Excellent punches for their INTENDED use
Stop buying these punches to drive roll pins and stout steel pins that require STEEL punches of matching size and type. Brass punches are meant for adjusting driftable sights and delicate parts that you do not want to gouge or peen over with steel punches. Brass punches are not meant for installing roll pins in receivers nor staking fasteners, etc. If you use the wrong tool for the job and you're disappointed, the fault is yours, not the tool's. You wouldn't carve a turkey with a butter knife. I own 3 sets of Grace punches, 3 sets of their screwdrivers, hammers, and a set of picks. They are fantastic in build quality, craftsmanship, and have no doubts I could pass them down through generations. Their screwdrivers are outstanding and fit the screw heads perfectly if you use the proper size. They aren't cheap, but you get an investment with these. Take care of them and use them for the right jobs.
I disagree with other reviewers
Brass punches are indeed "soft", that's the reason you buy brass punches over steel punches in the first place. Other reviewers mention using these to install roll pins in AR receivers. Again, this is a failure on the reviewer's part. Roll pins must be "started" with starter punches (SKU 080-685-000 for example) and then drive them in/flush with the proper roll pin punche (SKU 354-000-025). Those are the tools you need for an AR. These brass punches on the other hand are for lighter use, on visible parts you don't want to mar. Hence they aren't recommended as "general purpose" punches.
Damaged too easily
I used these punches for my M&P to try and install one of the Apex Tactical kits. I had to go find other punches just to get the job done. The shafts are not long enough to make it through the body of the weapon. The small punch bent on first use. The roll pin ends have been flattened and no longer tipped. This set also left yellow/gold color brass on every pin I drove it. My black weapons now has golden highlights... Long story short get a set of steel start punches so you don't bend your longer steel roll pin drift punches and be careful!
Not Recommended
I've had this set for a while now, and not used until today. In working on one of my rifles I bent 2 of the brass punches. These punches cannot withstand any real working on rifles.
Not worth the $'s
Bent the small punch with first time using....
Brass is a horrible pin punch material
This brass roll pin punch set is a nicely manufactured set that fails miserably at its intended function. The purpose of the brass is to eliminate marring of your upper or lower receiver as you are working. Brass fails for two reasons. First, you ABSOLUTELY can mar your receiver with brass. You can both gouge the aluminum and strip the anodizing off if you hit the punch against your receiver. Granted, it does less damage than a hardened steel punch, but don't let that lull you into a false sense of security. Second, these pin punches rapidly self-destruct as they are used. The steel roll pins quickly destroy the tip of your punches as you hammer them in. This is just a poor product, plain and simple. The best advise I can give you is to get a good set of steel roll pin punches from Brownells (lifetime guaranteed replacement) and be careful while using. Good luck!
