Speed & Feed Charts


  • Consult Sterling Gun Drills to verify application requirements.
  • High SFM will cause vibration and/or harmonics with long gun drills. Reduce RPM or ensure adequate supports are in place or use an intermediate length gun drill.
  • Minimum oil/coolant pressure is 35% of the PSI values on page 2. If at minimum, reduce SFM by 35%.
  • Applications suitable for our Spraymist System, reduce SFM by 35% at same feed rate listed.
  • Water soluble coolant must be oil based, high "EP" at 10-12% concentration, NO SYNTHETICS!

Print Chart


Approximate Feed Rate (IN./REV.)

Dia. (inch)Steels Low, Med. CarbonSteels, Alloy, Tool, Fe StainlessNi Stainless Titanium, High Temp.Cast Iron, Grey, Free cut Alum.Cast Iron, Ductile, NodularPoor Chipping Alum. 6061 ex. Copper
<.055" .00005".00005".00005".00007".00007".00005"
.062" .00006".00006".00006".00080".00008".00006"
.078".00008".00008".00007".0001" .0001".00007"
.094".0001".0001".00008".00015".00015".00008"
.125".00015".00015".0001".0002".0002".0001"
.187".0003".0003".0002".0004" .0003".0002"
.250".00045".00045".0003".0008".0006".0003"
.375".0007".0006".0005" .0015".001" .0005"
.500".0008".0007".0006".002".0015".0007"
.625".001".0009".0007".0025" .002".0009"
.750".0013".0011".0008".003" .0025".0011"
1.00".0016" .0013".001".0035".003" .0015"
1.25".0018".0015".0012".004" .0035".0018"
1.50".002".0018".0014".005".004".002"
Solid carbide flute & tip.
Drill lengths over 50:1, reduce feed rate by 20%.

Print Chart


Oil Pressure, GPM, Unsupported Drill Length

Gun Drill Machine

Dia. (inch)Oil Pressure (PSI)GPM (per spindle)Max. Unsupported Length
High SFMLow SFM
<.055" 2500.20N/AN/A
.062" 2000.25N/AN/A
.078"1800.353"5"
.094"1500.504"6"
.125"1500.905"8"
.187"11501.606"12"
.250"9252.508"16"
.375"6754.5012"24"
.500"5257.0016"32"
.625"45010.020"40"
.750"40014.024"48"
1.00"30020.032"56"
1.25"25028.040"64"
1.50"20036.048"72"
Water soluble coolant must be oil based, high "EP" at 10-12% concentration, NO SYNTHETICS!
Solid carbide flute & tip.
Minimum oil/coolant pressure is 35% of the PSI values. If at minimum, reduce SFM by 35%.