Anyone ever use a Meplat Trimmer?

[Old Rooster]

Anyone use one or heard of anyone use one?

Hoover Meplat Trimmer

Use the Hoover Meplat Trimmer to uniform the ogive length and frontal area of the bullet's meplat to achieve more consistent Ballistic Coefficient.

bullettipping.com

 

[SteveALA]

Following

 

[zerosprk]

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

 

[WeiserBucks]

@Huntnful

 

[Mikecr]

I've used a Montour Country Rifles version.
The problem with meplat trimming ONLY is that it only causes same nose length, with a cost of meplat diameter variance to do that.
This, producing just opposite of claimed 'consistent BC'..
Keep in mind that meplat diameter is way bigger to BC than nose length.

It's best to trim only to prep (as needed) for or after pointing.
Hoover system looks the best to me. Their different pieces allow adjustment for least pointing transition.
I've used a Whidden pointer and it is a failure in my view, because it's datum is bullet OAL, instead of ogive length(like Hoover sys).

 

[Huntnful]

Literally just got mine today and started using it. Super simple and effective. I like it so far! I watched a YouTube video by "F class John" for a simple starter video.

Before

After

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

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

 

[Longtine88]

I use the MCR like zerosprk listed. Works great. Very consistent and they are pretty when done

 

[Huntnful]

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

However much it shaved off I could not weigh to the nearest .0 gr. I weighed all 5 bullets at exactly 230.0gr. after trimming them. It's does lower the BC, by a stated 2%. I haven't checked exactly how much yet. But it should also uniform the BC better compared to the inconsistent tips in the first picture. Basically the berger tips drove me nuts and I wanted to uniform them. I drill them out after trimming, and won't point them. So basically I just have a slightly more consistent bullet, and I'll true up the BC at 1000 yards. Other than that, it doesn't do much except help tame my OCD

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

However much it shaved off I could not weigh to the nearest .0 gr. I weighed all 5 bullets at exactly 230.0gr. after trimming them. It's does lower the BC, by a stated 2%. I haven't checked exactly how much yet. But it should also uniform the BC better compared to the inconsistent tips in the first picture. Basically the berger tips drove me nuts and I wanted to uniform them. I drill them out after trimming, and won't point them. So basically I just have a slightly more consistent bullet, and I'll true up the BC at 1000 yards. Other than that, it doesn't do much except help tame my OCD

Thanks much and Happy New Year!

 

[Longtine88]

After using mine for about 16 months I notice a little more consistency past 600 yards. They just seem to fly better. Or maybe I'm just ocd like huntnful.

For real I noticed groups in my 30 nosler shooting the 220 LRHT's improved. Went from acute triangle groups to more equilateral type groups.

 

[del2les]

Yes, prior to more reliable tipped and HP bullets, uniforming meplats were required for more consistent LR/ELR shooting. Especially in BR and small varmint shooting.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

I would like to talk to a shooter that actually uses trimming the Meplat on bullets and this person is a BR, "F" Class, ELR shooter.
Looks like something that would throw a wrench into my reloading system. If there was a gain in accuracy i would do it, but need to talk to a Bonified Metplat Trimmer.
Please PM me so I can exchange phone #s to talk.
Happy New Year, God Bless
Len & Jill

 

[del2les]

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

During my years of 1,000yd BR and LR/ELR shooting, differing meplats (different BC's) would show more vertical stringing and the occasional flyer, usually an impact lower in the nominal group. This experience and understanding was widespread among precision and competition shooters and especially with some of the older bullets and the QA of the times. Even today, some of my higher quality brand of VLD target bullets have slightly varying meplats, as the pics posted above reveal.

For most, these minor variances will have no impact on their ranges, groups and the larger game they hunt, but when very consistent, tiny groups are required and/or desired, it can reduce those unexpected flyers/misses. If it did not improve the consistency of our groups, we would have never used the process all these decades.