Have been browsing and see that others have asked the same questions, like Mr. Zito from Louisiana. Very helpful. I’ll keep working on the tooling part.
Can you swing $15 or so? Brownells sells it pretty cheap esp since you won’t need a lot. https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/small-hardware/metal-stock/oil-hardening-drill-rod-round-prod588.aspx
I’m sorry, I failed to ask what steel type you’re using. Is it hardenable? Not all of them are. O1 tool steel (oil hardening) is easy to work with and you can get a hardness of rhr 55 or so.
May I offer something? I realize this is an older discussion. Look up the material specification for the metal type you are working with. SSTL 904L is a molybdenum alloyed stainless designed for general fabrication with good resistance to chlorides. The machining, forming, and welding...