6061 Or 7075 Billet Aluminum

The lower hardness allows it to be machined more easily than 7075.

6061 or 7075 billet aluminum.

This is mostly due to 6061 having a lower hardness and tensile strength. 6061 is also heat treatable and machinable similar to 7075. 7075 aluminum 7075 is notable for its high strength to weight ratio and improved strength over 6061. 6061 nearly always has the edge over 7075 when it comes to fabricating the two aluminum alloy types.

Any industry where high strength and light weight properties are critical this alloy is preferred. Forged lowers and the use of 7075 aluminum vs. The fact is there is nothing wrong with 6061 aluminum in an ar application. 6061 was the original aluminum used for m16s up until 1968 when the military changed over to 7075.

The 7075 aluminum alloy while not being entirely different from 6061 aluminum alloy is both more expensive and more prone to corrosion than 6061 aluminum alloy. 6061 aluminum is one of the most common aluminum alloys because of its many uses due to its ability to be tig and mig welded easily forged extruded or machined. Because of this 7075 is largely used in aerospace marine and transportation industries. For example a lot of bmx stems are made from 6061 t6.

This may clear it up for some of you. The properties of 6061 aluminum include corrosion resistance weldability medium to high strength and good workability. 6061 is by definition a lower grade aluminum but its lower grade in the same way that a lamborghini is a lower grade compared to a ferrari. 6061 vs 7075 billet lowers.

Both of these alloys have low resistivity suggesting high conductivity and are therefore conductive materials useful in electrical applications. 6061 is generally more suited for these uses as it is more widely available can be formed and welded easier and is slightly more conductive than 7075 aluminum. There have been lots of debates and mis information regarding billet lowers vs. They changed over for added corrosion protection because of all the issues they were having in the jungles of vietnam.

Both are furnished in the t6 temper. It resists corrosion better than the 7075 it is more price effective for the customer and it isn t as hard to fabricate. Although 7075 aluminum does offer some additional strength over its 6061 counterpart this does not mean 6061 is inadequate for most ar 15 applications. They have a moderately high 91 of their average alloy composition in common.

For each property being compared the top bar is 6061 t6 aluminum and the bottom bar is 7075 t6 aluminum. The properties of 7075 aluminum are high strength stress resistant workability and improved stress corrosion resistance. The original design intent of the stoners direct impingement ar was for a 7 62 caliber and not 5 56 and was originally fabricated from steel. The lower tensile strength means that 6061 is easier to form than 7075.

Both 6061 t6 aluminum and 7075 t6 aluminum are aluminum alloys. For our uses in an 80 lower receiver the 6061 aluminum is actually a better choice.