Material specification

QQ-S-763 (AMS-QQ-S-763)

The federal specification for corrosion-resisting (stainless) steel bars, wire, shapes and forgings. It was cancelled in 1998 in favor of SAE AMS-QQ-S-763.

16,390 NSNs in DLA's catalog cite this spec. See the catalog data

What QQ-S-763 covers

QQ-S-763 is titled "Steel Bars, Wire, Shapes, and Forgings, Corrosion Resisting". A callout usually adds a class, which names the stainless grade, and a condition.

It is cited on 16,390 NSNs in DLA's catalog, across gears, fasteners, pins, shafts and tube fittings.

Classes and conditions in DLA callouts

Classes
The class names the stainless grade. Catalog records that give a class most often name Class 303, 304 and 416.
Conditions
Catalog records that give a condition most often name Condition A, followed by Condition B.

Status and revisions

QQ-S-763F, dated 27 June 1996, was cancelled by Notice 1 on 5 October 1998, which directs future acquisition to SAE AMS-QQ-S-763.

SAE AMS-QQ-S-763 was issued in July 1998. Its current revision, D, was revised in August 2013, and SAE marked it stabilized in March 2015.

Typical applications

  • Spur gears, blind rivets, externally relieved body screws, socket head cap screws, flat washers and straight pins lead DLA's catalog.
  • Passivation is by far the most common finish called out with it.

What a shop needs to supply to QQ-S-763

  • Confirm which document the order invokes. Drawings from before 1998 name QQ-S-763; newer ones name AMS-QQ-S-763.
  • Buy bar in the class (grade) and condition the drawing names, and keep the material certification with the job.
  • Expect a passivation callout; most catalog records for these parts include one.

The purchase order, drawing and the revision of the spec it invokes govern. Always work from the revision your contract names.

QQ-S-763 in the DLA catalog

From DLA's public PUB LOG catalog, release 2026-10-27, covering 16 hardware and mechanical supply groups (fasteners, bearings, fittings, valves, power transmission, engine components and more).

16,390
NSNs whose catalog record cites QQ-S-763
30%
coded open to new sources (4,890 NSNs): at least one managing service codes it AMC 1 or 2 with AMSC G
39%
coded for existing or approved sources (6,313 NSNs)

Most common items

Gear, spur1,080
Rivet, blind898
Screw, externally relieved body619
Screw, cap, socket head590
Washer, flat537
Pin, straight, headless509
Pin, quick release422
Nut, plain, hexagon409
Bushing, sleeve404
Setscrew381

Federal supply classes

5305 Screws2,225
5310 Nuts and washers1,952
5315 Nails, machine keys, and pins1,818
4730 Hose, pipe, tube, lubrication, and railing fittings1,791
3020 Gears, pulleys, sprockets, and transmission chain1,681
5320 Rivets1,116
5365 Bushings, rings, shims, and spacers885
5340 Hardware, commercial839

Can a new source win these parts?

DLA codes each part with an acquisition method (AMC) and a suffix (AMSC). We count an NSN as open when at least one managing service codes it AMC 1 or 2 (competitive) with suffix G (the government has the full technical data and the rights to use it). Otherwise we count it as restricted when a service codes it AMC 3, 4 or 5 (buy from the manufacturer or prime) or uses a suffix that limits or conditions who can supply it (AMSC B, C, D, H, K, L, P, Q, R, T, U or Y): missing data or rights, source-control drawings, source or QPL approval, controlled castings, uneconomical breakout, an unstable design, or low-value screening for known sources. These are catalog codes; the solicitation always governs.

Open: AMC 1 or 2 with AMSC G4,89030%
Restricted: AMC 3, 4 or 5, or a restrictive AMSC6,31339%
Other acquisition codes1,93312%
No acquisition method in the catalog3,25420%

As of PUB LOG release 2026-10-27. How to read the codes: AMC and AMSC codes explained.

How catalog records call it out

Characteristic records that cite QQ-S-763 or AMS-QQ-S-763, grouped by the type, class or condition they name. Counted across the most common callout spellings, so the totals are a floor.

Not specified9,318
Condition A2,368
Class 303, Condition A328
Class 416241
Condition B149
Class 304120

Finishes called out on these parts

  • Passivate (overall) 6,881
  • Passivate 676
  • Passivate (outside) 184
  • Oxide (overall) 148
  • Cadmium and chromate (overall) 147
  • Cadmium (overall) 140
  • Passivate (sleeve) 130
  • Cadmium and chromate (nut) 84

Sample NSNs that cite QQ-S-763

Stainless steel machine shops in the directory

67 listed shops report this capability. Confirm the spec, revision and any approvals with the shop before you order.

See all stainless steel machine shops

Frequently asked questions

Is QQ-S-763 cancelled?

Yes. QQ-S-763F was cancelled on 5 October 1998, and future acquisition was directed to SAE AMS-QQ-S-763.

What replaced QQ-S-763?

SAE AMS-QQ-S-763, issued in July 1998. Its current revision is D, revised August 2013 and stabilized in March 2015.

What do QQ-S-763 class and condition mean?

The class names the stainless grade, for example Class 303 or Class 416, and the condition names the material condition, most often Condition A in DLA's catalog records.

How many DLA parts cite QQ-S-763?

16,390 NSNs in DLA's PUB LOG catalog (release 2026-10-27, 16 hardware and mechanical supply groups).

Related

Sources