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Most of those replies were ridiculous. I never have posted a thread in my life. But seeing how big of jerks most people were to your reply, I had to.
I second the guy above me. Rite in the Rain is perfect. It is very popular among snipers because if you're out in the field and the weather gets bad, your log book won't get ruined. I like their's best as the basis for a Sniper Marksmanship Record Book.
http://www.riteintherain.com/
I order the spiral bound notebook 5x7 in cammo with blank desert tan pages to go in it.
Now, you have blank pages to print on them exactly what you want. Since you're asking, I assume you don't know what you want/need on the pages. Here are some good templates:
http://www.oregonshooter.com/cart/in...ndex&cPath=1_5
I personally custom make my own based on the design Major Plaster produced for his landmark sniper textbook The Ultimate Sniper. I scan his templates in then use Photoshop to change them to what I really want.
Custom is better than one you would buy already put together. That way my template fits my shooting for that day: be it target, a hostage drill, a moving target, or some other crazy concoction. It's more professional than having one basic template you have to mark up for each different situation.
Hope this helps. Don't let jerks get you down.
Dammit man, I'm right there with you on that. . . (and good first post, BTW).
Let 2,000 mall ninjas ask every f'n day about "what if" or "how can I" in any context of HD, SD, CCW, ammo lethality, "what the best zombie bullet" or "how do I Bubba my SKS" and 200 people fall all over themselves to answer, based on personal experience . . .
This guy just wants to know about tracking precision rifle data and we're all of a sudden worried about semantics and qualifications and who might be looking on . . . talk about submitting to "divide and conquer". More like eating our own.
Let whoever might be looking on realize that what we are doing and talking about is perfectly legal, morally justifiable and a challenging and fascinating aspect of the shooting sports.
I shoot with military people and police all the time, and my daughter (OMG!!!) and I are heading to a tactical match next weekend, the Allegheny Sniper Challenge. This one is a benefit match for the WoundedWarriors.Org and AmericanSniper.Org and we're pleased to be a part of it. We're putting our money where our mouth is when it comes to actually supporting our troops, with real money and real service and not just trendy slogans and flag bumper stickers. We're carrying back packs, using mil dot reticles, our scopes have dials, our rifles are VERY scary looking and some of our targets look like torsos - so what?
How about we calm down and try not to forget that our second amendment rights don't cover duck hunting? Remember and understand that civilian tactical shooting is a viable and valuable method of keeping our country secure, probably more so than fantasy based suppressive fire by an SKS with a duckbill magazine and folding stock, or a vest full of AK mags, or a hi-cap CCW with 2 extra mags on our weak hip. Nobody whines about IPSC, or cowboy action shooting, but how much more "wannabe" does it get?
Just for spite:
And this one will really scare hell out of some of "us", my little girl:
[Sigh] . . . anyway . . . to the OP's question, the actual subject of the much shat-upon thread . . .
Rite-In-The-Rain rocks, and I use their products quite a bit. Most data books use RITR paper printed in their own format. I use their 3x5 spiral notebook to keep quickly accessible drop & drift data in my tac rifle's stock pack:
I use the Tactical Tailor modular data books and a more obscure, but more comprehensive, product by Flea/RebHawk. I just saw a VERY nice data book by a Canadian outfit, V-Bull, that I'd like to try as well:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=696284&gonew=1#UNREAD
use a spiral note book to record/calculate all the variables.
Bullet BC:
Bullet weight:
Powder weight:
Case:
Primer:
# of shots in group:
Wind drift:
Range:
Altitude:
Barrel length:
Slope up/down:
Coriolis effect(haha yeah right):
You've right, a spiral notebook WILL do it all, just needs to be weatherproof. You've got it all and then some . . .
For tracking field data, I'd suggest leaving the technical data out of it, and keeping that in a binder at home with the reloading gear & data.
What you really need are several groups of information.
First is a way to identify the rifle, optics and ammo used, to prevent confusing that with different loads or outfits:
1) The caliber & last four digits will identify the rifle.
2) The scope model/serial will do for optics.
Note: The scope S/N may seem overboard, but optics problems can surface and I have several scope that are similar that might be moved form gun to gun and if one of them tracks funny, I need a way to isolate it.
3) The load info. Simple reference/lot number & bullet weight is good, as long as you know exactly what that references back to at the reloading room.
Next, we need to track local and atmospheric info:
1) Location.
Oddly enough, sight setting will be affected by location, whether it be by anomalous winds, terrain induced thermals, whatever. I know (now) that my data from Quantico's Range 4 will never agree with data form the several other places I shoot to and beyond 1k, so knowing the data was shot at Quantico allows me to disregard it from the average.
2) Light direction & intensity.
3) Wind direction and speed.
Note: Both of these parameters should be tracked for every shot. Light affect long range POI and changes throughout the day. Wind changes constantly.
Record ALL identifiable winds. At long ranges, we will often have one wind at the firing point, one wind at midrange, and yet another, different wind at the target. They ALL matter.
4) Temperature.
Temperature affects muzzle velocity and air density. Trajectories will be flatter at higher temps for both of these reasons.
5) Air density.
Air density is a product of temperature, altitude, barometric pressure, and to a much lesser extent, humidity. Tracking each individually, and trying to relate that to the actual air density that the bullet sees in flight can become tedious and confusing. The expression "density altitude" combines these relevant factors and renders a value equal to the altitude you'd be under "standard conditions". I use a kestrel 4000 to monitor density altitude and forget everything else but temperature.
Then we need to preface and record our results.
1) Range
2) Departure angle
3) Call (where the crosshairs were when the shot broke)
4) Predicted elevation required
5) Actual elevation needed
6) Predicted windage required
7) Windage actually needed
By creating a convenient format, or using a pre-formatted data book, and carefully tracking this information, we build "DOPE" (data of previous engagements). This dope will allow us to make real time corrections. We can use the records to prove that our ballistic data is affected by certain conditions.
I generate ballistic charts with Sierra Infinity, transcribe it to my 3x5 notepad , and mark results in my data book. Later, I review my data book, and change my notepad as required. I have often been able to fine tune ballistic coefficients to very closely match my actual trajectory and rely less on published data and/or computer generated predictions.
