Rifle Data Book

[Mike Fontaine]

Hello Everyone,
I have never used a "rifle data book" before and was wondering if any of you incredibly knowledgeable and experience3d shooters had any recommendations. What I usually find with these types of things is that no one book is great and I usually make-up my own. Has anyone out there created their own data book and would like to share??? How much info do you record?
Mike

 

[Guest]

I am assuming you are speaking about making a book that is dedicated to one rifle you own?

I think there are many of us who do similar things, including keeping a handloading bench log as well as a range log. I additionally keep a spreadsheet for each rifle, which has a page for each powder, and I am able to list off different loads separately on the page, as well as compare the group sizes, velocity (mean), SD's, and other variables. But I am a statistics junkie.

You probably could get by with a handloading bench log and a range log, and then you would be able to keep track of what shoots best in each rifle. If you want a spreadsheet, you can create one that includes various info regarding the loads, like case brand, primer, case length, powder type, charge weight, velocity, SD, extreme spread, group size, weather conditions, etc. All of these might play into what makes the best load for a particular gun. Get a book on Excel and you can learn how to do statistical comparisons between two loads, although you have to shoot an awful lot of rounds to get an adequate sample size.

Is there something else you were asking about, or does this cover it?

 

[Mike Fontaine]

Thanks for the info. I keep a detailed reloading log but I have not kept data on individual rifle performance, number of shots fired, conditions, etc. for each rifle. I guess I am looking to creating 1 book for multiple rifles that includes reloading data. I have 6 new rifles that have not yet been fired and I thought it would be a good time to start recording info along with the reloading records. I just want to make sure I'm not missing information that I should be recording about rifle performance, condition, etc. since I have not yet done this. I'm the type of person that want to get it right the first time. Mike

 

[Guest]

You can pretty much put whatever you think is important into the logbook. Try to think through what you think you'd like to be able to track with regard to each gun over time, and work from that list. Sounds like you have a pretty good idea of what you want already.

 

[Guy Miner]

I've used some of the data books on the market for match shooters, and some for the "tactical" shooters. They're good, but I prefer to keep a "chapter" for each rifle in a three-ring binder. Here's some of the stuff I keep, and yes, I admit that it changes from time to time.

Purchase date and source of the rifle. Maybe a little history of it if significant. For instance my 1917 .30-06 was initially sporterized by my father when he was 17 years old, in his last year of high school, just before going off to do his part in WWII. I think that's important enough to have documented.

Date and cost of any modifications, as well as info on the gunsmith if I didn't do the work myself.

Round count. This is something I worry about with match rifles because they get shot so much. With other rifles that I'll likely never wear out the barrel, I get lazy and sometimes don't keep a round count.

Hunts. What did I hunt & where? Conditions? Problems with the rifle, scope, ammo? Yes, here's where I keep a photo of me (the great smiling hunter), my rifle and the poor animal that was unfortunate enough to manage to get nailed by me. :roll:

Then there's load data, factory ammo results. I even clip out pieces of targets and keep them in there for reference and braggin' rights. Also keeps me honest when I want to brag about how well something shoots... Very important - I keep elevation data for different ranges, like how many clicks up from a 100 yard zero to put a 168 gr Nosler into the X-ring at 600 yards. At least at my home range. When I'm active as a match shooter, I'll note if different elevation settings were necessary at a different place.

One really neat article I read lately was about famous professional hunter & gun writer Finn Aagaard and his .375 H&H mag Winchester Model 70. Finn passed away, but left a notebook for his .375 describing when and where he bought it, purchase price, when he swapped a "super grade" stock onto it, when he reinforced the stock with real steel crossbolts and interestingly, he kept track of all the rounds fired, and all the game taken with that rifle - like over 40 cape buffalo, several lions etc... That notebook really brings the history of his old .375 H&H to life.

Just thoughts - I'm really only meticulous about my records with my match rifles that see thousands of rounds through them, and get treated to a new barrel when necessary.
Regards, Guy