Logs
A bit back, I was chatting with another gun blogger and the topic of how many rounds I put through my ParaUSA came up. I said I’d guess about 3,000 (and that’s counting the estimated 1,500 put through it at Blackwater). She didn’t believe me and I said it was a guess. Obviously, not an accurate number but more like an estimate from which the actual variance would likely be immaterial. After all, not uncommon for me to shoot 2-300 rounds at the range. So, I started wondering exactly how people would keep up with that. I mean, it’s not like guns come with an odometer to count rounds. It turns out, the serious tacticool gamer operators keep logs.
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:40 am
Seems like an LCD screen computer in a grip panel would keep track of round count nicely. Haven’t seen any yet. It could measure recoil force too. The things that computers can do expand once they’ve been implemented. If the screen was detachable and connected wirelessly to the optical sight . . .
We haven’t even begun to go down the road of electronics and guns. I could use a scope mount that has a 1/4 /20 screw on top so that I can use my LCD back camera with up to 20x zoom as a scope. Could video the session and play it back in slow motion afterwards to call the shots.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:07 am
i bet you could adapt a cheap pedometer. they used to sell purely mechanical ones, back in the stone age, no batteries required. some hot glue and a little duct tape oughta do it…
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:08 am
If you were to put any normal consumer grade electronics on even a .22 it would be dead before you finished the first box of ammo.
I like the concepts but the implemention is going to be a little more “interesting” than you might think.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:22 am
Have any necessary sensors mounted on the gun and use a wire or wireless to detach the computer from the recoil.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Don’t see the problem joe, the corner shot apr(which is for use with a 5.56 caliber assault rifle) handles the recoil(yeah i know, what recoil? ;)) with no problems.
As this incorporates both a camera & screen that are subject to the recoil over & over, they seem to have figured out a way to make it work.
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:03 pm
I don’t keep shooting logs, but I keep a reloading log, and until pretty recently I only shot one pistol per caliber.
October 24th, 2009 at 1:37 am
The way I keep track is by taking stock of all the ammo I brought to the range in a little notebook before I leave, then shooting all of it.
That being said, I’d be curious as to how many people keep track of rounds-put-through and replace parts before they fail, as opposed to waiting until they fail during use?
October 24th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Dave,
I did more or less what you do — although less formally. I estimated that I fired off about 400 rounds of .45 ACP a week through my Springer Mil-Spec, and multiplied that by 40 and then by 3 (the number of years when I’d go to the range at least once per week). Add a couple of IDPA practice drills and such at least four times a year, and I got to about 25,000 rounds through the Springer before I had my first major failure (a sheared slide stop pin). I replace my recoil springs about every year, but other than that, I’ve done nada to teh Springer. I pretty much just shoot ’em till they break.
I think I’ve only ever kept track of .45 ACP, because that’s head and shoulders more than any other caliber I shoot (.22 LR isn’t ammo around here, it’s a household staple, like flour or sugar).
I’ve never kept count of 7.62x39mm, for instance, probably because I’d just start giggling uncontrollably.
October 24th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
The only record I keep for my firearms is how often I buy lots of 500 SMKs (rifle) or 5000 (handgun)cast bullets for reloading. Most.22 rimfire is not accounted for. The exception is that the S&W M41 is accounted by the case. (it is well worn.)
Unfortunately, I no longer cast my own, due to condo rules.
An interesting aside, is that I have not been able to wear out any pistol – – – – yet. I work hard at the task but little progress is noted. The m 41 however is maybe half-way there. I will enjoy finishing it off!
Roger
October 26th, 2009 at 1:23 am
Thanks for the response, Kim!
I don’t keep track of my 7.62x51mm ammo consumption, because the thought of how much it costs makes me want to cry.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
On my cell phone is a tool “Notepad” – a simple app that I recorder date and rounds of ammo. Helps to know how much and frequency that I have shot that weapon. Be advised – when you upgrade phones, the contact info can be transferred, but not the Notes..