STBE Harris
Why do you believe the DPMS receivers are manufactured from 6061 alloy? I can't find anything on DPMS's web site to indicate that they aren't manufactured from one of the other alloys. Any of the common alloys can be extruded or forged, so it's a mistake to assume any particular mix of alloy and production of the basic stock.
Forged parts from a die forging offer an advantage in grain flow around the various details and might even provide a useful improvement around details such as the protruding lugs on an AR receiver. Extruded parts can be heat treated to the same strength levels in the longitudinal grain direction, but may give up ductility in the transverse directions. Hand forged billets really offer no substantial advantage over plate or extruded stock, so even using the term "forging" might not mean what many people assume.
My match rifle has a 24 inch barrel with a diameter about 0.930 inches. I've more or less fallen on the gun in matches, probably let the upper flop open when I've had too much junk in my hands, and I haven't had a problem.
