Drilling out gun barrels is one of the quickest, cheapest upgrades you can make to a miniature. A solid barrel looks like a toy; a drilled barrel looks like a real weapon. It takes a few minutes per model once you get the hang of it, and the same skill is used for pinning, magnetising and repairs.
What you need
- A pin vice: a small hand drill that holds tiny drill bits
- A selection of small drill bits, roughly 0.5 mm to 2 mm
- A sharp hobby knife or a pointed tool
- A steady surface and good light
A hand drill is better than a power drill for this. It's slower, which gives you far more control and much less risk of melting the plastic or going through the side of the barrel.
Step 1: Drill before assembly if you can
It's easiest to drill barrels before the weapon is glued to the model, while you can hold the part securely and see it from every angle. Clean the end of the barrel first, removing any mould line, so the face is flat and round.
Step 2: Choose the right bit
Pick a bit that leaves a sensible wall thickness around the hole. Hold the bit against the barrel end: it should cover roughly half to two-thirds of the diameter. Too large and you'll break through the side; too small and the effect is hard to see.
Step 3: Mark the centre
This is the most important step. Use the point of a hobby knife or a sharp pin to make a tiny dimple right in the centre of the barrel end. The dimple stops the drill bit wandering when you start. Check it from several angles; if it's off-centre, adjust it now.
Step 4: Drill straight
- Place the bit tip in the dimple.
- Line the drill up with the barrel by eye, looking from the side and from above.
- Turn the pin vice slowly with light pressure. Let the bit do the work.
- Back the bit out every few turns to clear plastic shavings, then continue.
- Stop at a depth of a few millimetres. You don't need to go deep for the effect to work.
If you feel the bit drifting towards one side, stop, back out, and re-align before continuing.
Multiple barrels
For multi-barrelled weapons, mark every barrel centre before drilling any of them, and use the same bit for consistency. Drill the trickiest barrel first, while your patience is fresh.
Curved or tiny barrels
Very small barrels, such as pistols, may only take the smallest bit, or none at all. A neat dimple painted black can look just as good at arm's length. On angled or bevelled muzzles, start the hole perpendicular to the face, then gradually tilt the drill in line with the barrel.
Painting a drilled barrel
Paint the inside of the barrel black or very dark grey so it reads as a deep hole. For a little extra realism:
- Add a thin ring of dark brown or burnt metal around the muzzle to suggest heat staining.
- Glaze a hint of blue or purple on metal near the muzzle for a heat-tinted effect on energy weapons.
- Highlight the outer rim of the barrel to sharpen the edge.
Using the same skill elsewhere
Once you're comfortable drilling, you can:
- Pin weak or broken joins. See our guide on fixing broken models.
- Add exhaust holes, bullet damage or vents.
- Drill holes for magnets or display pins.
- Prepare parts cleanly. Good clipping, covered in how to clip miniatures off the sprue, gives you a clean barrel end to start from.
Safety tips
- Small drill bits snap easily. Use light pressure and keep them straight.
- Hold the part so your fingers aren't behind the barrel in case the bit breaks through.
- Work over a tray to catch shavings and dropped bits.
Common problems
- Hole off-centre: mark more carefully, or use a slightly bigger bit to re-centre it.
- Broke through the side: fill with putty, re-shape and drill again with a smaller bit.
- Bit keeps wandering: deepen the starter dimple before drilling.
Independent resource published by Blubbercove Ltd. This page is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, authorised by or licensed by Games Workshop Limited.
Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Warhammer: The Old World and the names of associated armies, characters and places are trademarks of Games Workshop Limited, used here without permission and solely to identify the subject. This is an unofficial fan guide.