Why would one file the tip of a bullet?

In the commercial for the movie The American, actor Clooney is seen filing the tip of a rifle round, just the bullet tip.

Is there any reason this makes sense?

To turn a FMJ into an old fashioned dum dum round? But he's changing the weight of the bullet...

Because it is a movie? Dum dum rounds were just rounds made at the Indian Dumdum aresenal, 303 British IIRC.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot32.htm

Was he filing it to make it a 'sharper' point? If so, that may make it able to more easily penetrate. Penetration is affected by three things mainly: velocity, bullet composition, and bullet shape. A more pointed projectile will better penetrate than one that is less pointed, everything else being equal...

That being said, I'd imagine the director thought it would look cool and that's why it's in the movie. :D


EDIT: Oh, I thought you meant he was filing the tip to make it sharper. If he's making it flat, then yeah, I guess the dum dum round would be a good theory.

in la la land (hollywood) dum dums are explosive rounds. what would make you think filing a bullet would make it explode?

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Originally Posted by Azzy

Because it is a movie? Dum dum rounds were just rounds made at the Indian Dumdum aresenal, 303 British IIRC.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot32.htm

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Wikipedia, which everyone knows is the authority on life, says the expression "dumdum" now means any expanding bullet. (Personally, I use hornady's polymer tipped interlocks, which according to the authority are dumdum rounds.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expanding_bullet

I use the 'dum-dum' expression now because it reminds me of people trying to carve an "X" in the tip to facilitate expansion. The x filing reminded me of the Clooney clip.

I'm just trying to understand why I too should be filing the tips off of my bullets.

Ridiculous Guess #2- filing the tip makes their ballistic coefficient much better then factory made.

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Originally Posted by max384

EDIT: Oh, I thought you meant he was filing the tip to make it sharper. If he's making it flat, then yeah, I guess the dum dum round would be a good theory.

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I caught the commercial with my DVR, I went through it in slow motion. He's threading something with a die in the previous scene, and then he's seen filing the jacketed rifle round. I can only see the shoulder of the brass on up. He is definitely filing the bullet tip flat.

Ridiculous Guess #3 - flat bullets, like hollow points, also create a high pressure zone of air at the front which creates a smoother flight path.

This is hollywood mumbo jumbo. Why does hollywood often hold pistols sideways, keep fingers on triggers, pistol bullets send people flying, shooting gas tanks makes cars explode and the various other things not allowed by physics.

In short, if you are filing your rifle bullets you are an imbecile. Buy the right ammo for the job. No amount of "bubba-ing" up your load will help you in any way. What is next, dipping projectiles in feces to make them more likely to cause an E. coli infection... please.

I'm sure the Hollyweirdos don't know this, but long range competitors have been know to trim and repoint meplats. Not with a file, of course ...

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Originally Posted by Mootness

I caught the commercial with my DVR, I went through it in slow motion. He's threading something with a die in the previous scene, and then he's seen filing the jacketed rifle round. I can only see the shoulder of the brass on up. He is definitely filing the bullet tip flat.

Ridiculous Guess #3 - flat bullets, like hollow points, also create a high pressure zone of air at the front which creates a smoother flight path.

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I Am Really Surprised At You Guys! Everybody knows the reason you file a cross on the tip of your bullet is to make sure the Zombies, Werewolfs and Vampires die. Of course with the last 2 a silver bullet is needed.;)

I have never seen filing a bullet.. I have seen polishing a bullet.