Filing soft points

[Xerox]

The condition of soft point points is often pretty ordinary I think most will agree.

For a while now I've been filing mine down. Nothing like machine precision, but just a quick few passes to make them a bit more symmetrical to the eye.

More for my peace of mind than anything I suppose.

Anyone else's OCD drive them to do the same?

Just wondering if I'm alone.

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

The base of the bullet is a lot more critical to precision than is nose shape. Just sayin'...

Josh

[Lorgar]

Anyone else's OCD drive them to do the same?

I shot Sierra Pro hunters in my .308 when I was reloading for it which had dented tips now and then and I'd do the same.

Can't say that it added anything, just did it to keep things neat and even.

[SendIt]

The base of the bullet is a lot more critical to precision than is nose shape. Just sayin'...

I found the same from a little testing.

Posted a bit about it if you're interested.

Experimenting with tips and boat tails.

[Seconds]

Anyone else's OCD drive them to do the same?

The first step is admitting you have a problem

[Harper]

If you wanted to get serious about it I suppose you could make a 'pencil sharpener' of sorts with an abrasive cup at the bottom.

Give the tips a few turns to uniform them.

If you can be bothered that is

[1290]

I wouldnt 'adjust' soft points....other than softly knocking a high point back in...
The correct amount of material is already there, if you try to 'fix' it visually by removing bit of lead, then you are likely to alter the amount of material and therefore the balance (in spin stability / flight)....

dum-dumming fmjs is another thing.....

[Chronos]

If you wanted to get serious about it I suppose you could make a 'pencil sharpener' of sorts with an abrasive cup at the bottom.

Give the tips a few turns to uniform them.

If you can be bothered that is

this could be done without removing any material (and changing bullet weight) by using a widden pointing die, http://www.6mmbr.com/bulletpointer.html
Problem is you'd put them in your mag and fire the first one...they'd all be damaged again



i wouldn't bother with trying to correct them, if it bothers you that much put your hand a little deeper in those pockets and buy ballistic tips

Chronos

[Harper]

this could be done without removing any material (and changing bullet weight) by using a widden pointing die

True.

Just for the sake of argument though... since we're talking softpoints and not match bullets I wouldn't think it's really that much of an issue. Practically speaking.

I realise a few grain less will lighten the bullet, change the velocity, trajectory... Hitting a few mm high at 100m isn't going to change anything for a hunter though.


Not completely convinced such a small change would have all that negative impact on stability as you suggested, 1290.


Just brainstorming here... Happy to hear counter arguments

[sally-bee]

dum-dumming fmjs is another thing.....

Drilling the tip to create a hollow point, right?