Method for producing seamless metal pipe

A method for producing a seamless metal pipe includes the steps of: preparing a billet having a diameter (B); heating the billet; forming, in a center part of a rear end of the heated billet, a hole including four grooves extending in an axial direction of the billet, the grooves each having a groove width (D) satisfying Formula (1), a groove height (H) satisfying Formula (2), and a groove depth (L1) satisfying Formula (3); and subjecting the billet provided with the hole to piercing-rolling from a front end thereof by means of a piercing machine. By this means, the generation of burrs and internal defects at the rear end of a hollow shell after piercing-rolling can be suppressed.0.12≤D/B≤0.25 (1)0.10≤H/B≤0.20 (2)0.05≤L1/B≤0.10 (3)