A friction bolt assembly, such as for use with a pneumatically actuated drill, with a friction fit tubular sleeve longitudinally extending between a leading end and a trailing end, a rod which longitudinally extends through the sleeve between a first end and a second end, and which projects from either end of the sleeve to define, between the first end of the rod and the leading end of the sleeve and the second end of the rod and the trailing end of the sleeve respectively, a leading part and a trailing part, an expansion element mounted on or formed with the rod, on the leading part, a drill engaging element axially fixed in position on the second end of the bolt and engageable with a chuck or an end of the rock drill, a first load bearing formation mounted on the trailing part of the rod and which engages the trailing end of the sleeve, and a second load bearing formation mounted over the trailing part of the rod between the first load bearing formation and the drill engaging element.