Lee - the bit grabs the brass, and either flings it around in a circle, or breaks in the hole. It is not much of a problem with smaller drills - I routinely use standard helix drills up to about 2-56, or #43. There is no need, because a steady hand and a Dremel cut-off wheel will put the flat rake on there freehand. Drawings are in an early 1990s issue of OGR.
If you look at the angle of lathe cutting tools you will find the same thing, and generally an explanation of why different rake angles for different materials. This is standard stuff, and has been known for a very long time.
Purchasing low helix drills for brass is almost impossible. Americans no longer have need of such tools. I am an example- I spend way too much time on the iPad, and not enough time drilling stuff. I did make a water separator for my new SP Deck this evening, using a lathe and a drill press.
