can anybody recommend a good punch set?

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As punches are a consumable, I buy them as such. A mix of Dasco, Mayhew, Chinesium, and brass and steel rod stock is my choice.

I also have a grinder and belt sander for reshaping, and a torch for rehardening as required.
 
I haven't bought any in years, so I can't
comment on the currently available stock.
Brownell's used to have some very good
quality punches
I'll also cut up steel and brass rod stock
for various purposes
 
I've bent and broken my Craftsman. They were 80's vintage.

Mayhew is US made and have a good reputation. You can find them in the tool aisle at an auto parts store.
 
I’ve used this Tekton set for many years and a few lower builds. Not top of the line, but they’ve worked when I need them.

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Stay safe.
 
+ on the Starrett punches, and I also learned, as firearms manufacturers began using more roll pins, that a "short set" of removal and replacement punches for those specifics are a darn good idea.
Tapered starter punches are something to consider for those stubborn, in place, pins that just don't understand what's going on.
I made a few, what I call "step punches" where the working end diameter is the pin diameter and the driving diameter is a bit larger. Then, a rubber O-ring is nestled at the junction of where the two diameters meet. The O-ring prevents any marring of the surface on the firearm after the pin is moved out of place. Saves a lot of cussing on my part! I don't throw any away, just adapt those broken ones for spite:
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I'd say 80% or so Brown&Sharpe here,Starrett mostly for the rest.
 
Running a small rural gun shop back in the 70s on, I’ve been thru a loooot of punches. My first small punch sets came from Brownells as did most of my original gunsmithing tools. I’m sure others are in my chest too, but can’t name them off hand. I’ll look later.
I’ll add, You can’t have enough small pin punches in your gunsmith tool chest! “My” saying proved too many times is “the right punch at the right time always saves both you and your customer time (money)”
I also have the Brownells replaceable pin punches since the 70s. These work exceptionally well for very small, long pin pushes. Not the first punch I pick up for stubborn pins, but reassuring to have in tool chest for those special cases requiring a longer punch tip.
 
I have an Automotive garage and do a bit of gunsmiting from home. Different tools for different jobs. I have every manner of cheap punches at the shop. When you are frailing on a punch with a 3 lb hammer to beat something out of a rusty hole then precision Starrett tools are a waste. Once you get down to small sizes the cheap ones are often too big. I was changing out an AR 15 charging handle release latch and both my craftsman and Stanley punches labeled the correct size (1/16 maybe I don't remember) would not fit. Too big. Even after the pin was out the cheap punches were just too big. Both my Starrett roll pin punch and my tekton flat punch fit fine. I also use expensive hollow ground screwdriver sets on guns at the house and I use middle of the road craftsman at the shop.

However I use cheaper micrometer and calipers on my guns and reloading than I use at the shop on engines and such.
 
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