Specimens of the nickel base alloy IN 718 deformed at high strain rate (~10 s−1), as realized in a screw press, have higher strength than parts forged conventionally in a hydraulic press. Microstructure analyses in light and transmission electron microscopes reveal the precipitation of very small Ni3Nb particles (γ″-phase) to be the reason for the increased hardness. Several processing routes are discussed and analyzed in relation to the TTT-diagram of IN 718.