Super User Way2slow Posted September 9, 2020 Super User Posted September 9, 2020 For almost ever since I started reloading in 1965, I've kept all my information in a three ring binder, broken down by gun with all it's specs and each load for it. Well, since I've started working up loads for my 6.5CM, I am yet to find that three ring binder. Almost 55 years worth of valuable (to me) information and I've spent almost two weeks, no telling how many hours of pulling out and searching, and it's not to be found. Talk about feeling sick! That's over 30 guns, 22 of these are rifles I will have to go back and measure max cases length, depth to lands, max OAL that will go in the mags and all the other data I use. Not counting all the load data that was developed over the years. The only saving grace right now, there's only about 1/2 dozen of those rifles I shoot from time to time, most just collect dust, but if I ever want to shoot them for more than the few rounds I have stored for them, I'm screwed. I am fairly computer savvy but for some reason, I never really learned to develop spread sheets or I could have had all that info backed up several times. I was too dumb to make me copies off all the info to store in a second. backup binder. Didn't have to foresight to think something would ever happen to that one. I'm still hoping it shows up, but I picked up some 3x5 index cards so I can start all over again, starting with the 6.5CM. The moral of this, if you reload and don't want to feel like the idiot I do right now, have some way to store a backup to the data you are developing. 1 Quote
Tatsu Dave Posted September 10, 2020 Posted September 10, 2020 Good advise for sure, I have kept a three ring binder myself for many years and would be lost without it. Computer files are easy and hard drives are cheap so digital back-up would be a fail safe. I'm lucky I don't have as many guns I load and keep loaded rounds for so if necessary would break down one to get OAL, powder weight, brass and primer. Know all my cartridge powders by memory. Hope your book shows up. Dave Quote
Super User Jig Man Posted September 10, 2020 Super User Posted September 10, 2020 I feel your pain. When I did the reloading I too kept a 3 ring binder. That way I could take it to the range and have all of the info with me and put shot grouping in it. My grandson grew up to be a swat sniper and has taken over all of the reloading so I gave him the book along with the dies and powder. Quote
Super User Bird Posted September 10, 2020 Super User Posted September 10, 2020 Hmmm some coincidence here. Lost mine 7 yrs ago never to be seen again. I even had targets stapled inside binder showing powder, bullet weights and the groups they produced. Also written down was chronograph and where each caliber needed to hit at various yardage to achieve a 100 yard zero......frustrating loss for sure. Only saving grace is FIL and brother are both avid reloaders. Oh, believe mine was left behind at firing range in WV. Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted September 10, 2020 Author Super User Posted September 10, 2020 I did realize one thing that helps a little. I have a 20 round plastic ammo case for every center fire rifle I have with the main loads I used in them. Each of these cases have a label on them with all the load data and scope settings for that load on them. So, at least that much of the data is recoverable just by getting it off those so the only thing lost is the odd ball loads I shot in them. The ones I shoot regularly are memorized. When you use the same load in one rifle for 50 years, like my 6mm, even with a bad memory, you tend to memorize those. It's the ones I use for multiple things and may have a half dozen loads for it, like one of my 260's, I had short range and long range target loads, long range varmint and long range deer, short range heavy bullets for deer in thicker areas etc. For each of these I had the scope settings for the different distances. This info is gone if I didn't have some loads in a case for it. That's a lot of work and shooting to redo that info. That's also where it pays to have good optics. Some you can crank on the turrets regularly and they always to where they are supposed to and back to zero. The scopes available in this century are light years above the junk we had when I first started and have spent a small fortune over the past 15 years upgrading optics on the rifles normally use . Quote
CountryboyinDC Posted September 23, 2020 Posted September 23, 2020 I don't shoot or reload like I used to, but this thread made me check, and yes, the binder is still there. The main things I use this binder for pertain to brass prep for the accurate rifles (neck diameter for turning, etc.). I looked at the loads in there - it seems as though I don't need the 24 powders in my cabinet. Most of them were use IMR-4350 or H-322. I guess it wouldn't hurt to run the pages through a scanner, though. Quote
NOC 1 Posted November 15, 2020 Posted November 15, 2020 I am pretty lazy on this I guess, but I do several things. For starters I usually use the same brass for one gun only so I only neck-size the brass. New brass gets a generic load and is fired in the gun. To find the OAL I take one of those empty once fired cases, trim to standard length, put the bullet in it with a very light crimp and carefully chamber it 3 times rotating it about 120 degrees each time. I'll do that at least twice and when I'm satisfied, I'll measure it, subtract a hair and crimp it hard. That way I have a template round which I can just measure when I need to. I also keep that info in a little notebook (which I have), but If I lose it I can always measure the example round. Quote
Blaine Donders Posted November 19, 2020 Posted November 19, 2020 I keep an Excel spreadsheet tabbed for each caliber. I then upload it to Drop Box and keep a copy on my phone so I can access it anywhere, anytime. Quote
Super User BrianMDTX Posted November 22, 2020 Super User Posted November 22, 2020 Mine are in a spiral binder, but every box has a label listing load date, cartridge, bullet weight and type, powder type and weight of charge, primer size, bullet seating depth and OAL of cartridge. Quote
Super User clayton86 Posted January 6, 2021 Super User Posted January 6, 2021 I’m just starting to get into reloading hopefully get some loads worked up soon just waiting on dies that are sitting in a hub to be delivered. Once the dies and neck bushing come in I’ll have everything for the 20practical and 17hornet. The load is already set for my 20practical from when we built it a few years ago but the 17hornet I gotta work something out. I’ll do the 243 and 308 once I get large rifle primers but with things nowadays who knows when that will be. Quote
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