Metal used in production of today's fireams question.

[trevj]

Well - Large companies that use a lot of steel, such as boiler manufacturers, or firearm manufacturers, have their own material testing facilities , or use a third party that does. Testing is done at the mill, such that inferior product never gets shipped. In addition, material for critical components is subject to in-house NDT such as radiography or liquid penetrant.
They have to do this, giving the liability of product failure in their business. I can see how the smaller purchasers get the shaft under these circumstances.

Yeah, we had NDT personnel on staff in our building, but we didn't bother them until the parts were made.
But any flaws that could be seen with a naked eye, really didn't NEED to be verified by bothering them. They had enough work to do.

We did try to convince the powers that an X-Ray spectroscopy gun would be a worthwhile buy. Tough sell, and ultimately not a success.

In an outfit where the boss decides that anything less than a half sheet of stock looks untidy, and thus decides to throw it in the dumpster, that shouldn't surprise. Among other materials that were ordered wasted, a 1/4 sheet of 3/8 brass plate, and much more.

 

[nowarningshot]

If you are talking about race for the bottom, ease of manufacturing, firearms from already discount brands, then possibly. Sorry Savage Axis owners.