Works Fine
With respect to other reviewers on here, I will tell you that this reamer works fine. It is not a DRILL, IT IS A REAMER! Drill your holes from the small side of the sight if using one with the holes already drilled in it. Use a #32 drill bit. Use a clamp on one of the barrel bands to hold it where you want it. Go slowly. Then use your reamer from the large hole side. That is the ejection port side. Take your time. Only turn the reamer clockwise. Use some tap oil.
It's secretly a square drive reamer
As others have noted in the reviews, the handle comes off easily by gripping the reamer shaft in some plastic soft jaws in your vise and pulling the plastic handle off by hand. Once I did this, I was greeted by a square drive taper reamer that I could put in my small tap handle and get much better control over the process. With the stock handle, this reamer is great for cleaning up a taper pin hole, but when working a freshly drilled front sight base it's best to use a bigger handle since you're going to be turning it a lot.
Handle is useless.
This is a fair price for an Asian imported #2/0 High Speed Steel, 4 flute twist tapered pin reamer. Any SMALL tap wrench handle will fit it, but the long screw handle twist handles work best for tapering straight holes. You don't want a faster twist rate, trust me! If you want made in USA, it's out there, for $45-$55, with no handle and no shipping. Made in Germany or Switzerland? $60-$90. You can chuck this up in a drill motor too, but plan on breaking one or two before you figure out exactly how that procedure works. If you already know, go for it. You probably also know you run a risk of breaking it any time you do use this technique, but it can be done. USE CUTTING OIL! It really helps a lot! THE HANDLE WILL PULL OFF or it can be chiseled off. Then use a small tap handle, as this does have a square pin/peg on the end, just like any tap does.
Works very well
The handle is small (about ~5/8" dia.) and not useable, so I took it off. Very easy to do, put the cutting part in a vise and a vise-grip on the plastic, turn a couple times and it comes right off.>>> The cutting part of the tool is reverse "threaded", so keep that in mind when using a drill.>>> USE CUTTING OIL! And take your time, don't build up excess heat. I didn't use a front sight fixture (used the gas tube, fingers, and constant Mk. I eyeball checking to maintain alignment) so it took about 40 minutes to have the first pin installed, which held the alignment for the 20 minutes to install the second pin.>>> Front sight is dead-on straight, no canting or looseness. Reamer is still good for more reaming, just as sharp as when I first got it. Yes, I'd buy it again when this one wears out.
Reamer worked, handle didn't
The Reamer works great for the taper pins in the front sight base. I use the recommended drill bit size in the Q and A section. The handle work OK, but it really speed up the process using it in a cordless drill when it came out of the handle. Three stars was due to the handle. 5 stars would be accurate for the reamer alone.
It Broke
The first time I used this tool the reamer broke loose and started spinning in the handle. Additionally the instructions that come with it do not say a word about it being used on an AR-15 or a taper pin. They call it a shotgun hinge pin tool.
Taper Pin Reamer
Checked "Right Tool" in the "Pros" column, because it is the correct size and shape for AR Taper Pin holes. Remove and throw the plastic handle away, replace with a "T" handle or better to chuck in drill press in order to get enough pressure to cut the correct taper for front sight pins. Installed two AR front sights, not sure the tool will hold up long enough to do a third.
Bad experience
Brock almost immediately. After receiving it I thought it would. But I tried it anyway. Did not even get 1 full use out of it. I was not that hard on it. I am returning for a refund. I would look for another option, this one is not a deal.
Not well made
Brownells, I love you, but this product is subpar. The plastic handle slips off the metal with the slightest bit of resistance. Totally ineffective for something that's supposed to ream metal.
