April 15, 2019
By Brad Fitzpatrick
There are far more companies building AR rifles now than at any time in our nation’s history, but when you begin sorting through that long list of AR manufacturers just a handful of companies offer innovative, class-leading rifles. Patriot Ordnance Factory is one of those of brands that consistently produces superb rifles, and their latest gun—the Constable —not only offers a number of POF-exclusive features but also comes in at a price point that makes it one of the best bargains in black guns.
Born in the USA The new Constable is an American-made direct impingement rifle that utilizes Patriot Ordnance’s MILSPEC+ Bolt Carrier Group which is nitride heat treated for added strength and durability and a hard chrome firing pin comes standard. It also features POF’s patented Roller Cam Pin. Compared to traditional pins, the POF Roller Cam Pin significantly reduces drag and friction and, as a result, increases service life. The Constable utilizes a mid-length gas system. The 16.5-inch barrel is nitride heat treated and comes with an A2 flash hider on the muzzle, and the barrel is secured using POF’s Heat Sink Barrel Nut.
This barrel nut encompasses the chamber and throat area of the barrel—where expanding gas temperatures peak—and its aluminum construction (which offers better thermal conductivity than steel) dissipates 17 times more heat than traditional barrel nuts. The result? Greatly improved barrel life and far less wear on your rifle. These features all help make the Constable one of the most durable, reliable DI guns available at any price point.
Another of POF’s durability-enhancing features has found its way into this rifle: the patented E2 dual extraction system. In a first for AR manufacturers, Patriot Ordnance cuts four small channels at the three, six, nine, and twelve-o’clock positions inside the Constable’s chamber. These channels vent gases back to the neck of the chamber, releasing the seal on the cartridge case and greatly reducing the amount of force required to remove the spent case from the chamber. In doing so, the E2 system greatly reduces stress on the extractor and, in turn, ensures reliable function through thousands of rounds.
The Constable’s six-position stock is mounted on the company’s anti-tilt mil-spec aluminum buffer tube. The buffer tubes is equipped with “carrier cradle” extensions that allow the carrier to be supported by the buffer tube, even when the bolt carrier is fully forward which guards the Constable against premature buffer tube wear that is possible on guns without this system. The buffer detent serves to lock the buffer tube in place and eliminates the risk of the buffer tube rotating and coming loose.
Patriot Ordnance’s Constable comes with a mil-spec flat-top upper and the Renegade 14.5-inch aluminum rail provides plenty of space for mounting optics. The free-floating Renegade handguard is also equipped with M-LOK attachment points at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions as well as 4 quick release points on the rail at the 3 and 6 o’clock positions on both the front and back of the rail system. With so many attachment point options the Constable is customizable to fit the needs of any shooter. The Constable also comes with special added features like Patriot Ordnance’s mil-spec lower with Receiver Tension Screws which are made of nylon and allow the shooter to tension the upper and lower fit without having to disassemble the lower. To accomplish this, you simply remove the rear push pin to open the upper, and, using an Allen wrench, adjust the nylon screws to the fit of your choice and then close the upper—simple as that. The lower of these rifles is also equipped with Patriot Ordnance’s Enhanced Bolt Catch which features an oversized paddle for easier operation.
With such a long list of industry-leading features you might expect the Constable to cost well over a grand, but the MSRP on this rifle starts at just $999.99, easily making it one of best buys in the black gun market. Additionally, the Constable is available in three calibers: 5.56 NATO (16.5-inch barrel), .300 Blackout, and 7.62x39 (16.5-inch barrel).
A Basic Rifle That’s Anything But Basic In addition to its impressive list of standard features, the Constable is also one of the lightest AR-15s on the market. The rifle I tested, which was chambered in 5.56 and came with a 30-round polymer magazine, weighed in at just over six pounds, and with a collapsed length of 32-inches it’s one of the most compact, best-handling ARs in its class. I spent the better part of a day on the range with this rifle, shooting targets at 25 and 50 yards with an EOTech holographic sight and then swapping to a Trijicon AccuPoint 3-9x40 for accuracy testing at 100 and 200 yards. By the time the day was over I’d fired more than 200 rounds through the Constable, and it impressed on every level.
First, it’s a very accurate rifle. With all three loads tested it managed groups at or under MOA at ranges 100 and 200 yards yards, and some of the best groups were in the .8-inch range—very impressive for a “basic” AR. Operation was flawless throughout the test, and the Constable is a soft-shooting gun that makes fast follow-ups easy. The six-position adjustable stock quickly customizes to fit any shooter, and this rifle is well-balanced and handy. It accommodates both left and right-handed shooters equally well thanks to its ambidextrous controls, the Enhanced Bolt Catch is easy to operate, and with so many attachment points this rifle can easily and quickly be equipped to fit the needs of the individual shooter.
Speaking of customizability, Patriot Ordnance offers a long list of optional upgrades that allow Constable owners to spec out their gun to suit their tastes including ambidextrous QD endplates, single or two-stage drop-in match triggers, handstops, and a variety of muzzle devices, ambi charging handles, plus much more.
Even in its most basic form, though, the Constable is a well-equipped AR that will impress even the most critical shooter. Very rarely will you find another direct impingement AR with so many top-shelf features, and never at this price point. It’s built to last, and it’s built in the USA—for all Patriots.
Specifications: Patriot Ordnance Factory Constable Action: Direct Impingement Semiautomatic Centerfire Rifle Caliber: 5.56 (tested), .300 Blackout, 7.62x39 Barrel: 16.5 Inches Overall Length: 32 Inches (Collapsed) Weight: 6.1 pounds Stock: Six-Position Adjustable Handguard: Renegade Aluminum Free-Float Handguard, MLOK Compatible Trigger: 6 Pounds Capacity: 30 Rounds MSRP: $999.99 Contact: Patriot Ordnance Factory www.pof-usa.com (623)561-9572
100-yard Accuracy Test Results: Patriot Ordnance Factory Constable
Load Grain Average Group Best Group Black Hills Match 68 .91 .78 Hornady Frontier 55 1.05 .91 Winchester FMJ 55 1.18 1.04
