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Gun Log SPC

As ammunition is starting to become more readily available and the prices are beginning to stabilize, firearms owners should hopefully be able to start hitting the range more and not having to worry about using up irreplaceable ammunition. If you spend a lot of time at the range and like to document every aspect of your experience there, an iOS application you should consider is called Gun Log SPC.

What is Gun Log SPC? Well to just call it a way to track your days at the range wouldn’t be a fair representation of what it’s capable of doing. It’s a robust program that will help you track your firearms, ammo, accessories, information about your results at the range, failures, and gives you the ability to run reports on those items.

Installation

Installation is simple. Go to the iTunes app store, pay $2.99 (on sale for $0.99 May 29th only!) for the application and install it. It’s your typical program from the app store and it’s only 1.5 MB so you don’t have to be connected to Wi-Fi to download it.

Features

For $2.99 you get the full version of the program and it gives you the ability to track every aspect of your firearms and shooting experiences.

The database can be protected with a password and once you do that (you turn it on via the Settings section within iPhone, iPad, etc) you will be prompted for the password anytime you run the program.

You also have the ability to share the database with other iOS devices via iTunes. Basic instructions are this. You connect your device to iTunes, go to the app section, and turn on the file sharing for the Gun Log SPC app and save the database to the computer. Once you do that, the database will be able to be transferred to other device when it is connect to iTunes.

Getting Started

To get the full use out of the application, you start by adding information on the firearm(s) you plan to use at the range. Make, model, caliber, serial # and purchase details are just some of the fields where you can enter information. You can add up to 4 pictures of the firearm (either by letting the app access your photos on the device or by taking photos directly through the app itself), enter information about different configurations (such as different barrels and sights) for the firearm and enter information about the maintenance performed.

Once that is complete, you can then enter information on the ammo you will be using. Make, caliber, type, weight, the # of rounds are some of the basic information fields for this section. If you load your own, there are also fields for grains of powder, primer type and the case type used. Since this program can also be used as a way to track your overall firearms collection, you can enter information on all firearms, ammo and accessories you own or have sold, not just the ones you plan to use at the range.

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Gun Log SPC - Firearms

Gun Log SPC – Firearms

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Gun Log SPC - Ammo

Gun Log SPC – Ammo

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Gun Log SPC - Accessories

Gun Log SPC – Accessories

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Once you have your firearm and ammo information in place, you are ready for the part of the program that has the most to offer the user, the firing sessions and firing sets.

You start this section by entering the basic information on the firing session, which is the date, the type of session (range, match, instruction, etc.) and then go into the firing sets for the session.You start the firing set by choosing the firearm, config, and ammo from the list of items you built in the program. After that you have multiple input such as set type, your firing method, stance and grip, the # of rounds fired, group size, POI location and distance, and POA distance. The elevation and windage adjustments you had to make are also can be tracked. You can also enter the environmental impacts on the session like wind speed and direction, tempature, humidity and the lighting. You can also see drop table information for the session and print out reports.

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Gun Log SPC - Firing Set

Gun Log SPC – Firing Set

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Gun Log SPC - Drop Table

Gun Log SPC – Drop Table

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Gun Log SPC - Reports

Gun Log SPC – Reports

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One drawback for many users will be the amount of information they need to add in order to get the full benefit of the program. Personally, I don’t track my range sessions to the level necessary to use a program such as this and I don’t typically use a smaller device such as the iPhone for information intenstive applications.

Wrapping Up

Overall, the software is well thought out and the creators have put together something which can be useful both as a basic firearms and ammo catalog and as a very detailed range log. If you are someone who spends a lot of time at the range and are looking for a program to help keep track of those sessions at a very detailed level, Gun Log SPC is hard to beat for the price.

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22 Responses to Gun Log SPC

  1. Jake May 29, 2013 at 11:45 am #

    Very cool – when does it come out for Android?

  2. Robbie May 29, 2013 at 12:26 pm #

    One of my favorite apps on my iPhone! I’ve been using it for a while to track my ammo inventory, both by purchases and usage, as well as keeping track of round counts for individual firearms. I’ll probably only ever use a fraction of the features this app has packed into it. For the price, this piece of software is pretty deep.

  3. Nam May 29, 2013 at 1:07 pm #

    Good review. I’ll have to get this.

    Just a heads up, it looks like the app is now $2.99. (At the time of this post.)

    • Brandon May 29, 2013 at 1:11 pm #

      Thanks Nam.

  4. Chuck G. May 29, 2013 at 1:15 pm #

    Need Android app, please….

  5. Michael Scali May 29, 2013 at 1:26 pm #

    Regret Walmart ammo cabinets still bare here in Spring Hill Florida………

    • Geoffrey Slinker May 29, 2013 at 2:28 pm #

      Thanks for the review. The app is normally $2.99, I will go lower the price wo that Monderno users can get the app for $0.99 today.

      Don’t forget to go the the web site (http://gunlogspc.blogspot.com) and follow the tutorials on how to enter the information and how to properly backup the data as well.

      • Brandon May 29, 2013 at 2:30 pm #

        Thanks Geoffrey, I’ll update the price in the review.

        • Matt May 29, 2013 at 2:41 pm #

          Hey Goeffrey, sorry about the misquote on the price. It’s been a few weeks since I first downloaded it and I thought that was the price when I installed. My apologies.

          • Matt May 29, 2013 at 2:45 pm #

            Even at $2.99 it’s still a heck of a deal given the application’s capabilities.

          • Geoffrey Slinker May 29, 2013 at 2:46 pm #

            No worries, the app was on sale until after Memorial Day when you downloaded it. Doesn’t matter to me. I just use the proceeds to buy more ammo anyway. 🙂

  6. Uncle Kenny May 29, 2013 at 7:13 pm #

    I guess it falls to me, again, to be the cranky old guy who says, “wait an minute.” You want to upload your firearms and ammo inventory into the iTunes/Google cloud for everyone, including of course, the gov to see? Not to put too fine a point on it, and Brandon will probably scold me for asking but, are you stupid?

    Sure, I have my inventory in an Excel file, but I keep it on a thumbdrive. I don’t even have it on my regular hard drive, where it might be compromised in a 4th amendment situation or by other thieves. Given the current political situation, why would you do anything else?

    I use the phone tools, where they make sense. I have Shooter and a couple more ballistic packages (Sierra, for example) on my phone and iPad and laptop. I sure don’t keep anything in them that would sniff like personal inventory or other identifying information.

    • Geoffrey Slinker May 29, 2013 at 7:39 pm #

      Many agree with you. If you don’t enable cloud backup the data stays put. Pretty simple. Could Apple or Google lie and steal the data. Sure. Microsoft could copy a spread sheet too. All possible but not likely. The app has a simple ballistics calculator that saves entries but requires no firearm entry, just sight height, zero distance in yards, G1BC, Muzzle velocity… The apps have their own pass code too. So, with all the viruses on a PC, the possibility of theft, hackers, and thieves, any electronic record of firearms is not acceptable. It’s funny, Gun Log doesn’t use iCloud, email, or print, and I promised it never would, and people buy the app, give it bad reviews because it won’t use iCloud. Seems you can’t please everyone. But for sure it is not for everyone, but you don’t have to enter data that you worry about, like make, model, or serial number.

      • Uncle Kenny May 29, 2013 at 10:01 pm #

        Good answer and many may be satisfied with that. Sadly, the phone platforms are inherently insecure with built-in “phone home” featues such that, even if you don’t enable the cloud, your data might still find its way to 3rd parties. See Karl Denninger’s work on encryption for his (unlocked) phones. Phones are easily stolen, phone passwords can be hacked or demanded by authorities. Remember that in both phones and social media, the main product folks are selling is … you. Your habits, your likes, your profile is their product that they remarket to advertisers and whoever else will pay them. You are the commodity they are selling. The service they provide has value, but it’s just the bait. In that world, how can you possibly trust them with any important information. I hope you have success with your product. I also hope people understand the risks.

        • Geoffrey Slinker May 29, 2013 at 10:14 pm #

          Absolutely. There are risks. People should think about their computer/phone use. Some people tease that we are putting on our tin foil hats.

          I didn’t open any doors on purpose, and I avoided using any API’s that are questionable. Everything in the apps are from Apple’s iOS SDKs, no third party. So that limits it a bit.

          I guess if you get on some radar a search warrant will crack open the gun safes and the filing cabinets.

          It’s not for everyone. Some people probably use the app to log their range session, and then print the data, and delete it. Who knows.

          The apps are a hobby. For those that find them useful, I am glad. They have paid for my effort and get a lot for the price. I just can’t emphasize enough that they need to go to the web site and learn how to back things up. It is a sad day when a user re-syncs their iPhone to the computer and it restores data from months ago. I can’t stop them from doing such, but if they backup the database file they will be safe.

          Also, the app is preferred on the iPad. The iPhone works in a pinch, but it is pretty small!

          I appreciate your position.

  7. Chava915 May 29, 2013 at 7:36 pm #

    Pretty great app! And since I have an Android device, I can only read up on it. I found out that is is ranked the 24th top paid iPad apps in the sports genre. That says a lot. Hope Skunkworks decides to make an Android port.

    • Geoffrey Slinker May 29, 2013 at 7:42 pm #

      Skunkworks Software is just little ol’ me.

  8. Brannon LeBouef May 29, 2013 at 11:38 pm #

    I wish apps like this would have the utility to allow you to also input data via a computer as typing in all of that on the phone can be very tedious. It would be cool to access it via a secure web address, download to excel and print for insurance use or whatnot also.

    • Geoffrey Slinker May 30, 2013 at 8:03 am #

      It sure can be tedious! That is why I made “pickers” and I typed in a lot of makes, manufacturers, and calibers so you don’t have to, and I made the pickers customizable so that you can type it once and never again.

      • Brannon LeBouef May 30, 2013 at 8:42 am #

        Good deal. Downloaded t late last night. Shame on me for not playing with it first before commenting. WIll be sure to check it out this week. Thanks

  9. Brandon May 30, 2013 at 8:03 am #

    Personally I’m not too worried about getting put on a “list” (guess what, if they exist I’m on every one of them I guarantee) or someone knowing what guns I have, though that might be plainly obvious since I run Monderno haha.

    If they ever decide to come for our guns, it’s not gonna matter if they know about all X number of your guns or just X-Y of them. Whether you have successfully kept some “off the books” or not is irrelevant in that scenario. If they are coming for our guns (confiscation) we have bigger problems to worry about.