TIGER Rock Drills vs Atlas Copco: A Practical Comparison for Quarry and Construction Professionals
Choosing the right rock drill affects more than drilling speed. It decides how big your compressor must be, what you spend on spare parts and how often a machine stands idle. Atlas Copco remains a global reference, and its RH 571 and RH 658 hand-held rock drills work in quarries on every continent. Yet many quarry and mining operators now look for an Atlas Copco alternative: a drill with similar output, simpler maintenance and lower air consumption. Set Makina designed its TIGER series for exactly that demand. This article compares the TIGER Y20 and Y24 with the RH 571-5L and RH 658L, model by model, using the manufacturers’ published data.
- At the same weight class, the TIGER Y20 uses about 44 % less air than the RH 571-5L (1.32 vs 2.34 m³/min), and the Y24 about 14 % less than the RH 658L (3.00 vs 3.48 m³/min).
- Three Y20 drills run on about 4.8 m³/min of compressor capacity, against about 8.4 m³/min for three RH 571-5L drills.
- Both brands use the 22 × 108 mm shank, so existing drill steels and bits can usually stay in service.
- TIGER drills have a simplified internal design with fewer replaceable parts, so your own mechanic can service them on site.
- Every TIGER drill ships with a 6-month warranty and a spare parts kit for one year of use.
Compare with RH 571-5L
TIGER Y20
18 kg · ~39 N·m · 1.32 m³/min
View specs →
Compare with RH 658L
TIGER Y24
24 kg · ~55 N·m · 3.00 m³/min
View specs →
01Why professionals compare rock drills
A rock drill costs far more over its life than its purchase price. Its air consumption sets the size of the compressor and the fuel burned every shift. The cost and availability of wear parts set the maintenance budget. And whether your own team can put the drill back into service decides how many days it stands idle. On a fleet of several drills, these lines outweigh the price tag within the first season.
So the real question is not which brand is better. It is which drill gives the lowest cost per metre drilled on your site.
02Who makes TIGER rock drills
TIGER rock drills are made by SET-A Makina A.Ş., a Turkish manufacturer founded in Ankara in 1991, with more than three decades of experience in pneumatic drilling systems for quarries, mines and construction. That experience shaped a clear design approach:
- a simplified internal construction for easier field maintenance;
- optimised air channels to reduce consumption;
- wear parts shared across the series, for simpler spare parts stock.
TIGER drills are exported to more than 40 countries, and you buy directly from the factory that builds them.
03Model by model: the published data
The two pairs below are matched by weight class. Atlas Copco figures come from the Atlas Copco Handheld Tools Facts Book [1]; TIGER figures from Set Makina’s current product data [2].
| Specification | Atlas Copco RH 571-5L | TIGER Y20 | Atlas Copco RH 658L | TIGER Y24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 17.8 kg | 18 kg | 24 kg | 24 kg |
| Air consumption | 39 l/s (2.34 m³/min) | 22 l/s (1.32 m³/min) | 58 l/s (3.48 m³/min) | 50 l/s (3.00 m³/min) |
| Impact rate | 2,100 blows/min | ≥ 1,800 blows/min | 2,040 blows/min | ≥ 1,620 blows/min |
| Impact energy | Not published | ~39 N·m | Not published | ~55 N·m |
| Piston stroke | Not published | 50 mm | Not published | 70 mm |
| Penetration rate | 295 mm/min | Atlas Copco RH 658L: 425 mm/min · TIGER Y20/Y24: 400–650 mm/min in hard limestone (Set Makina internal tests) | ||
| Shank | 22 × 108 mm | 22 × 108 mm | 22 × 108 mm | 22 × 108 mm |
| Hole diameter | Not published | 32–45 mm | Not published | 32–45 mm |
| Working pressure | 6 bar | 6 bar | 6 bar | 6 bar |
Grey columns: Atlas Copco [1]. Blue columns: TIGER [2]. Penetration rates were measured by each manufacturer under its own test conditions.
Grey: Atlas Copco. Blue: TIGER. The TIGER bar shows the range measured in Set Makina’s internal tests.
The TIGER Y24 hand-held rock drill at work
04What lower air consumption means for your compressor
Air is the biggest running cost of a pneumatic drilling crew, because the compressor burns fuel or electricity for every litre the drills use. To size a compressor, add the consumption of every drill running at the same time and allow about 20 % for hose losses, leaks and the line oiler. The table applies that rule to both brands.
| Drills running together | RH 571-5L | TIGER Y20 | RH 658L | TIGER Y24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 drill (+20 %) | 2.8 m³/min (99 cfm) | 1.6 m³/min (56 cfm) | 4.2 m³/min (148 cfm) | 3.6 m³/min (127 cfm) |
| 2 drills (+20 %) | 5.6 m³/min (198 cfm) | 3.2 m³/min (112 cfm) | 8.4 m³/min (295 cfm) | 7.2 m³/min (254 cfm) |
| 3 drills (+20 %) | 8.4 m³/min (297 cfm) | 4.8 m³/min (168 cfm) | 12.5 m³/min (442 cfm) | 10.8 m³/min (381 cfm) |
Calculated from the published air consumption of each model at 6 bar, plus a 20 % planning margin. 1 m³/min = 35.3 cfm.
In practice: a crew of three light drills needs about 8.4 m³/min with RH 571-5L drills, but only about 4.8 m³/min with TIGER Y20 drills. That is often the difference between two compressor classes, and it shows up every day in the fuel bill. At altitude the gap matters even more, because compressor output falls as the air gets thinner.
05Maintenance and spare parts
Simplified maintenance
TIGER drills contain fewer replaceable components. Operators and site mechanics can service them on site with minimal downtime, without waiting for a factory technician.
Lower spare parts cost
According to Set Makina’s pricing policy, the combined cost of TIGER spare parts is typically about five times lower than for equivalent international brands. The difference comes from the modular design and integrated production in Ankara.
Keep your drill steels: both the RH 571-5L and RH 658L and the TIGER Y20 and Y24 use the 22 × 108 mm shank (7/8″ × 4¼”). If your current integral drill steels have this shank, they fit TIGER drills, and a mixed fleet does not need a second stock of consumables.
What comes in the TIGER spare parts kit
Every TIGER drill ships with a 6-month factory warranty, the industry standard, and a spare parts kit sized for about one year of normal use. Depending on the model, the kit includes:
| Parts in the kit | What they keep working |
|---|---|
| Pipe and air connectors | A leak-free air supply |
| Wing nut, oiler, valve and shank sleeve | Steady impact and correct guidance of the drill steel |
| Ratchet pawls, volute springs and O-ring set | Rotation of the drill steel and sealing |
| Water tube and rifle nut | Water flushing (where fitted) and the rotation mechanism |
| Dedicated keys and clips | Dismantling and reassembly on site |
Delivery times depend on stock at the time of order and on the shipping route from Ankara. We confirm them in writing on the quotation, together with the Incoterm.
06Operator safety applies to every brand
Hand-held pneumatic rock drills are demanding tools for the operator, whatever the brand. Atlas Copco declares a three-axis vibration level of 21.2–23.2 m/s² and a guaranteed sound power level of 112–119 dB(A) for the RH 571 and RH 658 models [1]. For comparison, EU Directive 2002/44/EC sets a daily exposure limit of 5 m/s² for hand-arm vibration [3]. On any site, plan drilling time per operator, rotate operators on long jobs, and provide hearing protection and anti-vibration gloves. Our guide to hand-held vs. air-leg rock drills explains which glove materials performed best in a recent field study.
07Which drill fits your operation
| Your priority | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest air and fuel cost | TIGER Y20 / Y24 | 14–44 % less air than the matching Atlas Copco model |
| Remote site, own mechanic | TIGER | Fewer parts, on-site servicing, one-year spare kit included |
| Mixed fleet with existing 22 × 108 mm steels | Either | Same shank on both brands |
| Local dealer and technician in your city | A brand with a local dealer | Set Makina sells directly from the factory |
| Highest published impact rate | Atlas Copco | 2,040–2,100 blows/min against 1,620–1,800 for TIGER, which uses a longer stroke instead |
For quarry operators, tunnelling contractors and mining companies looking for a reliable Atlas Copco alternative, TIGER rock drills offer a proven balance of drilling speed, air efficiency and long-term serviceability, backed by in-house testing, factory spare parts and more than 34 years of drilling experience. For horizontal drilling in galleries and tunnels, see also our air-leg drills, the YT24 and YT28.
08Frequently asked questions
What is a good alternative to the Atlas Copco RH 571?
The TIGER Y20 is in the same weight class (18 kg against 17.8 kg) and uses 1.32 m³/min of air at 6 bar, against 2.34 m³/min for the RH 571-5L. For heavier production work, the TIGER Y24 matches the RH 658L at 24 kg and uses 3.00 m³/min against 3.48 m³/min.
Do Atlas Copco drill steels fit TIGER rock drills?
The RH 571-5L, RH 658L, TIGER Y20 and TIGER Y24 all use a 22 × 108 mm shank. Drill steels with this shank fit TIGER drills. If you are unsure, send us the reference of your drill steels.
What compressor do I need for three TIGER Y20 drills?
About 4.8 m³/min (168 cfm) at 6 bar, including a 20 % margin for hose losses and leaks. Three RH 571-5L drills would need about 8.4 m³/min.
What warranty comes with a TIGER rock drill?
Six months from shipment, with a spare parts kit for about one year of use and a serial number registered to the buyer.
Compare on your own site
Tell us which drill you use today, your rock type and your compressor. We will propose the matching TIGER model, check your air supply and send a quotation.
Request a Quote- Atlas Copco, Handheld Tools Facts Book, pneumatic rock drills RH 571 and RH 658.
- Set Makina product data for the TIGER Y20 and Y24 (September 2026) and Set Makina internal drilling tests.
- Directive 2002/44/EC on worker exposure to vibration (EU-OSHA summary).
Atlas Copco specifications are taken from Atlas Copco’s published Handheld Tools Facts Book; TIGER data come from Set Makina’s product data and internal tests. Figures from different manufacturers are measured under each manufacturer’s own conditions. Atlas Copco® is a registered trademark of its owner. This article is an independent technical comparison for information and engineering reference only.
