Abstract: Powdered metal is continuously introduced into a horizontally disposed die cavity in discrete quantities and compacted into bar segments to form a bar. The cavity has a fixed cross-sectional area and is open at both ends, except during the initial compaction when one end is closed. After formation of an initial length of the bar, the frictional resistance between the length of bar remaining in the cavity and the cavity wall is relied on so that the length of bar remaining in the cavity serves as a stopper for subsequent compactions of the discrete quantities of powdered metal. The bar is forced out of the cavity upon the formation of subsequent segments and is passed through an induction furnace for sintering, and may be further processed through a swager, all preferably in a continuous operation.