Drill bit set recommendations? (2024)

I'm looking for a good US-made (or high quality non-Chinese) drill bit set that includes gauge width bits from 1-60.

For drilling into mild and moderate steel, what do you recommend? Cobalt with 118˚ or 135˚ points?

I plan on working on multiple types of firearms, so I'd like a good range of bit sizes so I can drill dowel pin holes, roll pin holes, pilot holes for screw taps and various sizes of gas ports.

Thanks,
Tony.

Hertel has been a pretty good deal for a drill index to get started. They may be made in China now, I'm not sure - I only recently became aware that they are now owned by MSC, but they used to be a decent quality, economy, American brand. I'd probably still give them a shot if I were to do it over again.

You can get away with HSS for most gun work. Cobalt is better, but more money. 135* will leave less of a burr where it matters (e.g. gas ports). For a lot of the rest I suggest investing in a reamer index - when size matters, reamers are your friend. Again HSS is fine, most firearms work is in pretty machinable metal. The exceptions are usually bolt-action receivers and drilling and tapping for a scope mount. You won't run across that with anything new because they come ready to mount a scope, but if you ever need to work on an old iron-sight rifle the receiver can be darn hard and I suggest going with carbide drills (not a whole set, just buy the 2-3 you might need) and high quality, coated, taps.

Regards from a former Forest Grove resident,

GsT

Are drills accurate enough for those uses? Typically, drills make holes slightly oversize and aren't super accurate. We usually use them to start things out, then switch to reamers or boring tools to make them accurate. I would think for roll pins, drills are probably fine. For taps, sure, no problem. For dowel pins and ports I would expect reaming to be a better choice. I haven't done any work on firearms, so I can't know for sure how things work in that application. It's an area I'm interested in, even if just repair work on my own.

I've seen people around here recommend Harbor Freight cobalt bits. I haven't used them, and knowing HF, they might well be different now.

I decided to try Drill Hog. I've been happy with them, they hold up well and cut well. I only use them on the lathe and mill, I have crappy bits for hand held tools. They have even made good on a couple of broken bits under warranty. I have a set of Cobalt and one of what they call "high moly". No complaints about either.

I should mention that some method of sharpening drills (a Drill Dr. or T&C grinder (even a single-lip cutter grinder) is a great investment. I also invest in 'top quality' drills, but only in the select sizes that I use a lot. That leaves my less expensive bits to cover the occasional need for an odd size.

Gas ports aren't that touchy, and drills are fine. Dowel pins should nearly always be reamed though you can cheat a bit by step drilling up to size and making that last bit take out only 0.01" or so in which case it's usually close enough.

GsT

Another approach is to but multiples of only what you need. Buy at least 2 for every tap and hole size you regularly use. Then when the drill is done you have a back up-and time to order another.

I'd say about a third of my number drills and half of my letter drills are unused.

The best way to get a lifetime worth of drills is to pick up the deals when you see them... and do it for a lifetime.

If you're just starting out, sets are good to buy. I got a set of Shars' "USA brand" cobalt drills that I find to be really nice to use. Name brand sets get expensive from there.