Does anyone know what alloy was used in the manufacture of the P-14 actions at the Eddystone arsenal and what the hardness spec was?
I have two P-14 actions that appear to have been heated to remove the barrels. I check them for straightness and both of them are OK, no twist. A buddy of my magnafluxed them and they're not cracked, but I'd like to have them re-heat treated.
Any information I can get would be very helpful...
TX
Bob

It's in Hatcher's Notebook. Nickle-steel,the same as high number Springfields and pre-war M-70s.

Out of hatcher's Notebook page 228

Receiver and Bolt make of "3 1/2% Nickel Steel" specified in Ord. Pamphlet No. 3098. This could be either made by the Acid Process or the Basic Process with compositions as follows;

Acid process Basic Process

carbon .30% to .40% .35% to.45%
Manganese .50% to.70% .50% to .70%
Nickel 3.00% to 3.75% 3.25% to 3.75%
Silicon .10% to .20%
Phosphorus under .05% under .035%
sulphur under .035% under .05%