In this paper, the rigid-viscoplastic finite element method is employed together with an iteratively force-balancing method to analyze a piercing and trimming process with a spring-attached die in hot former forging. An actual piercing and trimming process with a spring-attached die is investigated in detail and a generalized analysis model is proposed. A multi-stage hot former forging process is simulated under various spring constants. The analyzed results are discussed in order to investigate the effects of spring constants on the metal flow lines and the formed shapes. Then an optimal piercing and trimming process in hot former forging is devised.