Pointing Confusion

[mikeymike]

Hi Guys,
I have been reading all postings with interest on "trimming and pointing" bullets. I'm just not clear on the trimming thing. After separating for bearing surface length, my 6mm bullets vary in total lengh, from base to tip, 1.248 to 1.257 on average. I have been trimming about .003 off. This seems to give a nice clean tip for pointing. My question is do I trim all the bullets to 1.245 then point or seperate into groups then minus .003 for each group (ie. 1.257 to 1.254), reset the pointer die the same amount and point?? Then that would bring up another question. Should I just put them all back in the box and shoot or keep them in their respective families to shoot???? I'm thinking that I am getting way too anal on this and was wondering how you guys deal with it.... Thanks, Mike

 

[dreever]

I used to be way to anal also. I used to take the shortest one, trim it, then trim all the others the same.
I used to weigh, sort, go nuts, etc, etc, etc.I used a big fishing lure box with lots of compartments and always ended up with multiple sorted piles of bullets.

Now I just point them up, or just shoot them right out of the box. I set a new range record doing it this way so it just shows me that sometimes as a Virgo I can just go a wee bit overboard.

Danny

 

[WyleWD]

I agree with dreever in most of this.

If you shoot really long distance, like over 600 yds, then I'd say do the pointing at least. From what I've seen from reliable sources it DEFINATELY helps.

In the matches that I shoot (under 500yds) I've seen too many young shooters outscore their dad, and the kids are shooting dads reloads.

Sometimes knowing too much is not a good thing and it affects your psyche when you're shooting. Just an observation. WD

 

[jr600yd]

Yeah, I've done all that and other stuff too! Drove me nuts and I didn't see any improvement in my scores at ranges under 600 yds.

Over 600 yds I do see "Improvement". I get less verticle spread and a little less wind drift. Under 600 yds? maybe there is some improvement but it's to small to make a difference. A 9 is still a 9
For matches 600 yds and less I load the bullets right out of the box. Over 600yds I do point and trim.

 

[1shot]

+1 to everything jr600yd said. Assuming your not shooting pulldown bullets and are using anything from a reputable mfg. you will never see your scores vary enough at 600 to matter. Your time is much better served at the range, not the bench. Now past 600, everything begins to change, but that wasn't your question.
I hope this helps,
Lloyd

 

[johara1]

If you shoot bench rest at 1K you will get the answer to your question, in prone at 1K the best Tubb said he could hold was 5" and 5" will not get you back for the shoot off most of the time. I never shot at 600 since the 60's but i did shoot 500 with my Dashers and they will hold .600 for 5 shots in a steady wind with trimmed and pointed bullets. Trimmed and pointed bullets will change your ES. and that will lessen your vertical and you will gain 2% on BC. That stuff may put you on the right side of the line at the next match.
With all the cost going up i want to have the best equipment i can afford and i want it to perform at its best,no short cuts. The only weak link will be me.......jim

 

[mikeymike]

Thanks for the input guys, (Danny, I probably have the same lure box, LOL). I am still courious about my initial question though... Re-adjust or just do them all the same at one setting... Just trying to understand how others are doing this process if anyone would care to share... Thanks again, Mike

 

[bozo699]

If you shoot bench rest at 1K you will get the answer to your question, in prone at 1K the best Tubb said he could hold was 5" and 5" will not get you back for the shoot off most of the time. I never shot at 600 since the 60's but i did shoot 500 with my Dashers and they will hold .600 for 5 shots in a steady wind with trimmed and pointed bullets. Trimmed and pointed bullets will change your ES. and that will lessen your vertical and you will gain 2% on BC. That stuff may put you on the right side of the line at the next match.
With all the cost going up i want to have the best equipment i can afford and i want it to perform at its best,no short cuts. The only weak link will be me.......jim

Jim,
Very well put, thank you. Do you feel it absolutely necessary to trim, will just pointing work, I am just getting started in this so I have questions and I am seeing a lot of controversy on trimming before or after or if trimming is needed at all,... your thoughts would be appreciated.
Wayne.

 

[Cigarcop]

Don't cheat the process...trim then point

 

[bozo699]

Thanks for the input guys, (Danny, I probably have the same lure box, LOL). I am still courious about my initial question though... Re-adjust or just do them all the same at one setting... Just trying to understand how others are doing this process if anyone would care to share... Thanks again, Mike

Mike,
I am new to this myself so this is just my thoughts and DEFINITELY not fact but I sorted 600 new Hybrids and I forgot the exact #'s now but over 500 were .001 and less spread and 40 some were .0015 only 20 some were .003 variance in BS so I will set my trimmer to remove what I feel is necessary to clean up the 500 real good ones and won't change my trimmer for the few off ones, JM$.02 worth.
Wayne.

 

[bozo699]

Don't cheat the process...trim then point

Cigarcop,
Some say to trim,point, then trim again,...do you think there is any merit in that?
Wayne.

 

[Cigarcop]

Since it decreases BC I would not want to do that to a pointed bullet that has been pointed correctly.

 

[bozo699]

Since it decreases BC I would not want to do that to a pointed bullet that has been pointed correctly.

I tried it already and was thinking the same thing,..thanks for your input.
Wayne.

 

[zfk55]

Trim and point once only, as long as your trimmer indexes on the ogive, and not the base. That's important.

Latigo

 

[johara1]

Wayne, I do trim then point, if you want get the bullets uniform and lower the ES. One other thing if you don't trim the points will not be the same, close don't get it......jim

 

[bozo699]

Jim,
Thank you, I will implement what I have learned and see what happens.
Wayne.

 

[mikeymike]

Jim, Do you just trim all bullets to the shortest bullet setting then point????? Thanks, Mike

 

[johara1]

Mike, No, there are a few short ones and i use them to FF.for the dasher. The lot will show a middle of the road and i will give a few up if the cutter touches the bullet that is good enough for me. If you measure the over all length of a few, set up on the middle length and it will be a starting point. i find i take off about.005-7 but this is not written in stone it will depend on the brand and the the lot .......jim

 

[mikeymike]

Jim, I will give it a try...Thanks for your help...... Mike

 

[ar15topgun]

I think on the Whidden sight they suggest you point, trim and point in that order.