Trimming Meplats

[edorsey]

I have been pointing my bullets for about a year, but have been unsure of trimming. I use the Whidden pointing die on my 7mm 180 vld's and hybrids. I have toyed around with trimming, but cant seem to get comfortable with the results. I was hoping to get some advice on how you guys go about the process of trimming meplats.

1st Is it best to reference from the base to tip of the bullet or from the ogive to tip of the bullet? I have seen tools that work with both of these methods.

2nd I have also heard point then trim. Trim then point. Finally point, trim, and then point again.

3rd I have heard from some people who adjust the trimmer length to each bullet.

4th I sort my bullets by weight and base to ogive. So when I start trimming should I do this sort before or after trimming and pointing?

I would greatly value any advice, wisdom, and input I could get on this topic.

Thanks,
Eric

 

[johnmyers]

I talked to John Hoover before buying his tools and die. Sort trim and point in that order. Measure length base to tip and trim to shortest bullets in that lot. May not suit everyone but it works for me.

 

[scott_at_vortex]

I talked to John Hoover before buying his tools and die. Sort trim and point in that order. Measure length base to tip and trim to shortest bullets in that lot. May not suit everyone but it works for me.

^This is the way I do it. You want the bullets to all be the same length when pointing. Other wise you can end up with some bullets over pointed(distorted boat tail) and some bullets not pointed enough(or hardly at all)

 

[armaster]

Base to ogive is the single most important measurement. Weight sort after trimming.

 

[Bowhunter4]

Hoover has one of the best tools to trim and point. The pointing die doesn't leave and bunch of marks on the tip of bullet and the trimmer has a built in base to ogive measuring tool.

1st. sort base to ogive
2nd. trim
3rd. point
4th. sort bearing surface

Its really just the easy. keep it simple

 

[Blaster-37]

Talk to Hoover...