Composite receiver for firearms

1. A method of forming a high strength, light weight receiver for a firearm, comprising:

forming a metallic receiver body, the receiver body having a top portion, a pair of sidewalls, and a lower portion, wherein a recess is formed at least in the top portion and in the sidewalls, the top portion and the sidewalls at least in part defining a chamber of the receiver, and wherein the top portion of the receiver body is determined with respect to the receiver oriented in an upright firing position;

skeletonizing the receiver body to form a plurality of ports at the recess in the receiver body, with the number and size of the ports selected to provide weight reduction while retaining sufficient strength in the receiver to withstand stresses generated upon firing ammunition; and

attaching a cover shell to the receiver body so that the cover shell is accommodated within the recess and covers the ports at the recess in the receiver body.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cover shell is made from a synthetic or composite material.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the cover shell fits flush within borders of the recess.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein attaching the cover shell to the receiver body comprises attaching the cover shell with adhesive.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the cover shell seals the ports.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the ports are located at spaced locations along the receiver body.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein forming the receiver body comprises casting or forging the receiver body.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein the recess extends adjacent a lower edge of each sidewall.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

removing the cover shell from the receiver body; and

attaching a second cover shell of a different type to the receiver body.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cover shell fits flush within borders of the recess.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ports comprise at least two ports located at spaced locations along the receiver body.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the receiver body comprises casting or forging the receiver body.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the receiver body comprises forming the receiver body from titanium or steel.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the cover shell is formed from a material selected from plastic, nylon, carbon fiber, polyvinyl chloride, acetol resins, polyetheretherketone, composites, metals, metal alloys and combinations thereof.

15. A method of forming a high strength, light weight receiver for a firearm, comprising:

forming a metallic receiver body, the receiver body having a top portion, a pair of sidewalls, and a lower portion, wherein the top portion and the sidewalls at least in part define a chamber of the receiver, and wherein the top portion of the receiver body is determined with respect to the receiver oriented in an upright firing position;

skeletonizing the receiver body to form a series of ports at spaced locations in the receiver body, with the number and size of the ports selected to provide weight reduction while retaining sufficient strength in the receiver body to withstand stresses generated upon firing ammunition;

placing a composite cover shell in a position on the receiver body covering the ports in the receiver body; and

attaching the cover shell to the receiver body, wherein attaching the cover shell to the receiver body comprises applying adhesive between the cover shell and the receiver body.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the cover shell is accommodated in a recess formed at least in the top portion and sidewalls of the receiver body.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the cover shell fits flush within borders of the recess.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein skeletonizing the receiver body to form a series of ports comprises forming at least two spaced ports in each sidewall.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein attaching the cover shell to the receiver body comprises attaching the cover shell with adhesive.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the cover shell seals the ports.

21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the recess extends adjacent a lower edge of each sidewall.

22. The method of claim 15 , wherein forming the receiver body comprises casting or forging the receiver body, the receiver body being made from titanium and the cover shell being made from carbon fiber.

23. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

removing the cover shell from the receiver body; and

attaching a second cover shell of a different type to the receiver body.

24. A method of forming a high strength, light weight receiver for a firearm, comprising:

forming a metallic receiver body, the receiver body having a top portion, a pair of sidewalls, and a lower portion, wherein the sidewalls and top portion at least in part define a chamber of the receiver, and wherein the top portion of the receiver body is determined with respect to the receiver oriented in an upright firing position;

skeletonizing the receiver body to form a plurality of ports at spaced locations along the receiver body, with the location, number and size of the ports selected to provide an optimal weight reduction of the receiver body while retaining sufficient strength in the receiver to withstand stresses generated upon firing ammunition; and

attaching a cover shell to the receiver body so that the cover shell seals the ports in the receiver body.

25. A method of forming a high strength, light weight receiver for a firearm, comprising:

forming a metallic receiver body, the receiver body having a top portion, a pair of sidewalls, and a lower portion, wherein the sidewalls and top portion at least in part define a chamber of the receiver, and wherein the top portion of the receiver body is determined with respect to the receiver oriented in an upright firing position;

skeletonizing the receiver body to form a plurality of ports in the receiver body, with the number and size of the ports selected to provide weight reduction while retaining sufficient strength in the receiver to withstand stresses generated upon firing ammunition;

attaching a cover shell to the receiver body;

removing the cover shell from the receiver body; and

attaching a second cover shell of a different type to the receiver body.

26. A method of forming a high strength, light weight receiver for a firearm, comprising:

forming a metallic receiver body, the receiver body having a top portion, a pair of sidewalls, and a lower portion, wherein the sidewalls and top portion at least in part define a chamber of the receiver, and wherein the top portion of the receiver body is determined with respect to the receiver oriented in an upright firing position;

skeletonizing the receiver body to form a plurality of ports in the receiver body, with the number and size of the ports selected to provide weight reduction while retaining sufficient strength in the receiver to withstand stresses generated upon firing ammunition; and

attaching a cover shell to the receiver body in a recess formed at least in the top portion, the sidewalls, and the lower portion so that the cover shell seals the ports in the receiver body.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein attaching the cover shell comprises attaching the cover shell to the receiver body using one or more of adhesives, welding, and mechanical means.

28. The method of claim 26 , wherein the cover shell is made from a synthetic or composite material and the ports are located at spaced locations along the receiver body.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the cover shell fits flush within borders of the recess.

30. The method of claim 28 , wherein the cover shell is made from carbon fiber and the receiver is made from titanium.