Page 134 - FAT 105 4.17 MOODLE
P. 134
this area the frame/receiver will also fea- been used. Modern technology has in-
ture provisions for controls like the safety, troduced super polymers and composites
magazine release, bolt/slide catch, and to the firearm industry, with both being
others. The frame/receiver may either employed with certain makes and models.
have provisions for a grip, or the grip may Polymer or composite frame/receivers of-
be part of the frame. With rifles and shot- ten rely on metal (steel, aluminum, brass,
guns, the rear of the receiver may feature a etc.) inserts to reinforce certain areas of
trunnion or other provision for mounting the frame/receiver.
a stock. Because there is an unbelievable
The manufacturing process will also dif-
number of types and models of firearms,
fer with each make and model of firearm.
there may also be other features a frame/
The manufacturing process for frame/
receiver possesses.
receivers include forging, milled, extrud-
The construction of the frame/receiver ed, cast, stamped, or injection-molded.
varies as much as its features. Depending Forged and milled frames/receivers tend
on make and model, material and man- to be the strongest (when compared to
ufacturing processes will vary greatly. other processes with the same material),
Material selection is typically based on while cast and stamped tend to be the
caliber and application. Large caliber fire- weakest. Forging involves pressing a hot
arms with high chamber pressures will blank into shape with a hydraulic forging
require a strong receiver, typically made press, and 30+ tons of force. Once cooled,
of steel, stainless steel, steel alloy, or even the blank is trimmed and machined into
titanium. Smaller caliber pistol and rim- its final shape. Milled frames/receivers
fire cartridges often use aluminum and begin life as solid billet blanks that are
aluminum alloys for their frame/receiv- machined into their final form.
ers, but magnesium and brass have also
Figure 8: Various frames/receivers.
130
