Gun Drilling Services

Gun Drilling Services: Precision Deep Hole Solutions for Multiple Industries

Hole Specialists, Inc. is an industry leader in gun drilling, deep hole drilling, pull bore, trepan, and honing services since 1993. At Hole Specialists, Inc., we combine these core capabilities with state-of-the-art equipment, rigorous quality control, and decades of expertise to deliver superior results for our clients. Our comprehensive quality management system ensure consistent excellence across all services.

Gun drilling is a specialized deep-hole drilling process that produces exceptionally straight, precise holes with superior surface finishes. Originally developed for manufacturing rifle barrels, this technique utilizes a specialized drill bit with a unique cutting head and through-tool coolant delivery system. Gun drilling excels at creating holes with depth-to-diameter ratios exceeding 100:1, while maintaining straightness tolerances of 0.001″ per foot. This process is ideal for applications requiring precise, deep holes in various materials, from hardened steels to aluminum alloys.

End Applications

Industries We Serve

Military & Defense

Our gun drilling services support critical defense manufacturing with precise, deep holes for firearms, ordnance components, and tactical equipment. We maintain strict tolerances and security protocols for military specifications.

Automotive

We provide precise gun-drilled holes for engine blocks, fuel systems, and transmission components. Our services support both OEM manufacturers and aftermarket parts producers.

Food Processing

Sanitary requirements and corrosion resistance are paramount in food processing equipment. Our gun drilling services create precise fluid passages and mixer shafts that meet FDA standards.

Printing Industry

Precision-drilled roller shafts and cylinder bores are essential for modern printing equipment. We deliver the exact tolerances required for high-speed printing operations.

Mold Manufacturing

Our gun drilling expertise creates efficient cooling channels in injection molds, helping optimize cycle times and part quality. We work with all common mold materials.

Steel Industry

We serve steel manufacturers with precision-drilled components for production equipment, including mandrels, guide rolls, and structural elements.

Manufacturing

Our gun drilling capabilities support various manufacturing operations, from machinery components to specialized tooling with internal cooling passages.

Composites

We provide precise holes for composite manufacturing tools, including cooling channels and vacuum passages for molds and dies.

Medical

Our gun drilling services meet the exacting standards of medical device manufacturing, including surgical instruments and implant components.

Oil & Gas

We support the energy sector with deep-hole drilling for downhole tools, pressure vessels, and various drilling equipment components.

Job Shops

We partner with machine shops and job shops to provide specialized gun drilling services that complement their existing capabilities.

Technical Capabilities

Frequently Asked Questions

What is gun drilling?
Gun drilling is a deep hole drilling process that uses a specialized drill bit with a unique cutting head and through-tool coolant delivery. Originally developed for rifle barrel manufacturing, it’s now used across many industries for creating precise, deep holes.
We can gun drill most engineering materials including stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum, titanium, Inconel, brass, copper, and various plastics and composites.
Gun drilling provides superior straightness, excellent surface finish, and the ability to create very deep holes with high precision. It’s ideal for applications requiring tight tolerances and depth-to-diameter ratios exceeding 20:1.
Gun drilling achieves better straightness, surface finish, and depth capabilities than conventional drilling. It’s specifically designed for deep holes and can maintain accuracy at much greater depths.
We typically achieve straightness tolerances of 0.001″ per foot of depth and diameter tolerances of ±0.0005″ depending on the application.

Process Quality