What Is the Difference Between A2 and 304 Stainless Steel? A2 is the metric fastener designation commonly used for 304 stainless steel. In many fastener applications, A2 and 304 refer to similar stainless steel material performance. By Marsh Fasteners|2026-07-10T03:14:39-04:00July 10, 2026|A2 Stainless Steel Metric Socket Head Cap Screws|