Abstract: A process for producing grain oriented silicon iron from strand cast slabs having uniformly high permeability and low core loss, comprising the steps of melting and refining a ferrous charge to obtain a melt containing critical ranges of carbon, manganese, sulfur and/or selenium and critically low levels of nitrogen, aluminum, and titanium, casting to a slab thickness of about 125 to about 225 mm, reheating the slabs to about 1330.degree. to about 1400.degree. C., hot rolling, annealing at about 925.degree. to about 1050.degree. C., cold rolling in two stages with an intermediate anneal to final thickness, decarburizing, and subjecting the material to a final anneal in a hydrogen-containing reducing atmosphere to effect secondary recrystallization.