A keyhole or a square or an "M" shaped like diamond or...? Today, our intrepid Smyth Busters, Brownells Gun Techs Steve Ostrem and Caleb Savant tackle a major item of AR-15 Internet lore - that the quality of an AR-15 receiver is determined by the forging mark on it. The idea is that if it's the product of a certain forging house, it'll be better, and receivers with the same forge mark will be of the same quality. Nope. It IS true that most AR-15 receivers are built from raw forgings made by a small number of manufacturers. But that's the point: It's a RAW forging, not machined down to final dimensions. The fit, finish, and quality of your receiver will be determined by the company that FINAL MACHINES that forging. The bare forgings are all pretty much alike, but the final quality is determined mostly by the name of the manufacturer of the finished gun! So the best receivers do not necessarily come from any one forging house, square or keyhole or diamond notwithstanding. And that's another firearm myth.... BUSTED!
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