Good set of gunsmith punches?

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stchman

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Saint Louis, MO
I am looking for a good set of gunsmith punches. I bought a set a while back at a gun show and they were made from aluminum and brass. Well, they both bend too easily.

What I need are a set of good punches that won't cost an arm and a leg.

I occasionally have to do something to my own firearms so I don't need a set that a pro needs.

Thanks.
 
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I would get a grace set. I looked at starrett too but bout twice the cost.

Home depot and napa probably sell decent single punches in your area too.
 
I have some from both Grace and Starrett that are pretty good. Good places to buy these kind of tools are industrial supply houses like Mill and Mine and other such places. Brownells / Sinclair has a nice line of gunsmithing tools and supplies.
 
Starrett brand tools are tools I used as a machinist/toolmaker. With proper usage will last a long time. Smaller sizes will easily break if misused.

For the smaller sizes I would shorten them for starting to remove tight pins.
 
Mayhew are not as pretty as Starrett, but a lot less expensive and very durable to boot. I have both, as well as old Craftsman, some Grace, and couple other odds and ends.
 
I have some from both Grace and Starrett that are pretty good. Good places to buy these kind of tools are industrial supply houses like Mill and Mine and other such places. Brownells / Sinclair has a nice line of gunsmithing tools and supplies.

Lightman, just as an FYI, Mill & Mine is no longer in business. The owner retired and sold it to Arkansas Mill Supply.
 
One vote for the Tekton 18 punch set, noted above. Made here in Michigan.
Tekton is a company that impresses me. They seem intent on good quality, are honest about where their tools are made, and at least some of their line is US made. China production is less than 10%. The tools I have seen are not the cheapest but much more affordable than the big brands. https://www.tekton.com/about-us
 
In my experience, punches are a consumable, not a durable tool. Tips need regrinding after hard use, and eventually you run out.

I like the Mayhew offerings for small sizes, but the Tekton (Amazon's house brand) works just fine too. They're not Starrett for sure, but they punch the pins just as well and you don't feel bad when you grind 0.010" off.
 
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