Do you trust your reloading memoy?

[buck460XVR]

Do you trust your reloading memory?

In one word.....No. Nor do I trust only one scale that uses human hands to adjust. Guess I kinda anal about keeping my fingers and eyes. While like many others I have pet loads in certain calibers that haven't changed for years and I don't look them up anymore before sitting down to load them, I still refer to my notebook to make sure how I loaded them last time. I learned when I first started that getting up from the bench and thinking you will remember for sure if those are magnum or standard primers in those .357 cases, unless they are a different color or you tag them, you'll scratch your head and wonder when you come back a week later.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

I trust my memory about as far as I can throw it. Since it's in my brain, my brain is in my head, and my head is attached to my 6'4" 300lb body, that's not very far. I do have loads that I prefer that are permanently stuck in my memory but I still check my notebook and cross reference it to my Lee manual (since it has more data than my Lyman). I could just go by my manual(s) but sometimes my seating depth(s) vary due to the chambers of my firearms. Since my seating depth may vary I typically drop the charge a bit from what the manual shows, that's where my notebook comes in handy.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

My short term memory went south due to heart failure. Used to be one of those guys that classmates hated. Now there are days where I can't remember what I had for breakfast, and I have the same thing every day!

My reloading memory now consists of Excel for all of my data. When I sit down to crank out rounds I write all the data on a yellow pad. And the only components on the bench are the ones for that round. I need all the help I can get to prevent mistakes.

 

[clutch]

Even when I can remember I always check. A few seconds saved could cost a lot if I have a brain fart.

 

[beatledog7]

I look up every load, even though many times I find what I thought was right really was.

 

[horsemen61]

I always look up my stuff friends and family have found it cheaper to shoot my reloads so I always check.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Even if I know the load by heart I always mark each lot with the number of rounds, cases used/new, powder type and amount, primer, bullet date and time loaded.

Ten years from now I can pick up some of my reloads and know exactly what they were made from and when. That's a lot more than we get from factory ammo.

 

[JimKirk]

I trust my memory! To know where the bound set of index cards that hold my loads ... I know exactly where it is ! I also keep a running set of numbers(my RCBS Uniflow settings) and a date besides each number ... that way I can look back to see what I used that day... I will also look back at the reloading manuals to confirm a load that I haven't used in a long time ... if it is not a good load ...it doesn't stay in my index cards very long...

 

[tomrkba]

I never deviate from a written recipe. I always doublecheck against a printed manual; I prefer at least two sources. I never take loads printed on the 'net unless they come from a manufacturer.

 

[45lcshooter]

When I find a load I like, I jot it down, and put it in a 3 ring binder , sorted by caliber. Easy to thumb through and find what I need for the recipe quickly, also have a little journal for each page.

 

[TBH]

I label the powder in my powder measure, have only one powder on the bench and discard any powder I am unsure of. Any loose primers I fail to put back in the box also gets discarded. Last year I spent three weeks looking for a S&W 357 I had. I finally remembered selling it to a fellow worker.

 

[HKGuns]

Oh HECK NO!! I always refer back to the manual before loading anything.

 

[One78Shovel]

I always reference my logs before charging

-178S

 

[Muddydogs]

Yep I trust mine completely, I just check my records to make sure they are right and didn't change themselves while I wasn't looking.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Except for 4.0gr W231 under a 158gr LSWC in the .38 Special and 5.5gr W231 under a 230gr LRN in the .45 Auto, my 2 favorite loads, I check every load I build.

As for finding 10K CCI SPP I forgot I had, I should be so lucky! I'm not short on SPP but an additional 10K could never hurt...

 

[kelbro]

The only ones that I don't have to look up are the 5.5gr W231 under a 230gr LRN in .45 Auto, 30gr 3031 under the 170 and 31 gr 3031 under the 150 in my 30-30.

 

[oldreloader]

I don't rely on my memory for anything

 

[crabwearer]

I'm still pretty new to reloading but I don't trust my memory. This hobby doesn't seem like something I want to do willy nilly. When more than one of my manuals have the data I need I review both manuals before starting.

 

[bogon48]

No. Like many of the other guys, I use logs and notes and always double check myself, particularly if I'm interrupted during a reloading session. Age is not a friend to memory. I have to compensate.

 

[Ehtereon11B]

Nope. I sometimes I think I have dyslexia trying to remember a load I tried or use with how many grains of powder I use. I keep a notebook of all loads I have checked in a particular rifle. Their bullet, powder and mass, COAL and mass, primer, brass, and trim length. When fired I measure the groups at 100 and note that as well. Way too much information to trust off paper.

 

[gamestalker]

My memory is way to bad to trust loading by memory. In fact, a couple of weeks ago I managed to get just a bit ahead of myself and started charging cases before I had primed them. Fortunately I had only charged a couple before I noticed. But right after I had primed the cases, I found some I had just primed a few days earlier in preparation for this particular loading session, yep the memory is slipping a bit. So needles to say, I have incorporated just about every safe guard imaginable into my process to avoid memory induced mistakes.

GS

 

[gamestalker]

Here is another one I just remembered, if you can believe that. I packed up for my hunting trip and when I arrived in camp I was unpacking only to discover I had left my rifle at home. I made a list of what I needed to pack and didn't even include the rifle. I ended up hunting with my shotgun slugs for my 12 ga., and my .357 mag. revolver. At least I got a shot at a decent buck right from camp, but he got away because I forgot to load the cylinder with jacketed ammo, and instead had it full of snake loads. Lets see someone beat that memory failure?

GS

 

[Stormin.40]

No, I label my storage boxes with the load data and use that. If one of my standard loads I don't always check the manuals but if it is a load I haven't made for a while I will double check the labels with 2 manuals to make sure I didn't make a mistake.

I tried to keep a log but found labels to work better for me.

 

[mljdeckard]

My main problem is, I keep switching components based on what's available, and having to start over. I need to get some bulk Delta Precision FMJs and just stick with them.

 

[RandyP]

I use a simple Word doc generated Avery stick on label on every box of reloads I create. It records all the important data and when I run out of ammo I just use the numbers from the label.

I keep my reloading life pretty basic, always plated or FMJ bullets, always Win231/HP-38 powder for the 4 calibers I reload. I have one satisfactory set of data for each bullet I use and have no real need to change it nor urge to 'experiment'. Those who enjoy that aspect of this hobby should enjoy it at their pleasure. I just don't. My needs are pretty simple, mid range plinking ammo.