I admit that I have an addiction to building AR-15 rifles. Since I also enjoy tinkering with guns, it’s hard for me not to tinker with it. Even when I acquire a stock rifle, I won’t waste time modifying it.
No two of my AR-15s are alike; each is built for a different purpose. My builds use a wide variety of parts: from different barrel lengths, to a spectrum of triggers, oversized controls, unique handguards, and more. I build some of these guns to be as light as possible. Other builds, I assemble for peak competition performance. These guns feature bull-barrels, compatible hardware for mounting accessories, and the highest-performance components.
My Gal’s Day AR-15 Rifle Build
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My latest rifle build is the former, and it was specifically designed for use at my Gal’s Day at the Range event. This rifle is built with the ideal components (from a few different companies) for a lightweight, ambidextrous, soft-shooting and accurate rifle.
Initially, the rifle was unsuppressed–it just had a mounted red-dot optic. I wanted to demonstrate that it was possible to build a lightweight gun to suit a woman’s needs. Mind you, I was also able to use this same rifle to test out one of Meprolight’s new scopes and add a suppressor.
Given the chance, why not?
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The scope and suppressor paired well together because their additional weight canceled out. It kept the rifle well-balanced just the same.
Gal’s Day Rifle: The Build
The core of any AR-15 build is its receiver set. I always opt for a matching set because doing so is better than sourcing the upper and lower from two different brands. Besides consistency, this helps with upper-to-lower fitment.
For my Gal’s Day rifle, I used a skeletonized receiver set from Bully Arms. This set features a flared magwell and an oversized trigger guard. Barrel-wise, this rifle counts on a 14.5-inch barrel from X2 Dev Group. It uses a mid-length gas tube and its chamber is cut to .223 Wylde specs. To save weight, this barrel is also fluted. Faxon Firearms sent me the 5.56 Gunner Lightweight 9310 bolt carrier group (BCG) coated in nitride chameleon PVD and the Streamline Carbon Fiber 15-inch M-LOK handguard. 5.56 Gunner bolt carrier groups are some of my favorites in the industry because they’re smooth and perform well. The nitride chameleon PVD coating also adds a “WOW” factor.
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That chameleon finish motivated me to install a colorful trigger to match, so the AR Gold trigger was a perfect fit. It wasn’t only because of its gold finish, but also because it’s one of the best AR-15 triggers on the market. AR Gold triggers possess a remarkably short trigger-reset.
Internally, I used the KynSHOT RB5000 Recoil Buffer, a hydraulic buffer system designed and optimized to fit any AR-15 using a Mil-Spec style carbine buffer tube. RB5000s are advertised to reduce felt recoil by 30%.
Small Parts
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A rifle’s small parts can have a large impact on a build. These parts determine whether the gun is easier or harder to manipulate. Oversized controls are the way to go, especially for shooters with smaller hands. I’m obsessed with the Strike Industries extended bolt catch and AR modular magazine release. The former is oversize and easy to work with while the latter provides the ability to choose the release size that best suits you. Finally, I installed ultralight pivot/takedown pins, which are much easier to push in and out than standard/Mil-Spec receiver pins.
I try to build all my rifles to be ambidextrous because hundreds of people borrow or demo my guns on an annual basis. In this business, met dozens of left-handed shooters who are grateful for the addition of an ambidextrous charging handle or ambidextrous safety. I used the Radian Weapons Raptor and the HEX Selector Switch, 60/90-degree 3-in-1. To cap things off, I finished the build with a Magpul stock and grip.
Meprolight MVO 1-8×28 FFP LPVO
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After seeing them at SHOT Show 2025, I’ve been very excited about Meprolight’s newest riflescopes. As a seasoned rifle competitor of more than a decade, I live and breathe LPVOs. I think the MVO’s 1-8 magnification range is ideal for competition like 2-Gun / 3-Gun. It’s also very handy for learning how to shoot out to 500+ yards. The MVO includes German Schott optical multi-coated glass with a 92% light transmission rating.
The Meprolight MVO features a clutter-free reticle that is easy to understand. It also counts on additional shoulder-to-shoulder reference points that aren’t in the way of the reticle. They allow quick range estimation by helping the shooter identify whether an 18-inch target is at 100, 200 or 300 yards.
Meprolight built the MVO LPVO to include everything a shooter would want out of an LPVO–from the turrets to the diopter, magnification ring and throw lever. The diopter allows you to set the scope to your eyesight and is friction-secured. Meprolight includes flip-style lens caps, so set your diopter first before attaching the lens cap. The MVO’s magnification ring moves smoothly, and the throw lever makes it easy to adjust on the fly. I think the red/green illumination of the reticle is excellent. There are 10 red, 10 green and two night vision brightness levels. The windage and elevation turrets are easy to set and are lockable.
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Reptilia Scope Mount & Bubble Level
To match some of the other colorful accents on this build, I included Reptilia’s limited-edition OD Green 34mm scope mount; it looked great with the Faxon Chameleon BCG and gold trigger.
A scope is only as strong as its scope mount, and Reptilia makes some of the most durable mounts in the industry. They also manufacture them in the USA. The AUS mount attaches to Picatinny rails with Reptilia’s anti-snag, spring-loaded nitride steel clamp and custom bolt system. It has a 1.54-inch bore height and weighs just 165 grams.
The smallest-but-most-powerful tool you can mount to a rifle is a bubble level. I can impact targets out to 700 yards with the Meprolight MVO, but it helps if the gun is level–especially at those further distances. The Reptilia bubble level is an offset add-on compatible with the AUS mount. You can install it on the right or left side of the AUS and towards the front or rear of the scope mount.
Rugged Suppressors Radiant762
I added a Rugged Suppressors Radiant762 to this build. Weighing just 12 ounces, the Radiant762 features Cobalt 6 baffles in the main body, Grade 5 Titanium baffles in the module and a Grade 5 Titanium tube and mount.
Rugged Suppressors Radiant762 are full-auto rated cans with no barrel length restrictions. These cans are modular, so they can be set-up in the standard or short configuration.
You can also swap front-end caps for either 7.62mm or 5.56mm calibers. I am a big fan of the Dual Taper Locking System. It features a No Go/Go gauge and makes it easy to confirm whether your suppressor is attached correctly. The final sound suppression is dependent on the configuration length, the end cap and ammunition type. When set up in perfect compatibility, the sound suppression is excellent, and the tone is pleasing to the ear.
Range Time
I used top-of-the-line 5.56mm ammunition in my evaluation, and was surprised to see the lack of tight groups on target. I’ve shot this gun previously, and while the 14.5-inch barrel wasn’t shooting super-tight groups, they were slightly better than average after mounting the suppressor.
Adding suppressors can cause point of impact shifts from the original zero. They can also somewhat affect accuracy. I’d like to shoot this rifle without a suppressor or muzzle device, but using the same ammunition.
Even though the rifle’s suppressed groups weren’t perfect, its lack of felt-recoil was incredible. The ergonomics and easy-to-manipulate controls make this rifle dreamy to shoot. Two primary elements are responsible in mitigating its felt-recoil: the KynSHOT recoil buffer and the Rugged Suppressors Radiant762. Together, both of these make for a great pairing on a rifle.
Performance Data
| Federal Gold Medal CenterStrike, .223 Rem, 77 grain, Centerstrike Open Tipped Match | |
| Average Velocity | 2,485 FPS |
| Best Group | 1.51 inches |
| Super Vel, .223 Rem, 77 grain OTM BT | |
| Average Velocity | 2,647 FPS |
| Best Group | 1.33 inches |
| Black Hills 5.56 77 grain OTM | |
| Average Velocity | 2,641 FPS |
| Best Group | 2.11 inches |
| Lehigh Defense .223 Rem 62 grain Controlled Chaos | |
| Average Velocity | 2,779 FPS |
| Best Group | 2.07 inches |
| Hornady .223 Rem 75 grain BTHP Match | |
| Average Velocity | 2,570 FPS |
| Best Group | 2.27 inches |
(5 Rounds Shot at 100 yards and Chronographed using the Garmin Xero C1 Pro)
