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Posted: 6/3/2003 4:14:59 PM EDT
| I've heard a lot of different "facts" surrounding cast lowers vs. forged lowers, and am wondering what the real story is behind the advantages or disadvantages of each. A gunsmith told me some of Ruger's most toughest guns are cast, but a lot of people say forged is stronger and better. What's the difference in the realm of AR-15 lowers? |
| The famous "Kaboom" at http://www.quarterbore.com/ar15m16/ar15kaboom.html is the only one I could find...and that was attributed to "sloppy reloading practices". Didn't see anything about cast. I'm not saying cast isn't weaker (I honestly don't konw). Obviously forged is "prettier" but I was under the impression cast had a few advantages. |
| I think your "x-military friends" have badly misinformed you. I dont think colt makes anything with cast parts. There are only a few companies that make cast ARs, and they are considered kind of entry level. Would you spend your hard earned money on a car that the salesman said might explode on the testdrive? I dont know, you might be the kind of guy that likes to maybe, jump on a pogo stick naked. But I like safety. |
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Quoted: But aren't the Colt SP1's all cast (or most of them)? And they seem to be one of the more popular models on the market. There are no cast parts on any Colt AR. From the beginning, the upper and lower receivers have been machined from heat-treated aluminum forgings, and the front sight base from forged steel. Mil-Spec requires forged parts, and for good reason. Soldiers would destroy cast ARs quickly (I'm not kidding). -Troy |
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"Do a search on the word "kaboom" on this site. I'm pretty sure every AR you will find that blew up HAD a cast lower." Cast lowers will not cause a "kaboom", nor will forged lowers still be usable after one. "Kabooms" are caused by either a case rupture or firing out of battery (high primer). A "kaboom" that would damage a cast lower would also damage the rest of the rifle, and a forged lower, too, to the point that it is not repairable. A few cast lowers have had internal defects that caused problem. Some of the Olympic Arms cast lowers had problems due to machining defects. That was later corrected, and they will replace defective ones. I have seen a lot of Essential Arms cast lowers, and talked to guys that had them, and not once have I heard of any problems due to these cast lowers. |
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It is difficult to believe that a cast aluminum alloy reciver would be less strong or less reliable than the plastic receivers in use. Plastic and cast alumium both seem strong enough for the stresses of the AR. Let's see some proof: tensile strength, load strength, ie. actual numbers instead of all the anecdotal "evidence" based on old wives tales. |
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Quoted: It is difficult to believe that a cast aluminum alloy reciver would be less strong or less reliable than the plastic receivers in use. Plastic and cast alumium both seem strong enough for the stresses of the AR. Let's see some proof: tensile strength, load strength, ie. actual numbers instead of all the anecdotal "evidence" based on old wives tales. I cannot tell if you are pro-cast or pro-forged. All I know is that you should have an opinion of your own and espouse it. If you do not have an opinion, FAKE IT. |
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Let me give you an example of how M16s are "abused" in the military. During MOUT training, two soldiers will hold an M16 between them, one holding the stock and pistol grip, and the other holding the muzzle and front sight block. A third soldier will then use the receivers as a step to climb up into a window. In other words, these soldiers are using their rifles as ladders for other soldiers weighing (with gear) as much as 250 pounds. I can guarentee you that cast receivers would not hold up to this, nor would plastic receivers. But the forged aluminum receivers handle it just fine, thank you. Ask any metalurgist, or any aerospace or automobile engineer, about the strength difference between cast and forged aluminum parts... -Troy |
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