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Posted: 5/5/2007 10:57:45 AM EDT
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What is the differences between forged and extruded? What is better? (i.e Buffer tubes or C/H's) Thanks Bri |
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Just because Colt does it and it's 'mil-spec' doesn't necessarily mean it's more expensive. I'd bet an extrusion press is more expensive to run than a forge but since forgings are good enough, the .mil went with it. Does anyone know why forgings or extrusions are preferred over castings? Does anyone ever surf the web to find out the difference? |
| Extrusions and forgings are functionally equivelant. Forgings can look better and end up being slightly more expensive in series production, however. Some parts are made for extrusion, such as handguards, whereas lowers and uppers are probably best done as forgings. |
| It makes sense for a cylindrical component to come from an extrusion. Easier from a manufacturing process and less chance for deformation during any stress relief anneal. As far as recievers go, I don't understand why there is so much discussion on which is better but little to no discussion why this might be true. You would think more concern would be given to the upper. The attachment of the barrel, bcg/charging handle sliding over the surfaces....I don't think the lower gets subjected to as much abuse. Just my opinion. |
| You can't extrude an upper or lower, exrusion is a process of forcing a material through a die for a desired shape, like pipe or L angle. Unless you are talking about extruding a square, rectangular or round bar then machining it down wich would be referrered to as a billit. |
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Extrusion is a type of forging process - essentially a linear forging. Assuming that a (press) forged part is superior in strength or performance is an invalid assumption. The design of the part in question would determine the most appropriate manufacturing process, be it an extrusion or a press forged part. |
A billet is just round intermediate product. You can machine whatever you want from it. Press forging or extruding are just different ways to get desired microstructure for whatever the end product is. I suppose an upper could be made just as well from an extrusion or a forging. Hey, a thought just came to me...LRB makes their M14 recievers from pieces of extruded steel which are then drop-forged. Makes sense...excellent way to break up the as-cast microstructure. For aluminum (face centered unit cell, like lead, copper, silver, gold) this is a must. For steel (body centered cubic iron), not so much. This is why the cast recievers Fulton and Springfield make are not mil-spec (forged), but will still outlast the shooter. If you have to have a cast, equiaxed grain microstructure, best to have the grains as small as possible. As for LRB's forged recievers...those are for M14 purists who want the closest thing to Uncle Sugar issue and have way too much disposable income. |
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