Load Data Notebook

[smokingloon]

I am about to start reloading and I purchased a notebook in order to record my loads to see what works and what doesn't. The question I have is how should I go about arranging the data? Should I get a separate notebook for pistol and rifle? Thanks

[gsxr600booya]

i just started reloading and each caliber has its own small spiral bound notebook. and i arranged the info as Case/primer/powder/powder load/bullet/bullet weight.. all info that can change preformance.

[brando]

Yeah, just get a separate book for each caliber. In fact, I do it a little backasswards: I have a load book for each precision rifle. When I work up a load for that rifle, I record all of the various data such as:

Bullet
Brass
Primer
Powder (and charge weight)
Trim Length
COAL (and to ogive)

Then when I chrono the loads, I start a new page in the book, write down the date, location, atmospheric info and purpose of the shoot. The last bit I've just learned over time is important when you're going back over old info. "Oh, I was trying to get a load up to 2900 fps" Stuff like that. Then I start a string and record the velocities for each as well as a close approximation of the POI.

So if you're loading for precision, you might go this route. Otherwise, for plinking just have a book for each caliber. After a few years the books start to fill up if you actually enjoy this stuff.

[smokingloon]

Thanks for all the info. I will be starting on 45 acp and will reload rifle rounds later on.

Another question I have is when you make a change to the round, how many rounds do you make with that change?
Say I change the COL, how many of the same rounds should I make to see how it works? 100?

[brando]

It's normal to just stick to the load data in the manuals, so match their COAL. With rifle rounds I play with this measurement constantly, but when I do, I load up a series of 5 rounds per variation for testing. It's just like powder charges, but instead of batches of 5 rounds with different powder charges, they just have different seating depths.

[NotSoFast]

What I put in my log is
Date, Primer (Brand and type), Powder, Powder weight, Bullet, Bullet weight, C.O.L., Ballistic Coefficient, Distance to target, # of shots in the group, Group size, Range conditions, and a column for misc. notes.

I include the range data and ballistic coefficient so I can plot it with software if I decide to. In the notes section, I include any powder measure settings, etc. so I can easily set up for that load again in the future.

And if I get a chronograph in the future, I'll add that data to the load as well. I do all this because someone told me a while back that you can't have too many notes. So I figured what would be important to me for future reference.