I need to make a loaded chamber indicator for a Sauer .32 it sits in a slot in the bolt. I have some A2 tool steel that is close to the correct thickness well almost .020 thicker. The part is not available anymore so a hand made one is the only way.
The question is has anyone used this alloy for small parts? I don't see that it needs to be hardened

A use what you have and it well work just fine.

A2 will work just fine. No sense in not hardening and tempering to around 42-45rc.

There might be better choices then soft A2

4140 soft would be about the same

P20 soft is in the high 30's

S7 is nearly 3x stronger per slightly lesser Rockwell hardness of hard A2 and is less prone to cracking at internal 90º corners

H13 even better than S7

A2.......41 ft lbs @ 56/58 RC
S7.......102 ft lbs @ 52/54 RC
H13.....180 ft lbs @ 47/48 RC

What thickness and width of steel do you need ?

I have lots of different thickness ( .018" to .0625" ) of 1050 - 1075 annealed strip, in various widths.
Also have some 1095 annealed in ( .093" ) thickness.

Still have some Blue Clock spring material as well.

I can snip a peice off for you and mail.

Small thin peices like that I heat to red/orange, ( 1300 + deg ) and quench in light oil, polish and temper back to bright blue ( 550 deg )


JW

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Little:
A2 will work just fine. No sense in not hardening and tempering to around 42-45rc.

+ 1 Start cutting

I would rather not have an annealed structure .A2 , being air hardening is easier to HT. Hardness in the low 40s HRC would be fine .
If Ron HTs in the winter it will be more like an Oil quench !

I recently got an extractor for my Sauer 38H from Jack First. He makes parts for obsolete guns. Here's a link - https://jack-first-gun-parts.myshopify.com/

quote:

I need to make a loaded chamber indicator for a Sauer .32 it sits in a slot in the bolt

Not a very critical part for sure a piece of alum most likely would work.

Not thing to worry about just make it and go on

quote:

Originally posted by ddsipe:
I recently got an extractor for my Sauer 38H from Jack First. He makes parts for obsolete guns. Here's a link - https://jack-first-gun-parts.myshopify.com/

Its a 1913 Sauer .32 apparently there are no small parts for this one, according to the owner. Jack's did not list it. I will try the A2 then see if there is a need to harden it. There is no real stress on the piece just pushes out a pin to indicate the chamber is loaded.
Those indicators make it easy for blind people to see if the gun is loaded I guess.
Thanks for the feedback

Make it out of whatever is on hand. A2 will be fine. It is not a high wear part or an impact part. Actually if it was an impact or wear part, A2 would also be fine, just have to heat treat it in that case.

Jeremy

quote:

Originally posted by farbedo:
Make it out of whatever is on hand. A2 will be fine. It is not a high wear part or an impact part. Actually if it was an impact or wear part, A2 would also be fine, just have to heat treat it in that case.

Jeremy

You can have very good wear resistance with A2 but it is a poor choice for impact

Ted, With respect to other die steels, you are correct. No doubt there are tougher designs.

Comes down to the argument between good enough, or best.

Jeremy