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Keeping a log book for beginners?

chromebonez

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Apr 5, 2017
17
3
If I want to start a log book, what are some basic things I should be paying attention to and writing down when I'm out at the range? I'm mainly shooting at 100 yards benched and prone, the goal as of now is to be able to shoot ~.5-.7 moa groups consistently and then move on to 200yd-300yds. Mainly shooting Federal Gold Medal Match SMK 168gr.

My Setup
HMR PRO .308 20'' Barrel
Burris XTR II 3-15 SCR
Atlas Bipod
 
I'm definitely interested in this topic as well...I've been keeping track of my round count and ammo type but I'm sure that there's more that I should be keeping track of
 
Changes in conditions are not really noticable at 100 yards it's too short and not enough time to matter, you'll more than likely be the problem at 100.

However I would start recording your cold bore each time. Be sure to fire at least 3 shots to observe and variation.

Record DA or if you have access note the true values

Impact databooks has pages you use to tape you target to the page providing you are not shooting big groups at 100

My zero does not change and the only real effect is our big winds which might toss me off a bit, but I am talking over 10 MPH. I zeroed for a match this week in CO and my windage was off because it was 18-24 however traveling to TN there was no change in elevation, that remained the same.
 
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Reactions: Fig and Rarebreed93
I keep a log for each precision rifle noting which ammo I shot, how many rounds, total rounds for the rifle, who was shooting the rifle, where/when it was shot, when it was last cleaned. I keep another more detailed notebook with 8.5"X11" notebook paper where I record all sorts of other data such as environmental conditions, specific load, scores from any match, cold bore hits, any variations in anything...which ammo the rifle was last zeroed or tested with, velocity of the ammo. All load testing, distances at which rounds were fired, and pretty much everything else I can think of, including who else may have been at the range with me goes in the detailed log book.

It is surprising how often this book comes in handy. Just this morning I was looking at it for some load data for a 260 Remington that I fired about 4 years ago... Everything was in that detail log book...even the last time my brother was at the range with me, which rifle he fired, and how many rounds.

That way, I can look back and see which rifles were shot on which days, how many rounds, weather on that day, environmental conditions from my Kestrel, etc.
 
Changes in conditions are not really noticable at 100 yards it's too short and not enough time to matter, you'll more than likely be the problem at 100.

However I would start recording your cold bore each time. Be sure to fire at least 3 shots to observe and variation.

Record DA or if you have access note the true values

Impact databooks has pages you use to tape you target to the page providing you are not shooting big groups at 100

My zero does not change and the only real effect is our big winds which might toss me off a bit, but I am talking over 10 MPH. I zeroed for a match this week in CO and my windage was off because it was 18-24 however traveling to TN there was no change in elevation, that remained the same.


Question about cold bore mapping (since this is the "stupid marksmanship question" section")...

...what's the most effective way of doing this if I want to test out a couple different types of ammo in a single range session to see which one works best with my gun? Or, is it better to do this type of test in separate range sessions using different ammo each trip? Or, put a different way, what's the most effective way of figuring out which ammo works best with your rifle?