Anyone else tired of bouncing between 3–5+ apps just to manage rifle/shooting data?

[Wapiti151]

My number one goal coming into this year was to shoot more…and with spring weather finally here I’ve been getting out a lot more, especially stretching things out further than I have in the past.

I've realized it before, but the annoyance is really coming to the forefront now that I am shooting a lot more and really focusing on understanding/improving every aspect of my process.

Right now I’m bouncing between:
1-2 ballistic solver apps, Ballistic-X for group analysis, Garmin for chrono, rangefinder app with profiles, plus Word docs for dope cards, and spreadsheets for gear/rifle info and tracking, and so on.

None of it connects...It’s all siloed in each individual app.

I feel like I’m constantly rebuilding or updating the same rifle profiles across multiple places. If something changes, I have to go update everything manually. Just ran into this with a new ammo lot. POI barely moved, but MV changed enough that I had to go update every single profile. I’ve got a shorter barrel going on my 7PRC soon and already know I’ll be doing it all again.

My process works, but it is way more complicated than it should be in today's day and age, and opens up room for error. First world problems I know...I have a love/hate with all the improvements and tech advancements we've seen in our industry, but with what's out there these days I'd think there would be a better all in one solution.

I’m mostly shooting/hunting in that 300–800 yard range, with some messing around out to ~1k.


Curious how everyone else is handling this.

What are you guys actually using day-to-day?
What’s your setup look like from start to finish?
What do you like/hate about it?

 

[justinspicher]

I’m pretty simple. I have a dope card taped to my buttstock. I don’t want/need a bunch of bullshit electronics to make a shot.

I also only have a single rifle so that helps.

 

[steelheadmike]

KISS. I went down “the rabbit hole” but I’m really liking the simple method. The results have similar, if not better.

Once I get a load I like, I run it through a silver to make confirm QD works for it. That’s pretty much it for under 600 yds. I carry some laminated dope cards that I stick in the back pocket of my bino harness If I want to confirm.

 

[Chris in TN]

No. The only app I use is a ballistics app. I don't do apps for groups or load data.

 

[Wapiti151]

I’m pretty simple. I have a dope card taped to my buttstock. I don’t want/need a bunch of bullshit electronics to make a shot.

I also only have a single rifle so that helps.

Same, I won’t use anything outside of my RF or dope on my rifle when hunting. I dive into all this other stuff when I’m out at the range.

I have files of dope cards for my stock for my three primary files I’ll hunt with. I create them in word, but create a lot of them with all the different elevations/conditions we see across the west.

 

[Wapiti151]

No. The only app I use is a ballistics app. I don't do apps for groups or load data.

I don’t reload, but will be at some point when I have more time. I assumed a lot of people used an app or something similar. How do you track all of your loads, data, development, etc?

 

[Dmoua]

A kestrel elite with link paired with Rf binos is pretty minimal imo. I have 7-8 gun profiles on my kestrel and just toggle left and right to whatever gun I’m shooting that day. Pretty easy.

 

[Chris in TN]

I don’t reload, but will be at some point when I have more time. I assumed a lot of people used an app or something similar. How do you track all of your loads, data, development, etc?

I have a notebook but it's kinda scary what I can remember without writing it down. It also helps if you stick with one type of brass per caliber and one type of primer, one seating die setting per rifle or caliber (easier said than done sometimes and I'm about to buy a second .223 seater to avoid that) and loading in full or half grain increments on powder charges.

But, honestly, you can buy a 5-subject notebook and use one subject per caliber/rifle and it'll last for decades. And I don't track development or group sizes at all. Either they shot well enough to suit me or not.

And no, I don't write everything down. I have some loads wrote down but I really do remember almost every load I shoot.

Also, here's a cheat code:

Post your more promising load information in a thread on a discussion forum. Ten years from now you can do an internet search and still find it. And yes, I've literally done that. I googled up some data this winter, that I posted online in 2012, for a rifle I left in the safe for several years while I pursued other things.

 

[mtnbound]

My number one goal coming into this year was to shoot more…and with spring weather finally here I’ve been getting out a lot more, especially stretching things out further than I have in the past.

I've realized it before, but the annoyance is really coming to the forefront now that I am shooting a lot more and really focusing on understanding/improving every aspect of my process.

Right now I’m bouncing between:
1-2 ballistic solver apps, Ballistic-X for group analysis, Garmin for chrono, rangefinder app with profiles, plus Word docs for dope cards, and spreadsheets for gear/rifle info and tracking, and so on.

None of it connects...It’s all siloed in each individual app.

I feel like I’m constantly rebuilding or updating the same rifle profiles across multiple places. If something changes, I have to go update everything manually. Just ran into this with a new ammo lot. POI barely moved, but MV changed enough that I had to go update every single profile. I’ve got a shorter barrel going on my 7PRC soon and already know I’ll be doing it all again.

My process works, but it is way more complicated than it should be in today's day and age, and opens up room for error. First world problems I know...I have a love/hate with all the improvements and tech advancements we've seen in our industry, but with what's out there these days I'd think there would be a better all in one solution.

I’m mostly shooting/hunting in that 300–800 yard range, with some messing around out to ~1k.


Curious how everyone else is handling this.

What are you guys actually using day-to-day?
What’s your setup look like from start to finish?
What do you like/hate about it?

I first start wth a notebook for load development. Keeping track of the usual stuff.

I go to the range and use my Garmin chorno to test accuracy, pressure, and velocity of my test loads.

Once I have picked my load to move forward with, I confirm it again with my chorno and typically zero with a 20-round group. I will input the load info into my ballistics solver and validate the load at distance.

Once the load is validated, I enter all load data from my notebook into the Notes section of my solver and save a profile for each validated load e.g 223-88TMK-VARGET/24GR, 223-88TMK-8208/23.5GR.

I don't use my chorno again with a validated load unless I open a new jug of powder.

I sync my load data into my range-finding ballistic binos.

For field use, with the RFB binos, I make sure I am on the correct profile and let it work. Prior to the RFB binos, I would open my solver and set the current DA throughout the day, but after a while, I quit doing that since I tend to hunt in the same areas and know what I need to adjust based on my Quick Drop/Gun data.

What I hate is that the Revic app lacks a Notes section to store my load data, so I keep it in a separate solving app. The Revic app is used to sync my ammo/rifle profiles with the binos, so I essentially maintain two solvers, which isn't a big deal since I'm not doing much changing year after year, but I still hate it.

I could just keep my load data on my phone in the notes area and backup to the cloud, but I haven't done that because I have come to realize that while the RFB binos are nice, I really do not need them for where I hunt, and while I practice at longer distances, I limit my hunting shots to under 600y, so I am considering dropping back to a non-ballistic solving bino to reduce the fiddle factor.