By: Friedrich Seiltgen
Copyright © 2023
PATRIOT ORDNANCE FACTORY
The Patriot Ordnance Factory (POF-USA) was founded in 2002 by aerospace engineer Frank DeSomma to solve two common problems with gas impingement systems found with the traditional AR-15.
POF manufactures and distributes law enforcement, military and civilian rifles in Phoenix, Arizona, and was the first manufacturer and seller of gas-piston-operated weapon systems on AR-style rifles in the United States.
POF-USA developed the regulated short-stroke gas piston system. Rather than operating gas being injected directly into the upper receiver like a traditional AR-15, a piston acts on an operating rod, which acts on the bolt carrier, setting extraction and reloading into motion.
POF-USA rifles feature NP3™ coatings and hard, corrosion-resistant, nitride heat-treated barrels and gas blocks, eliminating any requirement for lubrication.
PATRIOT ORDNANCE FACTORY GAS PISTON SYSTEM
The POF-USA adjustable gas system consists of three major components, the gas plug, gas piston, and operating rod. Residual gases behind the bullet are routed into the gas block, which drives the piston and op rod rearward, cycling the firearm.
Suppressors add back pressure to a firearms operating system and thus increase bolt speed. This causes premature wear on the firearm and can even result in the bolt catching the discharged casing, also known as “stove piping.” The POF-USA gas system allows users to restrict and even shut off this extra back pressure by simply rotating the gas plug.
THE RECEIVERS
The Modular Railed Receiver (M.R.R.) is POF-USA’s answer for precision and extreme rigidity. It’s a two-piece upper assembly with a free-floating monolithic handguard that slides on and interfaces directly to the upper assembly and its reinforced backbone.
This backbone is five times thicker than standard flattop platforms. The suspended handguard keeps your grip and accessories from weighing on the barrel, providing the most secure free-floated barrel on the market, and has more than 6 points of attachment, securing the rail from experiencing any movement under stress.
The Edge rail features full M-Lok compatibility, a front top and bottom section of rail for sights, and a bipod/other accessory and features 4 QD sling mount slots.
The lower begins with a Gen 4 receiver which features an ambidextrous bolt release with enhanced bolt catch, ambidextrous safety selector, oversized mag well flare, ambidextrous recessed finger rest, ambidextrous magazine release, and an oversized integrated trigger guard w/ grip relief.
The Edge features a single-stage, non-adjustable, drop-in trigger with a 4.5-pound pull weight. It is pre-assembled in a Hardcoat Anodized aluminum housing (complete with rubber urethane feet) for immediate competition, hunting, and tactical applications right out of the box.
Manufactured from American A2 steel, the Trigger, Disconnect, and Hammer are all Nitride Heat-Treated to 70 Rockwell case hardness for ultimate strength and corrosion resistance.
THE BARREL & BOLT
The Edge utilizes match-grade chrome-moly barrels that are 5R button rifled with polygonal rifling for extreme accuracy and an incredible boost to bullet velocity compared to mil-spec AR barrels. POF then finishes their barrels with a Nitride Heat Treatment to Rockwell 70 hardness for unsurpassed strength, and a triple port brake tames the muzzle blast.
The one-piece bolt carrier is high-phosphorus nickel coated and manufactured with the mechanical key built into the body, positioned behind the cam pin. This patented design helps reduce carrier tilt. The bolt carrier group features a chrome-plated bolt, extractor, and firing pin.
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: Gas Piston Action
Caliber: 5.56 NATO / 300 BLK
Magazine Capacity: 30
Sights: Picatinny rail for optics
Barrel Length: 16.5 Inches
Overall Length: 34 Inches with stock collapsed
Weight: 7 Pounds
MSRP: $2,150 – $2,285
URL: www.pof-usa.com
THE VERDICT
If you’re looking for a gas piston action AR pattern rifle, the Edge has all the features and more of the H&K 416 without the price, if you can even find one.
POF-USA founder Frank DeSomma, (R.I.P.), developed the regulated short-stroke gas piston system, so take a look at the P415 Edge.
That’s all for now, folks! Please keep sending in your questions, tips, and article ideas. And as always – “Let’s Be Careful Out There.”
Friedrich Seiltgen is a retired Master Police Officer with 20 years of service with the Orlando Police Department. He conducts training in Lone Wolf Terrorism Counterstrategies, Firearms, and Active Shooter Response. His writing has appeared in RECOIL, Soldier of Fortune, The Counter Terrorist Magazine, Off Grid, American Thinker, Homeland Security Today, and The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International.
Contact him at [email protected].