The influence of the main components of the chemical composition, modification methods, operating conditions and tests on the physical, mechanical and operational characteristics of high-manganese steel is analysed. The concentrations of carbon and manganese are refined to ensure the optimal set of steel properties depending on the operating conditions. As confirmed, for parts operating under abrasive wear conditions under high dynamic and static loads, the best properties of the 110Г13Л steel are provided at average values of carbon and manganese concentrations within the standard. For parts operating at low impact loads, it is advisable to use austenitic wear-resistant steels with manganese concentrations at the lower levels and carbon at the upper levels within the standard chemical composition. This is increasing the service life of parts, while reducing the cost of manganese ferroalloys. A method is proposed for the complex modification of high-manganese steels, which consists in the introduction of aluminium, titanium and vanadium and ensures the conversion of aluminium film nitrides into refractory complex aluminium, titanium and vanadium nitrides of a compact form. These inclusions act as inoculant modifiers, which form crystallization centres, contribute to the refinement of the structure, increase the reliability and durability of castings. The effect of test temperature on the impact strength of high-manganese steel with a change in the concentration of carbon and manganese, as the main indicator of the reliability of machine parts at low temperatures, is studied. It is proposed to use the specific paramagnetic susceptibility of the austenitic matrix as a parameter for predicting the properties of steel at low temperatures.