Firearm upper receiver

Abstract

A magnesium alloy firearm upper receiver having a functional life of at least 500 firearm actuation cycles. The firearm upper receiver having a magnesium alloy housing defining an upper receiver cavity having an interior surface shaped and sized to enable actuation of a bolt carrier group therein during a firearm actuation cycle, at least a portion of the interior surface coated with a hardened anodized coating configured to slow operational wear of the interior surface generated by heat, pressure and frictional forces during a firearm actuation cycle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firearm upper receiver, comprising:
 a magnesium alloy housing defining an upper receiver cavity having an interior surface shaped and sized to enable actuation of a bolt carrier group therein during a firearm actuation cycle, at least a portion of the interior surface coated with a hardened anodized coating configured to slow operational wear of the interior surface generated by heat, pressure and frictional forces during a firearm actuation cycle to ensure a functional life of the magnesium alloy housing of at least 500 firearm actuation cycles.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm upper receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the hardened anodized coating includes a magnesium-oxide layer. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm upper receiver of  claim 2 , wherein the magnesium-oxide layer includes one or more hardening agents embedded therein. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm upper receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the hardened anodized coating is treated with a topcoat surface treatment. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm upper receiver of  claim 4 , wherein the topcoat surface treatment is at least one of an electrophoretic paint and/or lubricity enhancing agent. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm upper receiver of  claim 1 , further comprising a brass deflector. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm upper receiver of  claim 6 , wherein the brass deflector is positionable relative to the magnesium alloy within a deflector channel defined by the magnesium alloy housing. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm upper receiver of  claim 6 , wherein the brass deflector includes a deflecting surface configured to impart directional control on brass ejected from the magnesium alloy housing during firearm actuation. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm upper receiver of  claim 1 , further comprising a quick release ejection port dust cover. 
     
     
         10 . A method of making a firearm upper receiver, comprising:
 machining a housing including an upper receiver cavity out of a stock of extruded magnesium alloy; and   applying a hardened anodized coating to at least a portion of an interior surface of the upper receiver cavity to slow operational wear of the interior surface generated by heat, pressure and frictional forces during a firearm actuation cycle to ensure a functional life of the housing of at least 500 firearm actuation cycles.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the hardened anodized coating includes a magnesium-oxide layer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the magnesium-oxide layer includes one or more hardening agents embedded therein. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising applying a topcoat surface treatment to the hardened anodized coating. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the topcoat surface treatment is at least one of an electrophoretic paint and/or lubricity enhancing agent. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising a brass deflector. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the brass deflector is positionable relative to the magnesium alloy within a deflector channel defined by the magnesium alloy housing. 
     
     
         17 . The firearm upper receiver of  claim 10 , further comprising a quick release ejection port dust cover. 
     
     
         18 . A firearm upper receiver kit, comprising:
 a magnesium alloy housing defining an upper receiver cavity having an interior surface, at least a portion of the interior surface coated with a hardened anodized coating configured to slow operational wear of the interior surface generated by heat, pressure and frictional forces during a firearm actuation cycle to ensure a functional life of the magnesium alloy housing of at least 500 firearm actuation cycles; and   one or more brass deflector including a deflecting surface configured to impart directional control on brass ejected from the magnesium alloy housing during firearm actuation.   
     
     
         19 . The firearm upper receiver kit of  claim 18 , wherein the brass deflector is constructed of a material other than a magnesium alloy. 
     
     
         20 . The firearm upper receiver kit of  claim 18 , wherein the brass deflector is positionable relative to the magnesium alloy within a deflector channel defined by the magnesium alloy housing.