Digital Record Keeping

[waco]

I’m not that organized. I keep all load data on index cards and store them in a recipe box.

 

[Rockydoc]

Libre is free, works on Mac and you can paste pictures. Played with grt today, has an OnTarget type screen for calc MOA. Just be sure to drag your jpg into top left corner to get it to work. Save and paste into libre spread sheet.

What is "grt"?

 

[hporter]

I didn't realize there was already a thread here on this software.

Here is the link:

https://www.artfulbullet.com/index.php?threads/gordons-reloading-tool.6873/


Software Link:
https://grtools.de/doku.php

 

[hporter]

GRT looks very interesting. But if you want to run it on a Mac, you will have to use something like VirtualBox to run Windows software.

 

[popper]

haven't tried it yet but LibreOffice has a database program with search also. Works with SQL type files.

 

[Rockydoc]

It does indeed look interesting.

I just now clicked on the link in hporter's post (#43) and I see GRT is similar to QuickLoad, plus it stores pictures of target groups. If it is as accurate as QL at predicting results, then it would be better than QL, and it's FREE.

 

[popper]

I don't have QL to compare but for the stuff I have (BO/30/30 308), fps is good. Even 9 & 40 came close.
My LeverE 160 FTX load runs ~2k fps. 185gr/3031 shoots same POI and GRT gives 1950 fps.

 

[Rockydoc]

haven't tried it yet but LibreOffice has a database program with search also. Works with SQL type files.

I attempted to use that database but I didn't know what I was doing, and I still don't. I have decided that databases are too difficult for me. I am doing it with a spreadsheet now. Early innings, it may be working. We'll see in time.

 

[Rockydoc]

I don't have QL to compare but for the stuff I have (BO/30/30 308), fps is good. Even 9 & 40 came close.

So, popper, you have used GRT and found it's velocity predictions agreed with your actual chronographed results?

 

[popper]

yes, pretty close. Within a couple hundred fps for 308, 30/30 closer. BO about right.

 

[Rockydoc]

The way you fine tune QuickLoad to get it to predict load results for your gun is to compare the velocity predicted to the velocity achieved. So you have to chronograph the load fired. There are several parameters you can adjust the value of to get the velocity QL predicts to agree with what your gun actually produced. That is why I asked if the velocity of the loads fired matched what GRT predicted.

 

[popper]

I used known load (powder, grains,barrel length, cartridge of course), used jacketed FN bullet to simulate cast. If doing a spreadsheet I would recommend a vertical form with the various load data horiz. Typical database 'format' is line item with data horiz. They have a from of data for display but speadsheet done the other way works better for display or printing.

 

[popper]

Suggested spreadsheet/ data base format. Any ideas? Changes?

 

[hporter]

Looks good, except you don't have a field for lube type or perhaps coating type.

 

[Rockydoc]

You have the fields along the side and I have them along the top. My son who knows something about spreadsheets suggested that way. I have no idea if one is better than the other. I haven't worked with it long enough to know.

 

[hporter]

Rockydoc, I downloaded and ran GRT this afternoon on my Mac using Oracle VirtualBox running Windows XP. Other than the fact that I don't know what I am doing with it, it appears to run just fine on that hardware platform.

I tried setting up a 240 grain Lee SWC loaded into a 44special case with 5 grains of Bullseye and it said the PSI was 38k..... I have some learning to do on how to operate the software. Always the same Read the _ *_*_* _ Manual....

 

[Rockydoc]

The original topic of this thread was Digital Record Keeping. I think GRT is a program like QuickLoad which is not for record keeping but for load prediction / development.
I don't mind the drift. GRT sounds like quite a deal since it is free, if it works.
I think QL vs GRT might make a nice new thread.

 

[popper]

harold - forgot lube! Good one. Rocky, horiz doesn't print/scroll easily.
Used to use excel to make tables, cmd processor, jump tables for embedded processors. Version control the spreadsheet with code for documentation. Save as csv, copy file into TexPad, cut and paste into source code. 30 min job out of a days work. Embedded memory was $$. Used the horiz method like dBase uses. Not the best for this.

 

[hporter]

Sorry to drift your thread. You seemed interested in the program and I know you are Mac guy - so I thought I would let you know it worked on my Mac. In hindsight, I should have sent a private message.

Popper, that is a good point about the vertical data layout and printing your load data out. I laid out my database load entry form in that format for that exact reason. Since it is a database, I have another form/table in spreadsheet format to quickly scroll through all the loads. And yet another form for printing ammo box labels out.

 

[Rockydoc]

Sorry to drift your thread. You seemed interested in the program and I know you are Mac guy - so I thought I would let you know it worked on my Mac. In hindsight, I should have sent a private message.

I don’t object to the drift. I already have QL paid for ($150+) so my interest in GRT is academic. It is a heck of a good deal for free. I would like to see a side by side comparison of the two. I don’t know how that could be done unless someone had both and compared identical loads fired in the same gun.