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Only if you want to write about it in Firearms forums rather than shooting or hunting with them. I would spend that extra money in the barrel, trigger or otics.
The strongest result is usually from forging. As metal cools, it forms "grains". The grains are strong, but they don't "stick" to each other perfectly. So castings may well break, and if you look at the break, it will show a bumpy "matte" surface, as it will have separated between individual grains. In metalurgists terms, it shows poor ductility.
When you forge a piece of metal, the high pressures "collapses" the individual grains. The result is a little denser, and will tend to bend rather than break. It can be a lot stronger than a casting, or the same shape cut out of a flat lump of metal. The surface, since it took the highest loads will often be the strongest, and the less you can disturb this surface, the tougher the part. A break may actualy show a fairly shiny surface, as the space between the "grains" is gone. The direction of flow as the metal is squeezed imparts a grain structure to the metal that is a bit like that of wood, making it substantially stronger in specific directions. Well-designed forging tools and dies control this flow so as to make the part strongest in the directions it is expected to be stressed in.
deadshot I was looking for that exact quote but could not find it. Where did you dig it up?
CNC is popular because it allows someone to manufacture just a few parts for far less cost than creating the necessary high strength dies, and buying the huge presses necessary to forge the same parts.
If you want "stylish" buy CNC. If you aren't as concerned about appearances and "uber-cool", just want a nice strong receiver, buy forged.
As far as the strength between forged and machines, there is such a small difference that we will never see the differences as shooters.
Casting, forging and machining are all processes dependent on economics.
If a part is in low production, or a specialty part, you machine it. If the part is high production and of simple design, you forge it. If the part is too complex to forge or machine, you cast it. That's how it works in the aerospace industry. There's really no significant difference in strength since heat treating and HIP process are used to treat the metal.
Ask Olympic Arms how those investment cast receivers worked for them. Apparently they didn't consult the Aerospace industry.
Yeah, save your money. The rifle is only the beginning of an AR, you can expect to drop another 50 to 75% on the condiments. ARs are kinda like making a really great sub sandwich, you start with a good roll and then pile on all your favorite stuff until you can't even fit in in your mouth.
Then you post on the couch with a bloated belly, moaning cuz you can't believe you ate the whole thing.