instrument which I don't have.
Mike Irwin: Trying to come up with what I thought was a better method than the "dummy round" method, I came up with this.
Sizer die: Once set it for a specific caliber it never has to be changed, the cases don't make any difference to the setting.
Expander die: If the cases are close to the proper length this doesn't have to be changed to get the case expanded properly.
Seater: This one is the rub. Different bullets in different calibers require different settings. When I get the die seating the bullets to the proper length, I take my caliper and measure the length of the die from the top of the stem to the bottom of the die and record the length. When I go back to that bullet just set the die to the recorded length and it is instantly set up with no problems. I use the same stem for every load in a given caliber, If I used different seater stems, I would record which one.
Crimper: If the seater die and the crimper are in the same die, you can set the lock ring once on the die and it will crimp everything in that caliber since the case lengths are extremely close.
Separate crimper die (which is what I use) I record the length of the die, or the instructions in the manual, and keep the lock ring constant. You should not have to readjust this die once it is set properly.
I am not sure what you mean by seater stem run-out. If you mean bullet runout in the case, I never measure run-out. I would think it takes a special instrument which I don't have.
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
Nice Gewehr98 ........ nice indeed. Why didn't I start that years ago?! Bit late now .. too many old notes to wade thru.
Oh well ..... the price of laziness - again!
Oh well ..... the price of laziness - again!
shu
Member
ganz gut, gewher!
I made some recipe forms, 12 to an 8.5x11 inch page. The pistol form looks like
clean decap-size flare-prime
fill-seat-crimp fcd
chamber: ________ bul wt: ________
bul typ: ________ bul mod: ________
powder: ________ pow wt: ________
primer: ________ case: ________
coal: ________ date: ________
________________________________________
I fill out the recipe before starting to load. The recipe form goes in the case with the completed cartridges.
In addition i have a database (in linux) to record the above information plus additional fields for test data: date, weapon, temperature, distance, group size, ten measured velocities, and remarks. the program calculates mean velocity, sigma, and spread.
I made some recipe forms, 12 to an 8.5x11 inch page. The pistol form looks like
clean decap-size flare-prime
fill-seat-crimp fcd
chamber: ________ bul wt: ________
bul typ: ________ bul mod: ________
powder: ________ pow wt: ________
primer: ________ case: ________
coal: ________ date: ________
________________________________________
I fill out the recipe before starting to load. The recipe form goes in the case with the completed cartridges.
In addition i have a database (in linux) to record the above information plus additional fields for test data: date, weapon, temperature, distance, group size, ten measured velocities, and remarks. the program calculates mean velocity, sigma, and spread.
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