How do I tell the difference between forged and cast. I have a DPMS receiver and I dont know if its forged or cast. Which one is better?

Here's a recently started thread in the General Firearms Forum in The Armory: [url] http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=2&t=169363[/url]

How to tell the difference? Pretty easy, actually.

Check the "seam." Look for a place where it hasn't been machined away, usually the inside of the carry handle loop or inside the trigger guard area.

If the seam is as thin as a pencil line, the receiver is cast.

If the seam is wider - can be as wide as 3/8", but still noticeably wider than a pencil line - then the receiver is forged.

Cast receivers are dangerous, will explode for no reason, so, send your cast receivers to me and I will see they are disposed of.

Seriously, cast is not a problem.

In the case of the DPMS cast receiver, which is made from the same casting used by Essential Arms (which they bought out some years back) was investment cast by Ruger, it has raised lettering on the side, whereas the forged DPMS has the lettering engraved or stamped in.  Those raised letters are cast on.