Semi-automatic rifle

A semi-automatic rifle, comprising:

• a receiver group having a receiver body;
• a receiver cover, the receiver cover closing off an upper portion of the receiver body;
• a magazine well formed in a lower portion of the receiver body, the magazine well configured to receive rounds of ammunition from a spring fed magazine;
• a bolt group configured to expel a spent shell casing from an expended round and to feed a new round;
• a barrel group having a gas-operated operating rod coupled to the bolt group, the operating rod further coupled to and guided by a follower rod, the operating rod being biased away from the follower rod;
• a cavity formed in a forward portion of the receiver body, the cavity being sized and shaped to receive and movably retain a proximal end of the follower rod;
• and
• a follower rod pin removably fixed to the receiver body and configure to pivotably retain the follower rod, wherein during operation of the semi-automatic rifle the movement of the follower rod is limited by at least one of the follower rod pin and a forward facing wall of the cavity.

A method for constructing a semi-automatic rifle, comprising the steps of:

• providing a receiver group having a receiver body, the receiver body further including a rectangular-shaped magazine well formed in a lower portion of the receiver body;
• providing a barrel group having a gas-operated operating rod, the operating rod further coupled to and guided by a follower rod, the operating rod being biased away from the follower rod;
• and
• forming a cavity in a forward portion of the receiver body, the cavity being sized and shaped to receive and movably retain a proximal end of the follower rod;
• wherein the follower rod is configured to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the follower rod and against a forward facing wall of the cavity during operation of the semi-automatic rifle.