Ramrod hole drill troubles

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I have a set of three of those drills from TOW and I found that they drill straighter than anything else I've come up with.  The worst was a 1/2" twist drill with a brad point, especially made for wood...much too flexible.

When I worked for Robinson in the last century, I drilled almost two hundred rod holes, mostly in figured Claro, Bastone, and English walnut, all with a brad point 7/16" wood drill, and only one ran out - through the bottom too.

Was that a .54 cal pistol?

One Shot:  no, it was a half stocked flint Hawken rifle - now a .50 cal with a silver 'wear plate', and very happy.  We only built about a half dozen pistols...do you have one with a run - out problem?  I don't remember one...Love to see a picture of it!

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

If the shank of the drill is larger than the cutting bit, you will always have a problem.  Find someone with a lathe, and turn the shank down, or draw file it.  These bits are too expensive to discard.

[JCKelly]

Nordnecker I guess I more or less filed the end of the drill squarish to fit in my brace. About 55 years ago. Next time in basement I'll look for it.

[flinchrocket]

I put a tapered square end on my ramrod drill using a old wood bit as an example.