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.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

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 reloading “journal.” I write everything down and/or print stuff out or it gets lost. I have a 3 ring binder where all my targets go with extra notes. I’ll give you a heads up…If you’re frustrated with all these apps, reloading will really bum you out.

Seems like you need a better system that doesn’t seem like such a burden. You can get group analysis on the 4dof app. It also has a calculator so you could combine apps there. You should be able to print ballistics tables from there if you want physical dope cards. But you don’t need those either as you can just get the relevant table and post it as your lock screen photo on your phone. So there is one app that does 3 things. 4dof isn’t my favorite calculator…but there’s a good example.

Do you really need group analysis? If not, dump that app.

MS Word to come up with dope cards? Nope. That does seem like extra work when most or all of the calculators have on-board tables…usually you can print them out.

I have several apps, and do different things with them, but when it comes to hunting in the field I really only use one. I use my preferred ballistics calculator to create a dope card for my lock screen on my phone. I ensure my load data is loaded into my Swaro binos…and that’s it. Pretty easy. If I get my phone out for an app while I’m hunting it’s mostly for ONX.

All of the extensive app use is preseason work. Game day is minimal app use. This method has worked for me.

 

[Luked]

I use one app for reloading and figuring out groups.
I use a Garmin Chrono for speeds plug those into Applied Ballistics app to get my dope readings then make a dope card that goes on the rifle to what distances I need it.
I dont go near as far as most here to. My max is 500 that I want to really do anything.

 

[Wapiti151]

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.

I feel like my load development process would probably be similar to yours…and I have heard horror stories about apps crashing, or just deleting a guys days entirely.

Ha, I’m at the exact same place. Love my RF binos, I love them while hunting and have really enjoyed using them this year as I’m out shooting at random ranges a lot more to simulate hunting. But, it’s another app/profile manager I have to maintain. So I have that in the Swaro app, but I don’t like their ballistic app/tables at all outside of managing binos…hence using Revic and/or AB.

How do you like the Revic app overall? That’s the one I have preferred lately. I wish one of these apps did all/most of what each individual one does. Or at least made it super easy to get data from one to another.

 

[Wapiti151]

I use one app for reloading and figuring out groups.
I use a Garmin Chrono for speeds plug those into Applied Ballistics app to get my dope readings then make a dope card that goes on the rifle to what distances I need it.
I dont go near as far as most here to. My max is 500 that I want to really do anything.

How are you making your dope cards, word or excel?

 

[nm.otter]

here's a cheat code:

Post your more promising load information in a thread on a discussion forum.

...or email it to a friend. I have 30+ years of email on call to enhance my memory.

 

[Judd]

Interesting topic...

I have a note book and white board at the house for all reloading stuff. While in load dev my stuff is on a 4x8 whiteboard and a 3 ring binder...once load is established it is erased and it goes on a 3x5 card binder and written on a corner of the whiteboard where I update and keep track of rounds on the barrel and when it was last cleaned.

For ballistic stuff...everything is started in Shooter app. Once all that is proven I move to building a profile in the Revic app for my binos and prove that out. From that point on, everything is binos and Shooter is the backup if I ever need it.

Edited to add...I rarely will use the Garmin app, all that info is in my 3 ring binder while doing load dev. I don't need that info in the app. I will sometimes purge the 3 ring binder...once I have a load, I don't need to reference that material again. If I get another rifle in the same caliber, I look at the 3x5 binder and see the area I need to focus on but rarely are two rifles running the exact same recipe but will be in the "neighborhood".

 

[MuleyFever]

...or email it to a friend. I have 30+ years of email on call to enhance my memory.

Create a new email and email to yourself?

 

[JF_Idaho]

You can email your own email. Do it all the time to move pictures, etc to other devices.

 

[streamerfish]

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.

Yeah, me too. I have a small notebook, with very minimal 'stuff" in it.

I don't track any development stuff on paper. I generally just have 2-3 loads per gun at most. And use my preferred like 95% of the time.

I buy the same components consistently, I generally buy stuff that I can get reliably (although sometimes that can be difficult).

I enjoy reloading, but I enjoy shooting more. Although I do plan on doing more experimentation on my 6.5 creed that's on the way, just for fun honestly. But I can tell you right now what the main load will be.

 

[CMcCormick1805]

I get what you’re saying about the 3-5 apps to get ballistic data. I look at it as a backup system. Sig BDX is first as I’ve found it’s the quickest way to my data, then if my rangefinder quits I have a chart on my watch. If my watch quits every rifle has a laminated chart on it in some way shape or form. That data comes from GeoBallistics.

 

[streamerfish]

BTW....

This is a good, interesting topic.

I will be honest, I don't use any apps currently. Nor do I use a chronograph or kestrel or any of that.

The only apps I have are a couple of reloading data apps, just to look up load recipes. I am considering looking into a ballastics app. Not really sure if i actually need one though.