Abstract: A method for treating high-strength, low-alloy steel includes controlling material responses, such as the crystal structure of the steel, through various processing steps. More specifically, the method includes cold treating the steel to achieve predictable increases in a minimum ultimate tensile strength or desired changes in the crystal structure of the steel. In one embodiment, cold treating the steel operates to controllably increase the minimum ultimate tensile strength of the steel within increasing a specified maximum ultimate tensile strength of the steel. Stated otherwise, cold treating the steel may reduce or narrow a minimum-to-maximum ultimate tensile strength range such that the minimum ultimate tensile strength is closer to the specified maximum ultimate tensile strength.