Which is better forged or billet?

Billet pistons are commonly thought to be stronger and tougher than forgings when in fact, their strength properties are surprisingly similar, with forged pistons holding a slight edge due to the improved grain structure contributed by the forging process.

Is a billet lower better?

Billet lowers are usually substantially more money then forged lowers. The reason for this is in the manufacturing process, not the strength or quality of the end product. Remember a machined lower starts with an entire billet block larger than the end product.

What is stronger billet or forged aluminum?

Metallurgists agree that a forged piece of aluminum is stronger than cast or billet. The reason being, when the material is shaped under pressure, its ‘grain’ follows the same shape as the part. As a result, the product manufactured is stronger due to the continuous grain characteristics allowed by the forging process.

What is billet AR-15?

A billet AR15 lower starts its life as a solid block of high grade aluminum, where it is then milled out by a CNC machine to form the final lower design. Due to the milling process, billet lowers are kept in extremely precise tolerances: typically measured microscopically to a millionth of an inch.

Why is billet so expensive?

Speaking of cost, why are billet parts more expensive than cast? Primarily it has to do with scale. Machining one part from billet isn’t too expensive. The problem is that it doesn’t get cheaper per part to machine one hundred parts, or one thousand parts, because you can still only make one at a time.

Are billet lowers mil spec?

Billet receivers are not considered to be Mil-Spec because the manufacturing process, materials and dimensions can vary from the military call-outs. Due to the added thickness and custom designs, some Mil-Spec style parts may have fitment issues.

Is billet stronger than cast?

Billet aluminum is generally considered a stronger material than cast. Billet parts are made from a single block of material that is machined down on a CNC mill. The result is a gorgeous part that can be made to match an engineer’s design with perfect precision.

How strong is billet?

Billet Materials

Ultimate tensile strength 45000 psi
Yield strength 40000 psi
Density 169 lb/ft3
Shear strength 30000 psi

What is the difference between a billet and forged upper receiver?

The forged receiver has been the standard for decades and is the most popular type of receiver. Billet receivers can be made (and usually are) with thicker walls and unique designs because the machinist is starting with a raw block of material.

Where are billet Specialties wheels made?

From design to finishing, all processes take place in our 100,000 sq ft facility located in La Grange, IL, resulting in the highest quality products for your vehicle.

Why is billet stronger than cast?

That’s because cast materials are heated and cooled more by the time they become a finished product which changes the structure of the metal itself. That’s why our billet aluminum housings are stronger than our cast aluminum housings.

Is billet better than cast?