5 Best Gunsmith Tool Kits : The Ultimate Guide for 2022

Gunsmith kit contains essential tools for any avid gun enthusiast. A gunsmith is a little bit of a metalworker, woodworker, machinist, and artisan. So, the list of the gunsmithing tools and tasks is almost inexhaustible. But do not be discouraged; you do not need to know everything immediately.

Gunsmith tool kit is a specialized kit that contains every tool needed for cleaning, repairing, modifying, and even building your own gun. Whether you are a passionate gun lover or own a gun for protection, you must know that every gunsmithing task starts with proper cleaning. Sometimes it is all it takes for your rifle to begin functioning again miraculously.

This guide will deal with the complete gunsmith tool kit for both hobbyists and advanced gunsmiths. The best gunsmithing tools we are going to introduce you to here are not only useful but pretty much necessary if you are going to do any kind of work on your gun.

Gunsmith Tool Kit : Top Picks for 2022

The best gunsmith tool kit contains the right tools to keep your guns in great shape or to make easy modifications to almost all firearms out there. The great thing is that modern weapons are designed to be cleaned or stripped using only minimal tools.



Having the right tool kit will make a difference between a great modification and a terrible travesty. A good tool kit will not only make the job easier but will also make it possible. Check out the best gun kits.

1.      WEAVER 849719 Deluxe Gunsmith Tool Kit

Provides all the bits needed by gunsmiths and all those who work on firearms. It comes with bits for slotted screws, hex screws, 6-lobe screws, and Phillips screws; it also includes a weaver scope ring bit, Glock front sight bit, 1911 grip bushing bit, as well as 0.062”, 0.093”, and 0.118” pin punches.

This is a medium-size gunsmith tool kit; it will cover about 80% to 90% of the screws and special nuts you find on most firearms. Most gun owners will find it useful for disassembling and assembling most firearms and adding accessories and scopes to their weapons.

2.      Lyman Master Gunsmith Multi-Tool Kit

Provides all the bits needed by gunsmiths and all those who work on firearms. It comes with bits for slotted screws, hex screws, 6-lobe screws, and Phillips screws; it also includes a weaver scope ring bit, Glock front sight bit, 1911 grip bushing bit, as well as 0.062”, 0.093”, and 0.118” pin punches.

This is a medium-size gunsmith tool kit; it will cover about 80% to 90% of the screws and special nuts you find on most firearms. Most gun owners will find it useful for disassembling and assembling most firearms and adding accessories and scopes to their weapons.

3.      Wheeler Hammer & Punch Gunsmithing Set

Wheeler gunsmith tool kit contains chrome-plated steel hammer with nylon and brass heads to ensure strong but non-marring contact while in use. It also includes brass, steel, and nylon solid punches making it the ideal kit for your workbench and stored in a convenient plastic molded case.

• Brass punches 1/8”, 9/64”, 5/32”, 3/16”, 7/32”, 1/4”, 9/32” and 5/16”.
• Steel punches 1/16” (2) and 3/32” (2).
• Plastic punches 15/64” and 3/8”.

With a variety of punches, the precision punch set is ideal for driving pins, drifting sights at the shooting range or on your workbench. With two heads, the Wheeler 6oz hammer is designed for precise control. The steelhead is best for metal punches, while the brass head is ideal for preventing marring.

4.      NcStar Essential Gun Smith Tool Kit

NcStar gunsmith kit is a pretty good starter kit for gunsmithing enthusiasts. It comes in a soft case which is set up great; it will keep everything separated, so it is easy to find. You can store it anywhere, in your hunting case or your bug-out bag.

It includes mallet with nylon and brass end; screwdriver handle with ¼” hex drive, needle nose pliers, triangle mill file, gunsmith bench block, jewelers’ screwdrivers set, steel punch set (8 pcs), brass punch set (5 pcs), polymer punch set (2 pcs), screw bit set (30 pcs), socket adapter, safety glasses, and clear lens

5.      Birchwood Casey Professional Gunsmith Kit

This 27 pcs kit includes professional gunsmith selected tools; it has everything that at-home gunsmiths need to perform many tasks and projects on their beloved firearms. From the basics of mounting a scope to the complexities of model-specific firearm maintenance, the Birchwood Casey is invaluable for completing your gunsmith tasks.

How to Choose Gunsmith Tool Kit

If maintaining your weapon is not a task you are afraid of, investing in a high-quality gunsmith tool kit is something you should consider. However, there are some things you need to think about before purchasing an ideal tool kit for your mild to moderate repairs.

Basic Tools Included

When starting your gunsmithing journey, there are some basic tools that you will need to perform any task successfully. Without them, even the easiest tasks can be difficult to complete. Those tools are:

• Gunsmith screwdrivers – these are specifically designed to fit properly in most screw slots found on various types of weapons and usually have beveled and tapered heads.
• Gunsmith pin punch set – it is highly recommended to buy the entire set in order to have an appropriate size punch at hand. They are used for easier removal of the roll pins from firearms during the repair. Steel and brass punches are convenient because those made of brass are softer than steel ones and will not damage the surface.
• Gunsmith hammers – are designed for hitting pins but without leaving a scratch. Brass hammers will not damage the metal, but you can also buy combined hammers with one side of the head made of brass and the other from nylon. Nylon is used during delicate jobs that require precision but can ruin the gun finish.
• Bench blocks – used to stabilize gun parts and prevent them from rolling. They are made of soft materials such as nylon, wood, or polyurethane, so they cannot damage the weapon’s surface.
• Hex key set – besides the pins, most firearms will have hex bolts, too. They are available in many sizes, so having a set makes your job much easier.
• Torx head drivers – the unusual star-shaped head of the Torx screws require Torx head drivers. Therefore, it is less likely that the screw head will be stripped, or the screwdriver damaged with its unique design. Make sure the size of the head matches the size of the Torx screws found on your weapon.
• Caliper – a device used to measure the dimensions of an object. Many types of calipers permit reading out a measurement on a ruled scale, a dial, or a digital display.
• Needle files – as small files, they are very precise, used for filing down excess metal, tidying up pierced work, and cutting square screw slots.
• Gunsmith micrometer – provide more accurate measurements than caliper. The most common type used as a gunsmith tool is the digital depth micrometer.
• Laser boresighter – a method of visually pre-lining a firearm barrel’s bore axis with the target, in order to more easily zero the gunsight requires the usage of a laser boresighter. It projects a laser beam through the barrel onto the target, so the user can adjust the iron sight to align the point of aim with the projected laser dot.

Advanced Gunsmiths’ Tools

When pursuing a career in gunsmithing, you must understand how to safely and efficiently operate gunsmithing tools. Most advanced gunsmith tools are not part of the master gunsmith tools kit, so they usually need to be purchased individually. The usage of tools will largely depend on the gunsmith’s area of specialization. Some of them include:

• Vise – an extremely useful device consists of 2 parallel jaws for holding your weapon firmly. Some types even have jaws coated with soft material like leather to ensure not to damage your barrels.
• Benchtop belt sander – when used with caution, a good belt sander mounted firmly atop your workbench will save you countless hours of rasping, filing, and shaping. It is one of the most aggressive but also most useful workhorses every professional gunsmith must have.
• Milling machine – Many special operations can be performed with the attachments available for milling machine use, for example, to create new or missing metal parts for a firearm.
• Lathes – a machine tool that rotates a metal workpiece to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, deformation, facing, and turning.
• Gravers – firearm engraver will use a hand graver or Gravermeister tool, which allows the gunsmith to engrave deeply in steel and wood of the firearm very accurately and safely.
• Checkering tools – an art of etching tiny diamonds into the stock of a gun requires checkering tools. It beautifies the weapon and gives your weapon a distinctiveness. It includes a checkering cradle, various types of cutters, magnifiers, checkering gauges, and marking pencils.
• Magnifying glass – it will help you find and put together those little parts that can be easily missed.
• Lubricant – you are probably going to take apart and put your gun back together many times. Investing in a good-quality lubricant will keep the parts of your gun in a top shape.
• Safety gear – Professional gunsmiths may utilize high temperature or noisy settings when crafting firearms. Therefore, they must wear appropriate safety attire like heavy-duty gloves, safety masks, earplugs, and safety glasses.

Price

With various gunsmith tool kits come different prices. They depend on the quality of the material and how many different tools are included. The price range varies from the most affordable Birchwood Casey ($29.39) to the most expensive Weaver ($79.79). The scope of this review is much narrower, so some prices are much higher and lower than presented in this text.

Leading Brands

• NcStar – a recognizable brand for tactical gear. Founded in 1997 in Southern California, the company’s mission is to provide quality optics and sporting accessories at affordable prices. Dedicated to setting the highest standards in the industry, the company offers innovative sporting goods.
• Weaver – founded in 1930 by William R . Weaver in Kentucky. Weaver Optics forged its name in the industry with innovations that have since become standards of excellence. A company is based on the sound principle of providing consumers with a high-quality product at an affordable price.
• Lyman – the rich history of Lyman Products started in the late 1800s with William Lyman. Since then, Lyman has been a leader in developing innovative products for reloaders and shooters to make these activities easier, safer, and more fun.