A young fellow came over with his set of PA punches to show off yesterday. In many cases, where the pins are loose, such as on 22rf rifles or shotguns those punches will work well. They are soft enough that they wont bugger up the heads of the pins. They are definitely stronger than brass punches of equal diameter.
Punches are a very misunderstood tool. Most people just think they have to be hard and tough. NOT SO.
Punches, like screwdrivers have to suit the job. Even a lot of tradesmen don't use them properly or use the proper type or size of punch for the job. I don't know how many jobs I've been on where I've had to repair the damage done by some ham fisted fool that used a punch that was way to small for the job and galled or peened the edges or bores of the holes for the pins to fit into. Then, pound the pin back in and roll over the edges of the pins as well because the damage to the holes bound the pin or the end of the pin was bloomed and bound because it was oversized. What should have been a simple job, taking mere minutes suddenly becomes a job that takes hours because the damage has to be repaired.
Like most here, I'm sure you've seen the same thing on firearms internals.
For a tradesman, one set of punches isn't enough. If you want to do each job properly, without damaging what you're working on, you will need hard, stiff high carbon steel punches, brass punches, plastic drifts and punches as well as different length punches of all needed diameters.
The use of wrong punches has caused a lot of unsightly damage and extra expense for a lot of people.
Those cheap punches at Princess Auto are fine for what they are made to do. So are their brass and high carbon steel punches.
Sometimes it is necessary to make up punches to do a job. Good quality allen wrenches make very good punches and come in all of the convenient sizes for most jobs, especially those required for light gunsmithing. I like to use copper or brass rod to make up the head of the punch. Copper and brass heads are easily drilled to accept the hex shaped shafts and retain them well when pressed in. The heads of the copper or brass punches won't cause the hammer to rebound.
Lots of good uses for such punches but it is pretty hard to beat a proper factory made punch that has been made for a specific job.
If you're bending your punches, you are using the wrong type of punch for the job or something is to tight or damaged.
