Smyth Busters: Is Billet Better Than Forged?

Описание: Our intrepid Smyth Busters, Brownells Gun Techs Caleb Savant and Steve Ostrem, tackle another item of Internet gun lore: the idea that billet receivers are stronger than forged receivers. This tends to be a hotly debated issue among AR-15 fans. Standard mil-spec AR-15 upper and lower receivers are forged, but some high-end aftermarket receivers are machined from a block (a "billet") of metal. So which is better, billet or forged? On a billet receiver, the grain of the aluminum all goes in one direction, which doesn't always follow the contours of the receiver. Portions of the receiver are actually cut across the grain. The metal of a forged AR-15 receiver is hammered into shape, compressing the metal to make it stronger. The grain actually follows the receiver's contours and curves, which reinforces the overall structure. All of this applies to ALUMINUM parts. When we talk STEEL, there's another option: casting. A billet part IS stronger than a cast part. If you're buying a hammer or sear for your AR-15, then you do want a machined-from-billet part rather than a cast one. A forged AK-47 trunnion is much stronger than a cast trunnion. Smith & Wesson revolver frames are forged, not cast or billet, which explains their robustness and durability. So why would anybody want a billet part? Billet allows machining a receiver to a different shape, so you can get a really cool look for your AR. Forging requires heavy machinery and dies, so it's the way to manufacture a LOT of identical parts. For smaller production runs, machining from billet is less costly. A billet AR-15 receiver is plenty strong and totally up to the job, but it's not stronger than a forged receiver. There it is: another myth BUSTED!