This specification covers a low-alloy steel in the form of bars, forgings, mechanical tubing, and forging stock.

These products have been used typically for parts required to meet stringent magnetic particle inspection criteria, having sections 3.5 inches (89 mm) and under in nominal thickness at time of heat treatment, and requiring a through-hardening steel capable of developing a minimum hardness of 30 HRC when properly hardened and tempered and also for parts of greater thickness but requiring proportionately lower hardness, but usage is not limited to such applications.

Certain design and processing procedures may cause these products to become susceptible to stress-corrosion cracking after heat treatment; ARP 1110 recommends practices to minimize such conditions.

These products are not recommended for use in parts heat treated to a tensile strength range having a maximum over 220 ksi (1517 MPa) or where the high transverse properties of vacuum-arc-remelted or electroslag remelted steel are required.