By Frank Melloni
POF offers an ingenious workaround for communist-state residents
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”—1789
“No one needs 10 bullets to kill a deer”—2013
The former statement, words of wise men who understood through experience what it took to maintain their newly declared freedom. The latter statement, words of one ignorant man who doesn’t understand his job description.
On January 9th 2013 New York State governor Andrew Cuomo uttered those words and just six days later the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) act was signed into law. I live in New York, so I took it personally. The bill started a domino effect and several other states created and adopted similar legislation.
As I stood in the main room of the SHOT Show reading this, I simply shook my head, smiled and said to my colleagues, “How long until somebody builds a work around?”.
It appeared that as soon as the words left my mouth designs that thumbed their nose at the law started to show up, making it legal to keep and purchase America’s favorite rifle platform: the AR-15.
For our readers who do not have to deal with such inconvenience, the New York SAFE Act is basically a set of laws that include the banning of semi-automatic rifles that contain certain “military” features. These features include muzzle breaks, flash hiders, folding or collapsible stocks, bayonet lugs, pistol grip/thumbhole stocks and any rifle that contains aluminum, plastic or the color black. Ok, I made up the last three, but it sure feels like that when you read the law. I’d say ask the people who passed it, but they never had a chance to read it themselves.
Enter the new Patriot Ordinance Factory ReVolt Rifle family. The concept is simple: a slick bolt action in a familiar AR platform. If the bolt system is fast enough to operate, and can be done without removing your cheek from the stock, then it should serve many of the same roles that the semi-auto versions handle. All this while skirting law like the SAFE Act and being available in all 50 states. A bolt-action AR has a few other good selling points. For starters, without the gas system in place you have more liberty as to what ammo you can run through it. This rifle is also a good choice for hunters in zones that prohibit semi-autos. Now you can take your old familiar platform out for deer, without upsetting the game warden. At 9 lbs. 2 oz. (the ReVolt Light weighs 8 lbs. 2 oz.), it’s just a pound or two heavier than your typical .30-caliber bolt-action rifle and still one of the lightest AR-10 style rifles on the market.
My relationship with the rifle starts with a phone call from my local FFL dealer that went something to the tune of, “Frank, your rifle is in, but we can’t let you have it”. I smiled and explained that if he looked close enough he would see that it didn’t have a gas system.
The rifle comes out of the box looking as menacing as possible, with silver NP3 finished upper and lower receivers, black nitride heat treated barrel and extended charging handles on both sides, giving it that “Ma Deuce” look and feel. Yep if she shoots half as good as she looks, I’m going to have a hard time giving this thing back.
The POF ReVolt comes in two models: the 5.56 NATO chambered ReVolt Light ($2,029.99) and 7.62 NATO chambered ReVolt Heavy ($2,679.99). I was lucky enough to receive the ReVolt Heavy for evaluation and testing. Nothing says “Screw you” like sending ten rounds of .30 cal downrange in a hurry.
