Gun records...

[Amazon Hunter]

I read on here a lot about people stating that they have a gun that has 2000 or 5000 rounds shot out of them. I just got my gun and have fired it at the range one time. I currently have a beginning count on the number of rounds shot through it but sooner or later I will lose track if I don't start keeping a record on my gun. Do most of you keep records like this?
I assume that this would also help to let you know when it may be time to replace certain parts on your guns.

 

[sparks701]

I keep track to let me know when to replace springs, and I like to know how many, what type of rounds I have shot, I also record any failures and which mag was in involved(I number my mags).

 

[buckshotshorty]

I made up a spread sheet in Excel listing gun brand, date purchased,
serial #, and every time I go to the range, I list how many rounds fired. At any given time I can tell you how many rounds through each gun I own. The wonderful thing about Excel is that you have nice uniform columns, and once you add up your rounds, Excel will automatically tally the total as you add new rounds fired.

If a gun has been serviced, I make the background of the cell that includes my next test fire rounds, red in color. So that I can also tell you at what round count the gun had servicing.

 

[axisofoil]

I made up a spread sheet in Excel listing gun brand, date purchased,
serial #, and every time I go to the range, I list how many rounds fired. At any given time I can tell you how many rounds through each gun I own. The wonderful thing about Excel is that you have nice uniform columns, and once you add up your rounds, Excel will automatically tally the total as you add new rounds fired.

If a gun has been serviced, I make the background of the cell that includes my next test fire rounds, red in color. So that I can also tell you at what round count the gun had servicing.

I like this. Just made my own. So, I suppose I'm with him.

 

[JimB120]

I made up a spread sheet in Excel listing gun brand, date purchased,
serial #, and every time I go to the range, I list how many rounds fired. At any given time I can tell you how many rounds through each gun I own. The wonderful thing about Excel is that you have nice uniform columns, and once you add up your rounds, Excel will automatically tally the total as you add new rounds fired.

If a gun has been serviced, I make the background of the cell that includes my next test fire rounds, red in color. So that I can also tell you at what round count the gun had servicing.

+1 That's pretty much how I track mine too.

 

[Gun Fan 70]

I like the excel idea. I may have to try that. I just keep one of those pocket calendars (about the size of a checkbook) in my range bag. When I shoot I make a note of what gun, round count, FTE's, FTF's, service dates, etc. The other good reason to do this is to keep track of guns I hav'nt shot in a while. When I was transfering the totals to my new calendar in January, I realized I'd gone a whole year without shooting my Mini-14. Thats just wrong!

 

[Yawn]

Well, that is a little to detailed for me for my firearm... I make sure to fire in increments of boxes at the range. I use a sharpee and mark the date I fired through the box... I can also mark any issues or problems... yeah, it means I have to store them, but I figure anyone can write out a spreadsheet. What I mean by that is if I were to buy a used firearm, I would much rather see the actual boxes with the datesa and info on them then I would an excel spreadsheet that anyone could just make up.

 

[Amazon Hunter]

Thanks for the info...I've always been a deer rifle shooter. I have a 44 magnum I use for deer hunting to but I've never shot that many rounds through it...too expensive. Now that I have my Ruger SR40 I plan on visiting the range a whole lot more. I really like the idea of exel. I will probably set that up today.

 

[blume357]

I really don't have a clue how many rounds I've shot through most of my guns... all I can say is lots.

 

[khutch]

What I mean by that is if I were to buy a used firearm, I would much rather see the actual boxes with the datesa and info on them then I would an excel spreadsheet that anyone could just make up.

Because it is impossible to go to the local range, pick up a bunch of empty boxes from the trash, and write anything you want on them??

Ken

 

[Anonymous]

I really don't have a clue how many rounds I've shot through most of my guns... all I can say is lots.

Me too, but I can't really see how it matters other than if you love to keep records. Other than that, I really can't see any real use of keeping such records. My pistols have thousands of rounds through them, some of which have never had a single issue. Any that have had a problem, it was dealt with and then I got back to shooting.

 

[JimB120]

I really don't have a clue how many rounds I've shot through most of my guns... all I can say is lots.

Me too, but I can't really see how it matters other than if you love to keep records.

You maintain your car based on milage don't you? A gun is no different. It needs replacement of certain springs and parts at wear intervals, and needs to be inspected for signs of unusual wear.

If I'm buying a used weapon and someone can't give me a reasonable accounting of how it's been used and maintained I'll assume it's a junker, just like someone who can't produce maintenance records on a vehicle.

Of course if you plan on keeping your gun for ever, and don't care if it's dependable then it doesn't really matter I suppose.

 

[mn_doggie]

Well, that is a little to detailed for me for my firearm... I make sure to fire in increments of boxes at the range. I use a sharpee and mark the date I fired through the box... I can also mark any issues or problems... yeah, it means I have to store them, but I figure anyone can write out a spreadsheet. What I mean by that is if I were to buy a used firearm, I would much rather see the actual boxes with the datesa and info on them then I would an excel spreadsheet that anyone could just make up.

Next used car I buy better have the empty oil cans.....

 

[Verndog]

...What I mean by that is if I were to buy a used firearm, I would much rather see the actual boxes with the datesa and info on them then I would an excel spreadsheet that anyone could just make up.

Maybe so, but you are an exception to keep every box top. To expect or even hope to find a used firearm that can PROVE whats fired from saved boxtops is unreasonable and likely not to happen. If someone has gone to the trouble to keep a spreadsheet (mine is with gun info and helpful links to information as well) then why not trust them. Look at the gun #1 first and foremost anyway. You can buy garbage that isn't reliable with 1 box thru it.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Just like a car, when I buy a used gun I fully expect to have to do some work to it. If I don't then I got a bonus!!

 

[ranger1]

Next used car I buy better have the empty oil cans.....

Wouldn't service receipts be more appropriate?

 

[Yawn]

I first have to say I really like the discussions on this sight... many times it gets me or keeps me thinking about things I otherwise wouldn't.

Khutch - well yes, one could go to the range and pick up boxes. But i have receipts for my ammo boxes to go with those boxes.

(and just like when I wrote my comments the first time, I fully realize most people wouldn't do this... I am definitely the exception not the rule Verndog.) And here is why...

MN_doggie, I actually probably wouldn't purchase a used car that didn't have service records (or that had saved oil cans :wink: ). What if they did an excellent job servicing the themselves? Well, that is great, but I would look for a car with service records for a purchase of that size because it would not be financialy prudent to spend the money I would need to in order to find oout if in fact they claim of propper maintenance was true or not (I am not a car guy).

Would a used gun purchase be the same for me... well maybe? And since no one else will probably do what I am doing, then I probably won't purchase used guns unless it was from a close friend.

As far as I can tell, the boxes with receipts and any recipts of work done or changes made or chemicals used (lube and such) would constitute the "service records" for the gun. Now, some would say then you should always have your gun cleaned and kept up by a gusmith. I have actually toyed with the same thought... if for nothing else then for the same reasons that I have mentioned before with regards to my SR9's Mag Disconnect... It would show due dilligence and take liability off of me if it ever came to that because I defended myself with my gun.

Ok, so yes, receipts with the spreadsheet, I would take a second look at someone who had that. But, being able to see the actual box of ammo that goes with the receipt... to see how that box performed per that box... well, that would motivate me just a little bit more. But this discussion is far less about what I would look for in a used gun as much as it is about how I prepare my own equipment to get top dollar should I ever need/want to seel it.

I am well aware I am not the norm... I am ok with that though.

 

[khutch]

Khutch - well yes, one could go to the range and pick up boxes. But i have receipts for my ammo boxes to go with those boxes.

I was not attacking you, btw, just pointing out that a dishonest human can easily fake any information you might demand of him to verify his claims of what he has or has not done. The bin at the range that contains the boxes one might use to fake a gun's service record will most likely contain the receipts for them too. An inspection of the gun itself is more useful than all the ancillary information that might be presented to define its condition since as a species we are just not trustworthy. That would be the reason that John 3:16 was penned....

Ken

 

[exavid]

I put 60 rounds though my SR9 today at our local club range, indoor thankfully, and I know I now have 1010 rounds fired through that pistol because I keep the brass in the original boxes. I'll start reloading these shells once I get to 1100 rounds through the gun and continue the count by the number of boxes of unloaded brass. I'd probably never remember to update a notebook. It works because I only have one pistol of a caliber so all the boxes are different.

 

[Yawn]

Khutch - well yes, one could go to the range and pick up boxes. But i have receipts for my ammo boxes to go with those boxes.

I was not attacking you, btw, just pointing out that a dishonest human can easily fake any information you might demand of him to verify his claims of what he has or has not done. The bin at the range that contains the boxes one might use to fake a gun's service record will most likely contain the receipts for them too. An inspection of the gun itself is more useful than all the ancillary information that might be presented to define its condition since as a species we are just not trustworthy. That would be the reason that John 3:16 was penned....

Ken

I didn't think you were attacking me, but I appreciate the care in that comment above. Anything created can be faked, but most of the time the degree of diffivulty to fake something is very important. And I doubt that one would find too many receipts in a garbage bin next to the boxes of ammo. So, my system raises the degree of honesty a bit, I think. My comments we ancillary to the notion of gun inspection, just like maintenance recordas are ancillary to purchasing a used car... ancillary, but not irrelevant by any means. I appreciate the comments, and yes, I think you are on the right track for why John 3:16 was spoken and then quoted in the first place.

 

[DGW1949]

If one uses one certain gun a lot, keeping a round count is essential to doing proper maintenance. "Proper" here could mean anything from knowing how many BP rounds can be fired through a revolver before binding occours to when it's time to change the recoil spring in your M1 Garand. Of course some guns require more upkeep than others....but knowing how many rounds has been fired is still key, no matter what the quirements are.

DGW

 

[Charon]

Where might one find a source for the number of rounds at which springs should be replaced? I have certainly never seen anything like that in any of the owner's manuals that came with my guns.

My next question would be, "Which springs?" I can perhaps understand the recoil springs on autoloaders. But since auto maintenance was mentioned, at what interval should valve springs be replaced? Just driving a car around the block will cycle the valve springs more times than the springs in a firearm (probably even including a machine gun) will ever cycle.

 

[exavid]

I belong to the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" club. I'll use my SR9 and any other autoloader until it causes problems. If my SR begins to have firing problems with known good ammo then it's time to check springs and whatever. As long as it's clean and properly lubed and fires without problems I'll change nothing about it. Weakening springs don't show up suddenly, if indeed there is some deterioration it will be cumulative and get worse rather slowly giving plenty of warning.
My carry gun doesn't get as much excercize as my range guns, just enough to stay reasonably accurate with it and know it's still working.

 

[RMFC]

I made up a spread sheet in Excel listing gun brand, date purchased,
serial #, and every time I go to the range, I list how many rounds fired. At any given time I can tell you how many rounds through each gun I own. The wonderful thing about Excel is that you have nice uniform columns, and once you add up your rounds, Excel will automatically tally the total as you add new rounds fired.

If a gun has been serviced, I make the background of the cell that includes my next test fire rounds, red in color. So that I can also tell you at what round count the gun had servicing.

Thanks so much for the input sounds like a great idea. Just finished creating my own spreadsheet!

 

[tj_cubin]

I kept track of the number of rounds fired when i got my SR9, i think it was in a google docs spreadsheet, but it didn't take long for me to lose track and forget updating it. Eventually i just gave up on it entirely.

 

[Yawn]

which is why I just keep the boxes and mark on them.

 

[Charon]

I still want to know the source for the need for spring replacement after some number of rounds. Why would the springs in a firearm be less durable than the springs in an automobile - or for that matter, the springs in almost any musical instrument in which springs are used to return valves or keys? The springs in an automotive engine cycle literally millions of times without failure. The suspension springs on a vehicle do the same. I see no reason to believe the springs in a gun are so poorly designed as to fail after a few thousand cycles.

 

[axisofoil]

I still want to know the source for the need for spring replacement after some number of rounds. Why would the springs in a firearm be less durable than the springs in an automobile - or for that matter, the springs in almost any musical instrument in which springs are used to return valves or keys? The springs in an automotive engine cycle literally millions of times without failure. The suspension springs on a vehicle do the same. I see no reason to believe the springs in a gun are so poorly designed as to fail after a few thousand cycles.

Springs on cars are often over-engineered to the point where the steel in them enters the area of it's semi-infinite fatigue life. Maybe the ones on guns are designed such that they minimize costs while being longer than the service-life of most pistols? That is, the average pistol that is to be used for a couple-hundred rounds a year, if that. So over the 20 or 30 years that that pistol will remain servicable without proper storage and periodic maintenance... you have probably less than 5k rounds over it's lifespan.

 

[exavid]

Springs on cars and most large machinery aren't as constrained as to size. Springs in a pistol are small because of limited space available to house them. One other limitation of auto loader springs is that they have to be strong enough to withstand almost full compression when the gun is fired while having enough strength to force the slide forward, strip a cartridge from the magazine and force it into the breech. Then it has to be weak enough to make it possible for a user to be able to rack the slide. Tough design decisions for the designer.

 

[Ruger Packer]

I really don't have a clue how many rounds I've shot through most of my guns... all I can say is lots.

All this fuss about round counts.... reminds me of bean counters! I think tound counting is a "yuppy thing".

I'm like you, I have no clue, but its LOTS!!! Rugers are tough, haven't had one break yet!!! 8)