The Hole Drilling Method(HDM) is widely used to measure residual stresses in the welded structures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy fo measuring residual stresses when drilling the hole by Air-abrasive Jet machine(AJM). Simulated residual stresses wre introduced by applying known stresses to steel bars. These known streses were then compared with measured stresses relaxed from hole drilling. the obtained results are summarized as follows; 1) It was possible to obtain well defined holes with the nozzle designed for this study. 2) If the hole shape is not cylindrical, critical may occur. 3) In the uniaxial strain field, the measurement error of the maximum principal stress was within .+-.10 percent. The orientation angle of the maximum principal stress was within 8.deg. from the given directioin. 4) meausrements were made varying hole depths. Little or no change of stresses occurs since holse were drilled more than the depth of the 0.6 times diameter. 5) The air-abrasive jet machining for drilling holse does not cause appreciable apparent stresses which si critical to measure residual stresses.