Feedstock powder for production of high hardness overlays

A method of applying a metallic alloy overlay including providing an iron based feedstock powder including 10 to 75 weight percent iron and manganese, 10 to 60 weight percent of chromium, 1 to 30 weight percent of an interstitial element selected from boron, carbon, silicon or combinations thereof, 0 to 40 weight percent of a transition metal selected from molybdenum, tungsten or combinations thereof and 1 to 25 weight percent niobium. The method also includes providing an electrode including at least 50 weight percent iron and depositing a weld overlay with the feedstock powder and the electrode to create a metallic alloy ting a grain size in the range of 1,000 μm or less.