Anyone ever use a Meplat Trimmer?

[Mike D Texas]

I have been looking into this a lot lately. I purchased the MCR tool for 6.5mm and did some 156 EOL bullets. I did not see much difference in accuracy out to 300 yards and have yet to go further to test a drop in BC. My main concern is to make the Berger bullets more uniform with the hollow point to hopefully improve terminal performance. They don't need much improving but you still hear that story of some penciling through. Even if the trimming drops the BC by 2%, I can accommodate for that in my dope. A quick calculation shows a 3/4" drop at 600 yards. That isn't enough to worry about IMO. When you look at a Hammer bullet, they have large meplats and hollow points. I don't see that many people complaining about them.

This picture shows the meplats trimmed, deburred and then drilled out with a 0.050 drill bit. I've been drilling the tips for years but there's always that 1 or 2 that go off center and get screwed up. This keeps things centered.
View attachment 424498

Here is a before and after picture. Honestly not a big difference but will have to see how they perform on game.
View attachment 424519

I haven't trimmed a hybrid or OTM yet. Those have a smaller tip so the change would be greater. I know drilling out the 144 Hybrids was a pain due to the closed tip.
View attachment 424520

This is what I do with mine but I use a .040" drill bit.

 

[Grizzly60]

If bergers are that bad out the box, all the reason to use something else

 

[Mike D Texas]

If bergers are that bad out the box, all the reason to use something else

Well the LRHT bullets are more pointed than the VLD hunting or hybrid bullets. The hybrid in my picture is untouched.

 

[Chas1]

Sinclair one doesn't work very well, bullet wobbles and now just sits on a shelve.

 

[Longtine88]

Would ZZ gauge pins be adequate for the job? I have both sets in + and - that goes to 0.2500, I've used them for a lot of different applications, but never tried to gauge meplat holes.

Unless, you are talking about the OD of the hollow point. If that were the case, I would just sharpie the tip and spin it on white sheet of paper, then measure the transferred dimension on the paper

Just throwing stuff out there.they

They would get close I'm sure. I use drill bits kinda the same way.

 

[209jones]

The Hoover attached to a Lyman elec trimmer, seems like a reasonable option, certainly likely to be easier on the constitution than a hand crank or a drill.

 

[ChrisInKY]

How well do they work and are they worth the money?

I shoot 300gr Sierra Match Kings from a .338LM (roughly $3/shot). For me it was worth with the expense. Hazarding a guess, I get about a 10% reduction in group size at 800+ meters. To achieve this, one must point the bullet ... and after ... sort your bullets into many many little piles. Your average shooter would lose interest about right here.

Meplat trimming and bullet pointing are 'next level' efforts. The cost (for the OP's system ... which I use) is high. I think the break-in point is about $450. If you're not going to re-point your bullets, there's probably very little need to even mess with meplat trimming.

The engineer (John) manufacturing this system is a shooter. Buy his stuff and he will tell you things you wanted to learn, but couldn't find on the Internet.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[bndt1200]

Just looking for the reasoning behind it. I'll try to find a Utube on it
Thanks for the offer on your 6.5.
All I need is another process added to bullets with my OCD on brass.

Read that Berger and Sierra try to manufacture so this process does not have to be done.

Thanks much

Len & Jill

Just looking for the reasoning behind it. I'll try to find a Utube on it
Thanks for the offer on your 6.5.
All I need is another process added to bullets with my OCD on brass.

Read that Berger and Sierra try to manufacture so this process does not have to be done.

Thanks much

Len & Jill

WRT Berger's process. I see inconsistent meplats on the 180 VLD making it difficult to measure bullet length.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

I know that this is an older Post and for an update:
We did purchase the Whidden Pointing System for most of our callibers. Have not used it yet so can't give any Data on Changes in Accuracy. Can't wait to use it along with the other 20 processes for our Brass/Bullet Prep.

Bullet Pointing Die System - Whidden Gunworks

Order Now! A great article on pointing bullets. Bullet Pointing Die System A bullet pointing die is a die used to make a sharper point on a bullet. By

www.whiddengunworks.com

Thanks
Len & Jill

 

[bamban]

I do a lot of meplat trimming of M118LRs for hogs. Using meplat trimmer set up on Giraud brass trimmer. Tip cleaned up with #0 center drill.

Both taken with said modified ammo, one at 220, the other at 300. The night shot is the 300 yard shot with 16 inch AR10 and thermal. No runners, dropped on the spot.

 

[Old Rooster]

The uneven meplats on bullets always bothered me. Stopped up hollow points can be fixed and now it looks like the uneven meplats can be fixed also.

 

[Mike Matteson]

I dont have experience with the Hoover trimmer. However, I have used these in various calibers extensively:

MCR Bullet Meplat Uniforming Tool 308 Cal

This tool allows the reloader to remove the unevenness in the nose of the bullet. This results in consistent projectiles, tighter groups and increased...

www.midwayusa.com

Following partly!

 

[Mike Matteson]

Does it change the weight of the bullet and then have to sort lots?
I see from the picture that the bullets are more uniform now in length, but also have different diameter at the meplat, which would change the BC
I never seen the Meplat that distorted on our bullets, but not to say that I microscope every bullet.
Should this be done only if you want to "Point" your bullets?
How much of a difference with not doing this on bullets for shooting ELR?
Sorry for the lack of knowledge but, "A" question is why ""Point" a bullet? Is it for hunting so the bullet will have better expansion???
We can always learn more from other knowledgeable shooters. I am far from a wiz on bullets and always learning.
All the bullets we have for hunting usually work and the same for Target. Also some Target bullets work well for hunting.
Would like to know more about this from qualified shooters that are using this system.
Thanks much
Len & Jill

From what I have read on bullet weight is doesn't make much differents in a few grains differents. if I remember correctly. It was brough up here somewhere. it's the ogive that needs to be paid attention too. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Old Rooster]

Mike D Texas, I understand how the drill bit opens the hollow point but how do you get the perfectly rounded meplats?
They look great!