In this study, 2618 aluminum alloy metal matrix composites (MMCs) reinforced with two different sizes and weight fractions of SiCp particles upto 10% weight were fabricated by stir cast method and subsequent forging operation. The effects of SiCp particle content and size of the particles on the mechanical properties of the composites such as hardness, tensile strength, hot tensile strength (at 120 °C), and impact strength were investigated. The density measurements showed that the samples contained little porosity with increasing weight fraction. Optical microscopic observations of the microstructures revealed uniform distribution of particles and at some locations agglomeration of particles and porosity. The results show that hardness and tensile strength of the composites increased, with decreasing size and increasing weight fraction of the particles. The hardness and tensile strength of the forged composites were higher than those of the cast samples. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.