Blasthole cone sampling is widely used in iron ore mining to increase grade control resolution, supplementing the coarser reverse circulation (RC) grid. While the debate between the effectiveness of RC and cone sampling continues in the literature, the benefits of greater lateral sample density and lower cost with cone sampling are recognised. At Hancock Iron Ore (HIO), a comprehensive three-part study was conducted at the Roy Hill (RH) mine to evaluate different blastcone sampling methods, with the potential to apply findings across all HIO operations. Roy Hill is mined in 4 m flitches within a 12 m bench, with material stockpiled by flitch. In contrast, McPhee, a newer HIO mine, is mined as two 4 m flitches for an 8 m bench but is stockpiled at the bench scale. This operational difference means RH requires flitch-level sampling, while bench-level sampling suffices at McPhee. The study aimed to characterise the performance and uncertainty of both bench and flitch sampling methods. Three sampling techniques were trialled: flitch-scale shovelling, bench-scale shovelling, and bench scale auger sampling. The auger method was hypothesised to offer more repeatable, less biased, and ergonomically favourable sampling, though it is limited to bench-scale. Shovelling, while more physically demanding, is simpler and allows for flitch-scale sampling, provided the flitch distribution within the cone is understood.