I was pumped to go shoot today. I had a new chronograph I was going to use for the first time and was using some new powder to develop a load for my 375 H&H. I had 12 rounds, three each of four seperate loads each varying by 1/2 grain.

The first thing that went wrong was the 9 volt battery I brought for the Chrony was dead. Oh well, there is next time.

Then, as I am carrying my box of ammo, the slick plastic lid slid off, and all rounds fell to the ground. There is no way of telling which rounds are which, as I identified each group by a sheet of paper inside the lid. Now, they were all mixed up.

My point is, how do you guys mark each group of ammo to distinguish one load from the other?

Magic marker, unless it is the final selection for hunting when I load the whole box the same.

Put the bullet weight, powder and powder weight on each cartridge. Comes off in a tumbler, steel wool or flitz.

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:

The first thing that went wrong was the 9 volt battery I brought for the Chrony was dead. Oh well, there is next time.

I find the same with my chronograph -- it is hard on 9 volt batteries. So I always carry spares.

quote:

...how do you guys mark each group of ammo to distinguish one load from the other?

I put each group of ammo in a plastic bag -- the Ziplock kind or an equivalent. Then I put a small slip of paper, about 2" X 2", on which I've written all the pertinent information about those loads, inside the ziplock bag with the rounds.

If I use a plastic or cardboard ammo box -- which I often do -- then I put the slip of paper with the information inside the box along with the rounds. I almost never put two different kinds of rounds into the same box.

One other way this can be done is to wrap the group of rounds that are the same with a rubber band, and put the identifying paper under the rubber band.

Besides that, I have a small Samsonite carrying case (like a small luggage case) that I use for my ammo carrying case. This was originally a cosmetics carrying case. I got it in a thrift store for less than $5. It works perfectly for my purpose, and it has a carrying handle on top. All my ammo, whether in plastic Ziplock bags or in plastic or paper ammo bozxes, is carried in this carrying case.

My rifle ammo mostly lives in Midway 50-round plastic boxes. I load test recipes in ten rounds per recipe, which take up two 5-round rows in the boxes.

On the outside of the box, I place a small plain sticker, about 1/2"x2", bought at Walmart, and each two rows in the box have a sticker on the immediate outside. I either write a few basics about the load on the sticker, or use a code number. MORE IMPORTANT, I place a mark of PERMANENT felt marker on the sticker, and then mark the ten primers of each 10-round group with the same-colored marker.

The markers come in sets of four, blue, red, green, and black, so each ten rounds will have a DIFFERENT COLOR on label and primers...except the last ten, which remain unmarked.

Permanent-type markers are important, because rain, mist, dew, beer or whatever, will wipe out the markings if they're washable-type markers. This method only takes seconds, and it has saved my bacon on many occasions when boxes got dumped.

Going to the range is like going fishing, you have to go often to get good at it.

I write up a range report for each trip and staple a copy to the stack of targets. In the report I list all the things that went wrong and all the things I forgot.

Those who can'r remember the past are doomed to repeat it, unless they read their own email.

One thing I am learning from Seafire, if the wind is up, I only shoot at 50 yards and forget the 100 yard targets.

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:
...My point is, how do you guys mark each group of ammo to distinguish one load from the other?

Hey SBT, I Color Code the "Primers" with Marks-A-Lot markers. And put a similar Color Dot on the Load Data Sheet. You can get two different colors on a single Primer if need be.

When you punch out the spent primers, all the marking is gone so everything is like new. I'd considered marking the cases like "Woods" mentioned, but I was concerned the markers might contain some Ammonia in the Ink. And of course you sure don't want Ammonia to make contact with the Case.

One other thing that will help you significantly is to "scrounge" some red/orange Federal Cartridge Holders that come with the ammo. Remington also works fairly well, but not as good as the Federal.

Anyway, the Federal Cartridge Holders retain the cartridges with a Friction Tab, so you really have to go out of your way to make the Cartridges fall out. And they have a wide flat area across the back which is perfect for placing a strip of Masking Tape to make notes about the Loads.

I use the zip lock bag method with a sticky note or post it note inside the bag. Even after the results are in I still put the empties back in the appropriate bag so I can re-examine them back at the loading bench when making my final determination on which load is my performer from that batch.
Hot cores method sounds good too, never thought of that............
Looks like now you've got 12 to burn for your .375!
Tell me some of your loads I'm about to start working on some .375 H&H loads myself.

SBT,

I also use a similar method as woods when working up loads.

Typically I am always loading the same bullet and powder. If this is the case, a simple sharpie magic marker to write the powder weight on the actual case is an excellent way to keep them seperate. Everyone has there own method. This one works for me.


cheers

Common permanent marker pens in different colours are useful for marking. I note my load on a paper and then use one single colour for a combination of bullet and powder. E.g. 1 score red - .308Win with Sierra and 203b Norma powder, 42 grains; 2 sores 42.5 grs & c.

Fritz

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:

My point is, how do you guys mark each group of ammo to distinguish one load from the other?

SBT...write down the info on a piece of paper in a notebook or something and use a color for each load. Then, get that color of marker and color the primer that color. that's what i do.

I write the last digit of the powder load (I only load in full grain increments for larger rifle ammo) on the base of the case. If I have several powders, inevitably the last digit in the workup will overlap, so I add a tic, 'X', dash, or something to differentiate. I include all the pertinant data on the box cover...so dropping a full case and spilling out the cartridges will not result in loss of identity.

Spare batteries are always good to have, expecially ones with expiration dates on them many years in the future.

quote:

Originally posted by LE270:

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:

I find the same with my chronograph -- it is hard on 9 volt batteries. So I always carry spares.

[QUOTE]...how do you guys mark each group of ammo to distinguish one load from the other?

I put each group of ammo in a plastic bag -- the Ziplock kind or an equivalent. Then I put a small slip of paper, about 2" X 2", on which I've written all the pertinent information about those loads, inside the ziplock bag with the rounds.

If I use a plastic or cardboard ammo box -- which I often do -- then I put the slip of paper with the information inside the box along with the rounds. I almost never put two different kinds of rounds into the same box.

One other way this can be done is to wrap the group of rounds that are the same with a rubber band, and put the identifying paper under the rubber band.

Besides that, I have a small Samsonite carrying case (like a small luggage case) that I use for my ammo carrying case. This was originally a cosmetics carrying case. I got it in a thrift store for less than $5. It works perfectly for my purpose, and it has a carrying handle on top. All my ammo, whether in plastic Ziplock bags or in plastic or paper ammo bozxes, is carried in this carrying case.

Ditto!!!! on the Zip Locks and lables inside them for small quantities. Also use plastic boxes of many small sizes with lids at 4/.99 at the .99 store.

Print lables on computer printer and attach to boxes. Peel off lable when shooting and attach to note book and record results.

The battery problem was solved when I built myself a 6 cell C size battery power supply. Could have been better with D size batteries but the C size holder was available. My Oehler goes thru 6 batteries in about 10 months, shooting every week. roger

I'm with Pop....Use Sharpie's to mark the primers. I put a number on the primer with an extra fine Sharpie, the number corresponds the the load information that I write in my notebook, at time of loading. This has worked like a charm for me. I also use sharpies to color code the primers in shot shell loading. eg. no color= low base 7 1/2, green primer = high base 7 1/2, black primer = high base 6 etc.

Sharpies are very good markers, don't dry out if kept capped between uses and you can take off the color easily with finger nail polish remover.

I usually write a number on the side of the loaded cartrige that corisponds to what the load is, and then tap a "cheat sheet" with the various numbers and their corrisponding loads to the top of the ammo box.

Baggies are great, but I have had more than a few tear and spill shells in my range bag (which is why I use ammo boxes now).

There are lots of differenbt ways to mark individual cartridges, as seen above. One of the easiest is to just mark the different loads with single numbers using a felt marker. For instance, if you are gonna try 4 different loads, mark them #1 through #4. Put a slip of paper telling you what loads 1 thru 4 each are, in your wallet or somewhere else you'll be sure to take it to the range.


BUT, getting to what I do....I use pretty much the same method you do, except I scotch tape the lid to the bottom of the ammo box. Only takes a couple of pieces of tape, one each on front & back, and scotch tape is cheap. If you wanna be really sure, use a couple of pieces of packaging tape instead.

You guys are amazing, thanks for all the help! I will definetly change my ways.

Snellstrom,

I wasn't happy with the groups I was getting using Reloader 15 and Barnes TSC bullets, so I switched to IMR 4064. In half grain increments, I went from 66 Gr to 68 Gr. While I don't know which was which, the groups were much better.

I use the M&M 20 round cases. Each case is marked with the caliber and box number if I have multiple boxes. It's further marked if I have more than one rifle of that caliber.

Then I put a piece of masking tape around the bottom of the box which also has the box, caliber, and if applicable, rifle.

This piece of masking also goes on the loading block when I'm reloading in case I'm loading more than one batch of the same caliber.

As I process the loads, I record each step. this has saved me time if I have to stop loading for awhile.

Then all of my load and range data is on a sheet of paper which goes from my "range" book to my "historical" book which also contains the targets.

I use ziplock bags for my lunch

quote:

Originally posted by POP:

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:

My point is, how do you guys mark each group of ammo to distinguish one load from the other?

Ooooh, those are such pretty sharpie colors!

Sorry, had to do it...

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:

I'd considered marking the cases like "Woods" mentioned, but I was concerned the markers might contain some Ammonia in the Ink. And of course you sure don't want Ammonia to make contact with the Case.

Hey HC

I think it's just got "dyes, n-propanol (71-23-8), n-butanol (71-36-3) and diacetone alcohol (123-42-2) according to this

http://www.sharpie.com/sanford/pdfs/Sharpie%20Fine.pdf

I find it very useful to pick up any loaded round and immediately know without a doubt what's in it. Sometimes I shoot round-robin (like you do when you're working up your OCW stuff ) and it keeps me 100% accurate on what round to shoot next.

It also helps as a double and triple check when I'm loading cause I mark the cases with the load before I load the powder.

I can look at any load I've loaded, even a year ago and tell what's in it.

I can't tell you how many times I have looked at a load and said to myself, "I'm glad it's marked!"

Try it. It doesn't hurt a thing.

Come on HC, try something new!

quote:

Originally posted by woods:
... Sometimes I shoot round-robin (like you do when you're working up your OCW stuff )

quote:

...Come on HC, try something new!

And damage my reputation?

I do appreciate the info on the Sharpe Markers not having Ammonia in them. I can see where it would also be much faster to use them for marking the Case Weight on the Cases when Weight Sorting, than using 3M Scotch Transparent Tape and writing on the tape.

Best of luck to you.

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:
I was pumped to go shoot today. I had a new chronograph I was going to use for the first time and was using some new powder to develop a load for my 375 H&H. I had 12 rounds, three each of four seperate loads each varying by 1/2 grain.

The first thing that went wrong was the 9 volt battery I brought for the Chrony was dead. Oh well, there is next time.

Then, as I am carrying my box of ammo, the slick plastic lid slid off, and all rounds fell to the ground. There is no way of telling which rounds are which, as I identified each group by a sheet of paper inside the lid. Now, they were all mixed up.

My point is, how do you guys mark each group of ammo to distinguish one load from the other?

Magic Marker likewise.. I put a mark on the case head/primer. Unmarked for the lightest load, one dot for the next, two dots/slashes for the next, etc. Hottest load, I blacken the primer.....