Google Sheet Reloading Log

[Sionnix]

I just recently got the bug and started handloading, and being a nerd about almost everything I do I went about crafting a Google Sheets reloading log and I figured I would share it with you fine folks in hopes that you both get good use out of the concept and maybe even give me some feedback to improve it.

The way it is intended to work is that you can add tabs as you need for every cartridge, and when you do so add another equation on the summary page that will then give you a running total of how many of each round you have reloaded as well as the grand total. I think that sort of data is fun to know.

Let me know if you guys think of any ways to improve upon it; being as I am a newbie at the reloading thing I may have missed some things you'd like to keep track of.

Google Sheets Link Here

EDIT 1: You should be able to CTRL+A and copy/paste this directly into Excel, but I think that the SUMIF functions work differently in Excel than they do Sheets and thus you may need to fix the modulo operations in the Summary tab.

 

[drband]

Thanks! I'll compare it to what I've got... It may be helpful!

 

[Sionnix]

Thanks! I'll compare it to what I've got... It may be helpful!

Excellent! Feel free to let me know if you tabulate data you feel is important that I missed.

 

[hdwhit]

Thanks. But please take into consideration that should anything amiss happen with your reloads, this spreadsheet and everything on it (as well as everything you might have forgotten to put on it) will become evidence in your civil liability trial.

I have been reloading for 42+ years. And while I share my reloading experiences here, I stop short of sharing 1) my reloading procedures (you have written reloading procedures and an associated checklist you use every time you reload, don't you? If not, stop reloading now and generate these before you continue), or 2) my particular load data, since each combination of cartridge and gun is potentially unique.

 

[Tony k]

I like that you account for brass in terms of batches and track times loaded, trimmed, etc. That's handy once you've got your favorite loads worked up.

I'd add a way to keep track of load development. Group size, velocity, etc of each tested charge. I'd also add which firearm this load is for if you have multiple guns in the same caliber.

Be sure to back up your data in more than one place .

 

[WelshShooter]

That's a good start! I'm away from my computer at the moment but I tend to have two main types of sheets. The first one is a summary page, whereby I have a row for every single load which is good to go based on load development. This is split by calibre, powder type, bullet etc. and using filters on Excel it's easy to sort and filter loads for certain bullets and what not. My summary page includes velocity data and average group size based on load info.

I then have a separate sheet for each calibre. This sheet lists all load development performed and conclude whether it was good or bad. Sometimes a certain combination just doesn't work, but this stays on this page and not in the summary page.

All my information is documented in a log book by pen and transferred into Excel for ease of use. This way I always keep my raw data should I think there was an error in my excel file (eg typo) .

PS you can never record too much information!

 

[forty_caliber]

...please take into consideration that should anything amiss happen with your reloads, this spreadsheet and everything on it (as well as everything you might have forgotten to put on it) will become evidence in your civil liability trial.

Always good to have a big picture view of this activity. I'm not sure what specific liability you are concerned about here. Do you mean the liability of following the example loads included the spreadsheet and then I have some kind of problem after the fact?

Checklists? I'm not following. Are you thinking of having legal defense documentation ready in hand just in case something goes wrong in the future? I've been reloading since the '80s. I keep a basic written log of each reloading session but I feel like I'm kind of past needing to use a checklist of individual steps. My process seems organic at this stage. How are you using your checklists?

.40

 

[Muddydogs]

(you have written reloading procedures and an associated checklist you use every time you reload, don't you?

Are you saying you have your reloading procedures written down and a check list to follow just to do the basics? I can see specialty notes if I'm doing something a little off or using a non standard die or something but notes just for general reloading procedures is a little much.

 

[Telekinesis]

I haven't gone into the formulas of the sheet, but I would personally set it up more as a database look than a "form" design like you have now. If you have it set up where each category has its own column, and each load is its own row, it is much easier to scale and to do analysis. It should also make your summary formulas a bit cleaner. (You obviously wouldn't have to do one row for each cartridge made - you could have a column showing how many you loaded that day with that combination of components).

This would also let you use a pivot table on your summery sheet so that you could easily change what factors you wanted to look at. Instead of having to do a one-off build for a view, you could just do a bit of drag and drop and you can see exactly what load you made during X time period, or how much powder you used, etc.

You may want to add in a field to show the resulting accuracy of the round when doing load development. I'd probably stop using it once I settled on a load, but it might be helpful from a data visualization point if you want to do any analysis on input/output.

Another addition (which would be some work) would be component inventory tracking. You could also tweak that to give you a cost per round (down to the exact unit - so your round with 40.3gr of powder costs X and your round with 43.2gr of powder costs Y). You could also occasionally update the market cost of buying a similar round that is factory loaded and calculate the cost difference between your reloads and factory.

 

[Rule3]

Thanks. But please take into consideration that should anything amiss happen with your reloads, this spreadsheet and everything on it (as well as everything you might have forgotten to put on it) will become evidence in your civil liability trial.

I have been reloading for 42+ years. And while I share my reloading experiences here, I stop short of sharing 1) my reloading procedures (you have written reloading procedures and an associated checklist you use every time you reload, don't you? If not, stop reloading now and generate these before you continue), or 2) my particular load data, since each combination of cartridge and gun is potentially unique.

HUH??

 

[Sionnix]

I haven't gone into the formulas of the sheet, but I would personally set it up more as a database look than a "form" design like you have now. If you have it set up where each category has its own column, and each load is its own row, it is much easier to scale and to do analysis. It should also make your summary formulas a bit cleaner. (You obviously wouldn't have to do one row for each cartridge made - you could have a column showing how many you loaded that day with that combination of components).

This would also let you use a pivot table on your summery sheet so that you could easily change what factors you wanted to look at. Instead of having to do a one-off build for a view, you could just do a bit of drag and drop and you can see exactly what load you made during X time period, or how much powder you used, etc.

You may want to add in a field to show the resulting accuracy of the round when doing load development. I'd probably stop using it once I settled on a load, but it might be helpful from a data visualization point if you want to do any analysis on input/output.

Another addition (which would be some work) would be component inventory tracking. You could also tweak that to give you a cost per round (down to the exact unit - so your round with 40.3gr of powder costs X and your round with 43.2gr of powder costs Y). You could also occasionally update the market cost of buying a similar round that is factory loaded and calculate the cost difference between your reloads and factory.

I like all of those suggestions. I am going to whip up a database version in Excel instead of Sheets for cumulative load data because I think that is a much better idea for bulk analysis and what not. I also like you idea of maybe a finance summary tab with some $/round data and analysis. The form looks nice but I might save that for only solid load data I like and want to repeat later. I will get back with an updated Excel handloading database in a while.

 

[Sionnix]

Thanks. But please take into consideration that should anything amiss happen with your reloads, this spreadsheet and everything on it (as well as everything you might have forgotten to put on it) will become evidence in your civil liability trial.

I have been reloading for 42+ years. And while I share my reloading experiences here, I stop short of sharing 1) my reloading procedures (you have written reloading procedures and an associated checklist you use every time you reload, don't you? If not, stop reloading now and generate these before you continue), or 2) my particular load data, since each combination of cartridge and gun is potentially unique.

I appreciate your concern but as you can see I am sharing an empty template with no data in it at all. Just trying to get feedback on how other people track their handloading.

 

[Rule3]

There are several existing "Apps" for this that you way want to grap ideas from.

Of course there is the old school paper, log book version but you get ideas from those also.

Click the video.
https://www.sinclairintl.com/books-...s/reloading-logbook-5-5-x-8-5--prod32868.aspx

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...eloading-data-sheets-and-box-label-templates/

 

[Sionnix]

Of course there is the old school paper, log book version but you get ideas from those also.

Click the video.
https://www.sinclairintl.com/books-...s/reloading-logbook-5-5-x-8-5--prod32868.aspx

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...eloading-data-sheets-and-box-label-templates/

I am a terrible millennial and as such love keeping records in THE CLOUD for access from wherever I am . And I'm versed enough in Excel that it makes it enjoyable for me to use for almost everything. I also considering Access and maybe even programming something in R to do data analysis on it but figured that would get old real quick and tossed the idea.

 

[RandyP]

I must confess I am very glad I treat my reloading hobby in the same manner as I treat all my other ones. Namely... NO HOMEWORK.
lol
I have previously posted the very basic Avery label I use on each container of ammo I reload. It provides me with all the info I need to recreate the next batch. No 'logs', paper or digital, no round counts, no detailed accounts of the time I spend relaxing in the reloading room or at the range. Never found the need for such things.

Checklists and written procedures? Nope, not unless I'm flying my own plane someplace.....if I had a plane of course.

 

[iShoot17]

Similar to what @Telekinesis mentioned, I’d love to get something for inventory of items. I started to try to create an all inclusive document in Access that allowed me to detail inventory. The goal was for me to be able to type into earlier tables the component I used, then to have access pull in the remaining specific details, as well as update an inventory tab to show new amounts remaining. I put some time into it, but eventually put it on the back burner (and eventually lost it in a flash drive mishap). It was a bit over my head, being honest, as I’m more of an Excel guy.

It would have been really slick and simple once set up. I’m a numbers kind of guy and love to see it all in one place. Loads, inventory, results, etc. etc.

 

[MEHavey]

I, too, echo concern that in this day&age, any publicly-stored/cloud-based date is also
'evidence' should anyone decide they want to use it against you -- for any reason.

Unfortunately, how many Gentle Readers realize that if they don't have "Synch" turned
off . . . everything they have on their MicroSoft computers is already in the Cloud (?)




...as to High Tech companies protecting their privacy reputations by protecting yours . . .
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/20...violate-privacy-of-san-bernardino-terrorists/

 

[Rule3]

I must confess I am very glad I treat my reloading hobby in the same manner as I treat all my other ones. Namely... NO HOMEWORK.
lol
I have previously posted the very basic Avery label I use on each container of ammo I reload. It provides me with all the info I need to recreate the next batch. No 'logs', paper or digital, no round counts, no detailed accounts of the time I spend relaxing in the reloading room or at the range. Never found the need for such things.

Checklists and written procedures? Nope, not unless I'm flying my own plane someplace.....if I had a plane of course.

Same here.
Heck I had enough of that at Work! I don't even like to take a Chrongraph to the range let alone hook up a laptap to record the data/ I can write it down on paper!

 

[egd]

Same here.
Heck I had enough of that at Work! I don't even like to take a Chrongraph to the range let alone hook up a laptap to record the data/ I can write it down on paper!

Same here.
Hey I have an idea. Why don't you guys create spreadsheets on every time you eat pizza, what's on it, thin crust or thick, time of day, blah blah blah

 

[Rule3]

Same here.
Hey I have an idea. Why don't you guys create spreadsheets on every time you eat pizza, what's on it, thin crust or thick, time of day, blah blah blah

I kept reading all about some kind of "ladder Testing" so I brought several ladders to the range but they never let me shoot them??

 

[Sionnix]

I kept reading all about some kind of "ladder Testing" so I brought several ladders to the range but they never let me shoot them??

Is that... not how we are supposed to ladder test? That might explain the confusion atthe range this morning. I had a fleet of 8 footers out there.

Same here.
Hey I have an idea. Why don't you guys create spreadsheets on every time you eat pizza, what's on it, thin crust or thick, time of day, blah blah blah

Don't tempt me, I do like my spreadsheets, maybe that will be the next post. The summary page can aggregate the analyze the toppings.

 

[enine]

I am a terrible millennial and as such love keeping records in THE CLOUD for access from wherever I am . And I'm versed enough in Excel that it makes it enjoyable for me to use for almost everything. I also considering Access and maybe even programming something in R to do data analysis on it but figured that would get old real quick and tossed the idea.

My farm/range is past phone reception so I have to have everything local instead of in the cloud so I can still access wherever I go.

I use a spreadsheet in Open/Libreoffice