Atlas Copco Rock Drills — Handheld Pneumatic Drills for Rock, Concrete & Mining
Six hand-held air drills from the 10-lb DKR 36 drill/chipper to the 63-lb BBC 16W underground production drill — horizontal plug drilling, vertical sinking, and wet-flushed mining holes, all on standard hex-shank steel we stock on the same shelf.
The short version
Drilling plug and feather holes, dowels, or monument stone? The 22–27 lb BBD 12. Vertical anchor and blast holes all day? The 34-lb BBD 15, or the 60-lb SRD 25E sinker when penetration rate pays the bills. Underground or wet drilling? The BBC 16W with built-in water flushing. One tool to drill and chip? The $1,199 DKR 36. No compressor on site? The gas Cobra Combi drills to 6.5 ft on its own engine. And if the drill you need is not on this page, browse every rock drill we stock — all brands in one place, with filters for weight class, chuck size, and power source.
The Atlas Copco Hand-Held Rock Drill Range
Every drill below runs on compressor air at 90 psi and takes standard hex-shank drill steel. Prices update live; every unit ships free by UPS Ground.
BBD 12 Hand-Held Rock Drill
The light classic for horizontal holes, plug-and-feather work, dowels, and drilling in concrete. D-handle takes 3/4 in. steel, T-handle takes 7/8 in.; the S versions add a muffler that also trims air draw to 47 CFM.
Choose it when: holes are 1-1/8 in. or under, you carry the drill to the work, and precision beats brute speed — monument shops, splitting, restoration.
Key specs
BBD 15 Vertical Rock Drill
The step up for vertical anchor, blast, and foundation holes: same 47 CFM appetite as the BBD 12 but 34 lb of drill behind the steel, with H.A.P.S. vibration reduction on the E models for all-shift work.
Choose it when: the hole points down and you drill more than you carry — fence lines in ledge, anchors, quarry plug rounds.
Key specs
SRD 25E Sinker Drill
The vertical production machine: 106 CFM feeding 2,040 BPM with 215 RPM rotation drives steel through rock all shift. This is the drill quarry and foundation crews stand behind when footage is the job.
Choose it when: you sink vertical holes daily and penetration rate matters more than carry weight.
Key specs
BBC 16W Underground Rock Drill
The underground production drill with built-in water flushing — the standard answer for silica dust control and deep holes. A 2-3/4 in. (70mm) piston lands 2,340 BPM for 1-1/16 to 1-5/8 in. holes, and it pairs with BMT 51 and ALF 71 pusher legs for horizontal heading work.
Choose it when: you drill underground, drill wet, or need a jackleg-class machine on air legs.
Key specs
DKR 36 Drill/Chipping Hammer
Two tools in 10 lb: rotary drilling for 5/16–1-1/2 in. plug and wedge holes, then switch function and chip, scale, or dress the same face. Runs on 21 CFM — a small single-tool compressor is plenty — and works underwater.
Choose it when: renovation, stone splitting, or scaling work needs a light drill and a chipper in one hand and one hose.
Key specs
RH 572E Rock Drill
The mid-weight all-rounder with the lowest vibration in the range — 9.7 m/s² against 21+ for its stablemates — drilling 1-1/8 to 1-5/16 in. holes to 10 ft at 260 mm/min in granite, on just 78 CFM.
Choose it when: operators drill all day and vibration exposure hours are the limiting factor.
Key specs
Also available while remaining stock lasts: the discontinued BBD 94 underground drill at $2,500 (44% off list) — call to order. Need a pusher leg — BMT 51 or ALF 71 — or a complete jackleg package? Call 1-888-883-5144 for a quote, or see the American-made BTE Mid-Western S83 jackleg, in stock with TUL2B and FL7 feed legs.
Every Atlas Copco Rock Drill, Side by Side
| Model | Weight | Air @ 90 psi | Impact rate | Chuck / shank | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DKR 36 | 10 lb | 21 CFM | 2,820 BPM · 250 RPM | R 3/4 x 3-3/4 round | Plug/wedge holes + chipping, one tool | $1,199 |
| BBD 12 | 22–27 lb | 47–51 CFM | 2,520–2,580 BPM · 220 RPM | H 3/4 or 7/8 x 4-1/4 | Horizontal, plug & feather, concrete | From $2,767 |
| BBD 15 | 34 lb | 47 CFM | 2,520 BPM · 220 RPM | H 3/4 or 7/8 x 4-1/4 | Vertical anchor & blast holes | $3,551 |
| RH 572E | 50 lb | 78 CFM | 2,040 BPM · 170 RPM | H 7/8 x 4-1/4 | All-day drilling, lowest vibration (9.7 m/s²) | $2,504 |
| SRD 25E | 60 lb | 106 CFM | 2,040 BPM · 215 RPM | H 7/8 or 1 x 4-1/4 | Vertical production sinking | From $2,630 |
| BBC 16W | 63 lb | 147 CFM | 2,340 BPM | H 7/8 x 4-1/4 | Underground, wet drilling, pusher legs | $5,533 |
| Cobra Combi (gas) | 55 lb | None — 185cc gas | 2,700 BPM · 250 RPM | H 7/8 x 4-1/4 | Drilling + breaking with no compressor | $6,088 |
Scroll sideways for the full table.
Which Rock Drill Do I Need?
Splitting stone with plugs & feathers
DKR 36 for light patterns and chipping the split face; BBD 12 when holes run deeper or all day.
BBD 12Anchor and dowel holes in concrete
BBD 12 horizontal, BBD 15 vertical — both on 3/4 or 7/8 in. hex steel with carbide bits.
BBD 15Production sinking in a quarry
SRD 25E on 1 in. steel — 106 CFM of penetration rate; step to 1 in. chuck for heavier bits.
SRD 25EUnderground heading or wet holes
BBC 16W with water flushing for silica control; add a pusher leg for horizontal production.
BBC 16WAll-day drilling, vibration limits
RH 572E at 9.7 m/s² roughly triples allowable trigger time against a standard drill.
RH 572ENo compressor on site
The gas Cobra Combi drills to 6.5 ft and breaks, on one 55-lb machine you carry in.
Gas rock drillsSteel, Bits & Air — Complete the Setup
Sizing rule: match CFM with headroom for hose length and altitude — the air compressor buyer’s guide has the math, and we quote Atlas Copco portable compressors from 110 to 950 CFM.
Rock Drill Questions, Answered
What is a pneumatic rock drill?
A hand-held air tool that combines fast percussion (2,000–2,800 blows per minute here) with slow rotation, driving a hex-shank steel with a carbide bit through rock or concrete. Unlike an electric hammer drill, there is no motor at the tool — a compressor supplies the power, so the drill itself stays simple, rebuildable, and at home in wet, dusty, remote conditions.
Which Atlas Copco rock drill should I buy?
By job: BBD 12 for horizontal and plug-and-feather work, BBD 15 for vertical holes, SRD 25E when vertical footage is the business, BBC 16W for underground or wet drilling, RH 572E when vibration hours are the limit, and the 10-lb DKR 36 when one tool must drill and chip. If none of that settles it, call 1-888-883-5144 and describe the rock and the hole.
What size air compressor does a rock drill need?
At 90 psi: DKR 36 runs on 21 CFM, BBD 12/15 on 47–51, RH 572E on 78, SRD 25E on 106, and the BBC 16W on 147. Add headroom for hose length and altitude — a 110 CFM towable covers any single drill through the RH 572E, and the SRD and BBC want 185-class air.
What drill steel and bits fit these drills?
Standard hex-shank steel: 3/4 x 4-1/4 in. on the BBD D-handles, 7/8 x 4-1/4 on most of the range, 1 x 4-1/4 on the SRD 25E, and a 3/4 x 3-3/4 in. round shank on the DKR 36. We stock the steel, extension rods, and carbide cross, button, and chisel bits alongside the drills, and ship them in the same box.
Can these drill concrete as well as rock?
Yes — plug holes, dowels, and anchor holes in cured concrete are exactly what the BBD 12 was designed for, and every drill on this page handles concrete with the right carbide bit. For breaking concrete rather than drilling it, use a TEX or RTEX paving breaker instead.
What about drilling underground or controlling silica dust?
The BBC 16W flushes the hole with water through the drill itself — the standard engineering control for respirable silica and the right method for deep or downward wet holes. It also mounts on BMT 51 and ALF 71 pusher legs for horizontal heading production; call for a leg package quote.
Is there a rock drill that does not need a compressor?
Yes — the gas-powered Cobra Combi drills 8–12 in. per minute in granite to 6.5 ft deep on its own 185cc engine, and converts to a breaker in seconds. It is the answer for fence rock, remote anchors, and emergency work far from air.
Do you carry Atlas Copco electric or cordless drills?
No — those belong to Atlas Copco’s industrial assembly-tool business. We stock the construction and mining range: pneumatic and gas rock drills, breakers, and their steel, bits, oil, and parts.
Is the BBD 94 still available?
Atlas Copco has discontinued the BBD 94 underground drill, and our remaining stock is priced at $2,500 — 44% off list — while it lasts; call 1-888-883-5144 to order one. Parts support continues, and the BBC 16W is the current-production alternative in its class.
How fast do rock drills ship, and can I get parts?
In-stock drills ship same day, free by UPS Ground, when you order by 4 PM Eastern. We stock service kits and wear parts for the BBD, SRD, BBC, and DKR platforms — call with the model and serial number and parts ship same day too.
Put the Right Drill on the Rock
Tell us the rock, the hole diameter and depth, and your air supply — we will spec the drill, the steel, and the bits in one call.