Originally Posted by Mannlicher

so there is another manufacture that uses CNC machined uppers and lowers. S&W's web site does not say if they are machined, but they use the same alloy as Wilson, so I am thinking they are not forged.


I think you're mixing up "machined" with billet or forged. Either way, billet or forged, they're machined before they become anything usable. What Wilson does is purchase forged uppers and lowers, with some indication of the manufacturer being CMT, with their roll mark on them. Wilson isn't forging uppers or lowers and I highly doubt they are doing the final machining on them as it is much easier to spec and purchase something rather than tooling up. Very few mfg's forge their own, a few more do the final machining of purchased forgings, most purchase fully machined forgings with their roll marks in place. Uppers and lowers being hand-matched by a master riflesmith... Now that's marketing speak for "we cornered the market on pushing assembly pins".

S&W AR's are definately forged!