"Click on the link. Pix show the front ring welded, etc. So I'd think a new process would need to be applied."

Well that changes things.

" Mausers are, and without the case the action would deform under operating stresses at various contact points. I don't know what processes were used nor what materials were used in the manufacture of Mannlichers. Maybe the same as Mausers? Vintage Mausers tend to be from what I've read low carbon simple steels underneath the case."

Mausers where case hardened to prevent wear and no other reason, not to prevent deformation under operation stresses. The case hardening also prevented lug setback. A Mauser receiver could be used without case hardening but in time lug setback would occur and galling and wear would occur to the bolt guide channels.

There where reports of receiver ring stretch in small ring large barrel shank receivers, (Kar.98a and Kar.98az), but as far as I know that is strictly anecdotal and no actual examples exist.

Again, I am not an engineer nor a machinist, just a dabbler. As a result of my dabbeling I have coined the statement "I learn by doing. I often learn what not to do."

Vlad