Advanced Marksmanship How do you take & organize notes?

[samb300]

One of my goals for this shooting season is to take better notes in my data book. I have a notebook already with rite in the rain paper, so I think from a gear standpoint I'm set.

My question is: when you guys shoot a match, what notes are you taking and how do you organize them? Do you take stage specific notes, detailing what you could've done differently? Do you make "range" notes for future reference if you travel back to that location?

Also, do you find yourself taking notes immediately after a stage is complete, or do you wait until the day is over? A lot of times I tell myself I will take notes later and when I get home I put my gear away and never touch the notebook until the next match.

 

[diverdon]

Frank does have some video on using the data book in his online training section. It can give you a jump start if you order an impact data book.

 

[CharlieNC]

Make as many notes as time allows. For me the most benefit has come from critiquing my performance, positive and negative, and writing this down in a separate journal. Especially documenting an action plan for what to change, evaluate, etc to insure proper focus going forward. To me the field data book is just that, data. I do summarize ballistic data in Excel to aid with fine tuning the ballistic calcs.

 

[Duffman1975]

I take notes at the range, and then transfer that data to my laptop when i get home. I like to have redundancy.

 

[tnichols]

We have 4 dedicated precision rigs. Each has its own 3 ring binder that the data sheet goes into after shooting. I use the same sheet for all 4, and fill in the environmentals along with how I did for wind calls, fundamentals, etc... I'm my own worst critic, but that keeps you honest and hopefully improving. My data sheets have evolved over the years and work for me. May not be the ideal for the next guy.