M2 high-speed steel equivalents
M2 high-speed steel is nearest to EN 1.3343 (HS6-5-2), JIS SKH51 and China GB W6Mo5Cr4V2. These are nearest equivalents, not identical grades: the governing standard or mill certificate decides.
- AISI / ASTM / SAE US
- M2
- EN steel number EN 10027-2
- 1.3343
- EN steel name EN 10027-1
- HS6-5-2
- JIS Japan
- SKH51
- GB China
- W6Mo5Cr4V2
- Family
- Molybdenum high-speed steel
About M2
Molybdenum high-speed steel. General characteristics; check the standard and the supplier for anything critical.
What it is
A molybdenum-tungsten high-speed steel. It keeps its hardness at the high temperatures reached at a cutting edge, which is why it is the standard material for HSS cutting tools.
Typical uses
Twist drills, taps, end mills, reamers, broaches, lathe tool bits and punches.
Machining notes
Machine annealed; it is hardened and tempered by the tool maker. Hardened M2 is ground.
Related grades
Grades people often compare with this one.
Drilling and tapping
Tap drills
Drill and tap hardenable tool steel in the annealed condition, before heat treatment. A slightly larger tap drill, around 60–70 % thread, eases the load on the tap.
Tap drill chartDrill sizes
Number, letter and fractional drill sizes with metric equivalents, for dowel, clearance and pilot holes in tooling.
Drill size chartAll tool steel grades
Nearest equivalents across the five designation systems.
| AISI / ASTM | EN name | EN number | JIS | China GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D2 | X153CrMoV12 | 1.2379 | SKD11 | Cr12Mo1V1 |
| H13 | X40CrMoV5-1 | 1.2344 | SKD61 | 4Cr5MoSiV1 |
| O1 | 100MnCrW4 | 1.2510 | SKS3 | 9CrWMn |
| A2 | X100CrMoV5 | 1.2363 | SKD12 | Cr5Mo1V |
| M2 | HS6-5-2 | 1.3343 | SKH51 | W6Mo5Cr4V2 |
| P20 | 40CrMnMo7 | 1.2311 | — | 3Cr2Mo |
Common questions
What is the European equivalent of M2 high-speed steel?
The nearest EN grade is 1.3343, steel name HS6-5-2.
What is the JIS equivalent of M2 high-speed steel?
The nearest Japanese grade is SKH51.
What is the Chinese GB equivalent of M2 high-speed steel?
The nearest Chinese GB grade is W6Mo5Cr4V2.
Is 1.3343 the same as M2?
1.3343 (HS6-5-2) is the nearest European equivalent of M2, not an identical grade. Composition limits and required properties differ in detail, so check the governing standard or the mill certificate when it matters.
What is M2 used for?
Twist drills, taps, end mills, reamers, broaches, lathe tool bits and punches.