Does anyone keep records?
 

I notice a lot of you guys post pics of your targets and stuff for range reports.

I was wondering if anyone keeps notes and pictures and stuff like that for their muzzleloaders for records? Do you find yourself refering back to them?


Kirk

For me it's all kept upstairs, I always have been good that way. When you do this for many years you always remember what works and why, and what does'nt. If I had to,I could still remember all the Deer I ever shot over the last 30 years or so. When you really Love something your doing it's hard to forget the things that matter.
(BP):deer:

Sharp Shooter

I do keep records - I really think it is important because i try so many different things I would never keep them straight.

I keep a Chrono log any time I shoot across a chronograph and a target data file for every range sesion looed by the gun it was shot with.

Each of my rifles have a picture file under My Pictures. Their icon is a picture of the rifle and the name is the weapon. When I shoot a rifle, I photograph the target, list all the information needed about what went on, then have them file the photo(s)d by date.

I used to keep detailed notebooks but it got to where I was getting the rifles mixed up.

Yea I think if any of us needed some advice Sabotloader has the info somewhere. Plus if he got togeather with a few others on here they could write a Book on Muzzleloaders. But if you do you have to let Semi lend his Special ways to it.:popcorn:
(BP)

That may work for your Breechplug, but my "upstairs" has so many twists, turns and dead ends that I frequently get lost when I go there. However, I distinctly remember what I had for dinner this evening and I'm pretty sure my wife's name is Rosemary.

I have a file folder for each gun and keep just about all of the targets I shoot in a folder, with the targets numbered in sequence.

I almost always shoot five shots on each target and always record all of the load data on them - as you can see from the sample below. It's target #93 from my Great Plains flintlock and tells me I haven't shot that gun since last November. Damn, I need to shoot that gun next week-end.

I also keep records: with over 15 guns I would manage to get mixed up and frustrated with out them. The most interesting things in them are the differences in wear and repair that affect the groups. An other interesting difference is the difference in loads bullets and sabots that shoot best after lapping or polishing a barrel. I also keep a note book with shot targets, some times I try to read the patterns the same way as I learned to do with cartridge guns, it helps tune and fine tune loads.

The records would sure help a future owner out to if you ever sold a gun.

I post my targets with info on my gun cabinet doors...

I don't have the guns some of you guys have which makes it easier...

I dont keep any records but I do need to start. I only have 7 muzzleloaders and 3 of them I haven't shot in several years.

If you only have one or two MLs then no problem. But most of us in here have quite a few. And except on a rare occasion do 2 rifles shoot the same thing the best. Keeping some sort of record is the only way you will keep things straight.
In fact, I keep records for all my CFs too.
Normally my records consist of nothing more than a spiral notebook with different load combos for each rifle showing powder, bullet, primer (if applicable) and group size.

Sure do. I have too much other stuff running through my head to remember everything. I keep everything in Excel. I note everything as well that way I can sort them to find what I'm looking for.

For instance, say I want to see if a particual bullet shot well. Just sort it by that bullet and it will show the groups I've shot with it and with which gun. I also keep my targets as well which are numbered and scanned. Then entered into Excel for a visual if I need one.

Coming from a Business Analyst position my brain works best this way. A friend of mine just uses a notebook and that works great for him.

I am a rookie at ml but being in the Quality Engineering field for many years proved to me that record keeping is a must. Especially when you get to be older and the memory isn't quite as sharp.
As was mentioned you can use a simple Sprial Notebook and go all the way to using an excel spread sheet.

I don't but I should. My memory aint what it use to be.
Art

I do keep some of the "range targets", but frankly seldom refer to them. I do keep a note book in which I record all range information. Such information as bullet type, weight, powder charge, powder lot numbers, MOA performance, etc. .... and I do this for my ML, shot gun patterning, hand loaded center fire, as well as any factory loads that I try. This is my main reference.

I keep some of my targets and I also started a spreadsheet to keep track of loads and best group size.

There are photos on my laptop of all the deer i've killed since about 2002. There is just the date killed and no particular gun is identified. There are also photos of some of my hogs long with the date. Most of the hogs never get photographed.

I keep a file with all my range report info in them with pics & targets sometimes. I usually write up an actual "report" like I was in school for each long range session. If I just shoot a few times to check zero or get re-aquainted with the rifle, I don't keep records of that.

It's kind of fun (and helpful) to look back on previous range sessions and see what worked and what didn't.