Record Keeping

Keeping detailed records is an important part of reloading. Recording everything you do will not only help you produce more consistent reloads, it can also keep you safer. A detailed reloading log will allow you to look back and reference loads that you have tried in the past. It will also allow you to troubleshoot any loads that didn’t perform as you expected them to. When you do find a load that works particularly well in your rifle, you will be able to duplicate it over and over in the future. There are a variety of reloader’s log books available on the market, or you can simply make your own out of any notebook or binder. How you record the information isn’t important. What is important is that you do record all pertinent information each and every time you reload. Some reloaders record a large amount of data for each load, while others record the minimum. How much or how little information you choose to record is related to what kind of shooting you will be doing. The more precise you want to be, the more data you should record. At a minimum, you should record:

Caliber
Brass: brand, number of times fired, full length or neck-sized
Primer: Brand, size, and lot number (found on package)
Powder: Brand, name, charge weight in grains, and lot number (found on package) you may also wish to record if you weighed or metered the charges.
Bullet: Brand, name, weight in grains
OAL: record the cartridge overall length

Recording the lot numbers of components used is wise as there can be small variations in components between lots. An important safety measure is to reduce loads and work back up when you change component lots.

At the range, it is also helpful to record notes on how the load performed. Things like group size, velocity, felt recoil, or any pressure signs are important to note as well. More detail-oriented shooters will also keep track of weather conditions such as temperature and wind speed during their range sessions.

There is an added safety check that occurs when you write down your load data. Recording something in a log forces you to think about it again and ask yourself if the data you are recording matches the data that you should be using to formulate a load. One can never be too careful when reloading, and double or even triple checking your load data for correctness is never a bad idea. If for some reason you start to experience undesirable performance or other problems with your ammunition, you can look back at your records to identify which variables may have changed.  There are so many different steps and variables involved in reloading, it is impossible to try to remember them all. Keeping detailed records of your reloading practices will help you to be a safer, more efficient, and more precise reloader.