Pilot Bit Selector Chart
Not sure which pilot bit to run? Use this chart from Ballantine, our pilot bit manufacturer, to match the bit to the ground you are drilling. Ratings: Best = best use, Good = good use, Fair = fair use, Less = less recommended, — = not recommended. All Ballantine bits are 3/4in thick and made to meet or exceed OEM specifications. Shop pilot bits.
Download the Ballantine pilot bit brochure (PDF)
| Pilot bit | Sandy | Light | Medium | Hard | Rocky | Soft rock | Medium rock | Hard rock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duck Bill | Best | Best | Good | Fair | Less | — | — | — |
| Steep Taper | — | Fair | Good | Best | Best | Fair | — | — |
| Bulldog | Fair | Less | Good | Best | Good | Good | Fair | — |
| Bulldog Taper | Less | Fair | Good | Best | Best | Good | Fair | — |
| Tough Bit | Less | Good | Best | Best | Good | Good | Less | — |
| Hurricane Taper | — | Less | Good | Best | Best | Good | Good | — |
| Power Tip | Fair | Good | Good | Best | Fair | Good | Less | — |
| Razorback | — | — | Fair | Good | Best | Best | Good | — |
Ground conditions
Sandy — loose sand, sandy loams, or any soil that is predominantly sand.
Light — loams, clay, silt; soft to medium soils that contain moisture.
Medium — consolidated loams and clays, semi-compacted soils.
Hard — hardpan, gumbo, compacted soils.
Rocky — cobble, chunk rock, gravel, glacial till (any non-consistent type of rock).
Soft rock — caliche, slate, soft limestone, sandstone, shales, certain coral (0–9,000 psi).
Medium rock — certain limestone, sandstone, some dolomite, shales, coral (9,000–16,000 psi).
Hard rock — hard limestone, granite, schist, trap rock, quartzite (above 16,000 psi).
Reading a Ballantine part number
Example D65DH40: D = Ditch Witch pattern (V = Vermeer, TT = TT Technologies), 6 = 3/4in thick bit, 5 = 5-hole pattern (6 = 6-hole, 7 = 7-hole), DH = Duck Bill (BT = Bulldog Taper, BB = Bulldog, TB = Tough Bit, PT = Power Tip, ST = Steep Taper, HT = Hurricane Taper, RB = Razorback), 40 = 4in cut.
This chart is a reference guide only; soil conditions vary along a bore and affect field performance. Call Broussard at (337) 277-1785 or Richland at (601) 724-2558 and we will help you pick the right bit for your job.
