Extended life composite matrix-wrapped lightweight firearm barrel

Abstract

A firearm barrel and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. In some embodiments, a barrel for a firearm may be provided. The barrel may comprise a chamber, an entire geometry of which is formed to a final depth. After providing the barrel with the entire geometry of the chamber being formed to the final depth, a material modification process that modifies one or more properties of the barrel may be performed. After performing the material modification process, a composite matrix wrapping that surrounds an outer circumference of the barrel over a length of the barrel may be applied.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firearm barrel, comprising:
 a barrel extending longitudinally between a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein the barrel defines a chamber extending through the proximal end portion and configured to receive an ammunition cartridge, the chamber defining a freebore section, a leade section, and a bore section,
 wherein each of the freebore section, the leade section, and the bore section of the chamber are formed to a final depth prior to performing a material modification process on the barrel, the material modification process modifying one or more metallurgical properties of the barrel; and 
   a composite matrix wrapping that surrounds an outer circumference of the barrel over a length of the barrel, wherein the composite matrix wrapping is applied to the barrel after the material modification process is performed.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm barrel according to  claim 1 , wherein the final depth of each of the freebore section, the leade section, and the bore section of the chamber is over-deep to enable external machining operations to be performed, after the material modification process is performed, without removing further material from each of the freebore section, the leade section, and the bore section. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm barrel according to  claim 1 , wherein the material modification process is a hot isostatic pressing process. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm barrel according to  claim 1 , wherein the material modification process is a gas nitriding process. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm barrel according to  claim 1 , wherein the material modification process is applying an oxide coating to the barrel. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm barrel according to  claim 1 , wherein the composite matrix wrapping is bonded to an outer surface of the barrel. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm barrel according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrel includes a receiver interface adjacent the proximal end portion, wherein the receiver interface is formed on the barrel after the composite matrix wrapping is applied to the barrel. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm barrel according to  claim 7 , wherein the receiver interface at least partially overlaps the chamber in a transverse direction. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm barrel according to  claim 1 , wherein the chamber includes a muzzle, wherein at least a portion of the muzzle adjacent to the distal end portion of the barrel is formed to a final dimension before performing the material modification process on the barrel. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm barrel according to  claim 1 , wherein an entire geometry of the chamber is formed to a final depth prior to performing the material modification process on the barrel, the entire geometry of the chamber including a chamber body section, a shoulder section, a neck section, the freebore section, the leade section, the bore section, and a muzzle section. 
     
     
         11 . A method for manufacturing a firearm barrel, the method comprising:
 forming, in a barrel extending between a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and prior to performing a material modification process on the barrel, a freebore section, a leade section, and a bore section of a chamber defined within the barrel to a final depth, wherein the chamber extends through the proximal end portion of the barrel and is configured to receive an ammunition cartridge;   after forming each of the freebore section, the leade section, and the bore section of the barrel to the final depth, performing the material modification process on the barrel to modify one or more metallurgical properties of the barrel; and   after performing the material modification process, applying a composite matrix wrapping to the barrel, wherein the composite matrix wrapping surrounds an outer circumference of the barrel over a length of the barrel.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein forming the freebore section, the leade section, and the bore section of the chamber includes forming each of the freebore section, the leade section, and the bore section to a final depth that is over-deep to enable external machining operations to be performed, after the material modification process is performed, without removing further material from each of the freebore section, the leade section, and the bore section. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising forming, after applying the composite matrix wrapping to the barrel, a receiver interface on the barrel, wherein the receiver interface at least partially overlaps the chamber in a transverse direction. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising forming, before performing the material modification process on the barrel, at least a portion of a muzzle of the chamber adjacent to the distal end portion to a final dimension. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein forming the freebore section, the leade section, and the bore section of the chamber includes forming, before performing the material modification process on the barrel, an entire geometry of the chamber to a final depth, the entire geometry of the chamber including a chamber body section, a shoulder section, a neck section, the freebore section, the leade section, the bore section, and a muzzle section. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein performing the material modification process includes performing a hot isostatic pressing process on the barrel. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein performing the material modification process includes performing a gas nitriding process on the barrel. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein performing the material modification process includes applying an oxide coating to the barrel. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein applying a composite matrix wrapping to the barrel includes applying a carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite matrix wrapping to the barrel. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein applying the composite matrix wrapping to the barrel includes bonding the composite matrix wrapping to an outer surface of the barrel.