Taking Notes and Other Random Thoughts

[TheTinMan]

I know it’s really basic, but taking detailed notes really pays off. I also make a sample cartridge without a primer and keep that in my die set box for future reference. This paid off for me recently.

I carried a custom 1911 CCO chambered in 9x23 Winchester from 2009-2014. It’s a “dead” cartridge; however, the factory Winchester Silver Tip 124 grain ammo yields 1,400 fps out of the 4” barrel. I went for a few years without carrying then switched to an Sig P365 in 9mm. Ammo was cheap enough I didn’t bother reloading. Then I went to the range and realized that I shoot more accurately with the small 1911. A lot more accurately, and it’s basically a semi-auto .357 Magnum.

So I went to my old notes. They were a bit disorganized but I was able to put everything in chronological order and review my past load development step by step. I’d gone through several powder and bullet combinations for a practice load and even had targets for the best ones. The last page from 2011 specified Starline 9x23 Comp cases, Winchester small rifle primers, Hornady 124 FMJ bullets, 7.2 grains of VV 3N37 powder, COAL of 1.275”, and even the taper crimp. I re-did the “plunk test” and got the exact same answer. I had over 2,000 of the bullets and plenty of 3N37.

I made up 50. First range trip they functioned 100% and the velocity was within 15 fps of my old results with a different chronograph. Thursday I made up 350 and I’ll probably make more this weekend.

Other Thoughts:
My notes said that VV 3N37 was nicely accurate. However, I’d forgotten how beautifully it pours through a powder measure. Getting very consistent loads is EZ. I’d been working with TrailBoss recently - that meters BADLY. Also, the 3N37 burns very cleanly. Sometimes those attributes for a given powder matter.

You don’t have to do everything on the progressive press unless you’re into mass production. My Hornady LNL progressive press has 5 stations. You can re-size/de-prime on it; however, some cases take more effort to re-size than others and shell plate deflection varied as a result. That affected seating depth and crimp more than I liked. So I re-size separately on a single stage. That has multiple advantages. I handle and inspect each case before it gets into the progressive press. I have tried powder-through expanders and they work OK for some cartridges. 9x23 Winchester gets filled up so much the expander touches the powder IN the case - this is BAD. (Thankfully I figured it out soon enough all I had to do was pull a bunch of bullets.) I prefer crimping in a separate step from bullet seating. Adding the crimp while the bullet is still being pushed into the case doesn’t appeal to me. YMMV.

Here’s how I have the 5 stations on my press set up:
1 bell case mouth
1.5 prime
2 drop powder
3 RCBS powder cop (actually locks up press if powder is over or under normal charge)
4 seat
5 crimp

I know there are other approaches. I know that Dillon makes great equipment but that’s not the direction I took over 15 years ago. This is just my approach.

The powder-through expanders problem is an example of the need to pay close attention. If you see powder on your press or bench, figure out WHY. If the press cycle suddenly changes - stop and figure out what’s wrong. Being a bit OCD is a good thing for a hand loader.

Keeping tools and gadgets organized pays off. After going through a divorce, a move that involved everything in storage for over a year, and the dog ate my lunch, my shop is still recovering. I cannot find a 9mm shell holder that will fit in my hand primer. There has to be one somewhere, but the shell holder in the die boxes doesn’t fit.

Having all of the components on hand for 2,000+ rounds is comforting.

 

[mtgianni]

I have a lined 8 1/2" x 11" notebook for each cartridge and a separate page for each gun that caliber. I write notes on the containers for the loads, and eventually move things to the computer if they are worth saving.

 

[rockquarry]

I have a lined 8 1/2" x 11" notebook for each cartridge and a separate page for each gun that caliber. I write notes on the containers for the loads, and eventually move things to the computer if they are worth saving.

In my first twenty-five years of handloading, I wrote down virtually nothing. The last thirty-five years has been depicted in seventeen notebooks and a couple of card files, one for handgun cartridges, the other for rifle. The notebooks are range notes; card files are mostly compressed versions of field notes with data for each cartridge. Much simpler than it sounds. Very useful information that I refer to often.

 

[Bastogne71]

An Excel spreadsheet is your best friend for keeping a shooter’s log book. With it, you can customize what data you want to keep and add or delete what categories you’re using. Even better, you can use it to sort or search your data.

I have a file called reloading logbook. Every firearm I own has its own tab with all the load and firing data I’ve used for that gun. Now I can sort the data to find anything I need. Say I want to know if I’ve ever tried AA9 powder with an 85gr projectile and federal primers in a model 16-4. No problem - get an answer in seconds.

 

[LostintheOzone]

An Excel spreadsheet is your best friend for keeping a shooter’s log book. With it, you can customize what data you want to keep and add or delete what categories you’re using. Even better, you can use it to sort or search your data.

I have a file called reloading logbook. Every firearm I own has its own tab with all the load and firing data I’ve used for that gun. Now I can sort the data to find anything I need. Say I want to know if I’ve ever tried AA9 powder with an 85gr projectile and federal primers in a model 16-4. No problem - get an answer in seconds.

I have a laptop near my loading bench for that reason. Building a spreadsheet for each firearm is an easy one just needs to discipline self to enter the data. I take notes when I try a new load and enter the info when I can. Winter is a good time to catch up as it's too cold and wet to shoot here in the winter. I also keep a spreadsheet for every firearm I own for insurance purposes.

 

[gym cat]

Great Job!!!!!
You will appreciate your documentation even more as you get OLDER.
Coming from a Super Senior

 

[jem102]

Great information from everyone! I started reloading when I was 11 for my father's .32 spec. handed down from my grandfather. My first 10 years were just making hunting ammo that went bang. As the years progressed I discovered I enjoyed shooting more than hunting and got into NRA Bullseye, CMP/NRA X-Course, IHMSA competition and some local club bench rest. The only hunting that continued for a few more years was chuck shooting at over 400 yards. I evolved from a "reloader" to a "handloader" finding the more complete and meticulous my records were the more successful I was. As others have said, you need to keep a loading bench journal and a range journal. I will also add to lay your hands on every bit of loading data and instructional material you can. It greatly supplements and expands your personal records and I have a fairly extensive library.

 

[TheTinMan]

Great information from everyone! I started reloading when I was 11 for my father's .32 spec. handed down from my grandfather. My first 10 years were just making hunting ammo that went bang. As the years progressed I discovered I enjoyed shooting more than hunting and got into NRA Bullseye, CMP/NRA X-Course, IHMSA competition and some local club bench rest. The only hunting that continued for a few more years was chuck shooting at over 400 yards. I evolved from a "reloader" to a "handloader" finding the more complete and meticulous my records were the more successful I was. As others have said, you need to keep a loading bench journal and a range journal. I will also add to lay your hands on every bit of loading data and instructional material you can. It greatly supplements and expands your personal records and I have a fairly extensive library.

Great point about building a library of load data. There is so much more data online now than when I started nearly 20 years ago. I remember having a plated bullet manufacturer fax their load data to me

Now you can easily find old load manuals like Winchester Cowboy Action, Lyman, Alliant, and Accurate Arms online in PDF format. Plus that Hodgdon data, Barnes, Nosler… and on and on. A couple of forums that really helped me when I was starting out seem to be fading away. Maybe because there is so much published data available now.