While other AR-pattern rifle makers continue to stick close to established designs and parameters, the U.S.-based Patriot Ordnance Factory (POF) continues to push boundaries by introducing new models featuring a host of patented updates. Such quality construction and innovation often comes at a price. That's why, for 2025, the company is striving to introduce a broader range of AR fans to its platforms by offering two entry-level rifles, which include the company's P-15 BASE chambered in 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem. and the LMR BASE chambered in .308 Win. This evaluation takes a closer look at the uniquely configured LMR BASE. As you'll see, it proved to be a good deal more than just a "basic" AR.
The LMR BASE is a large-frame, AR-pattern, semi-automatic carbine that employs a gas-impingement operated action. The LMR in the name stands for Light Modular Rifle, and this .308 Win. lives up to that claim. The gun sent to me for testing tipped the scales at 6 lbs., 2.1 ozs., without the magazine or any other accessories, and 6 lbs., 8 ozs. with the provided Magpul Gen M2 20-round PMAG installed. The "BASE" moniker indicates that, without cutting corners or sacrificing quality, certain features have been simplified or held to mil-spec standards in order to shave customers' costs down to a suggested retail price of $1,359. That's just about $1,493 less than the current listing for the premium Revolution version of this platform.
This rifle is built around a specialized, in-house set of receivers milled from 7075-T6 and treated with a matte black hard-coat anodized finish. The flattop upper is fitted with a mil-spec charging handle and flip-down dustcover. The ejection port is backed by a brass deflector, but a forward-assist button has been omitted. The LMR lower receiver sports a flared, AR-10-size magazine well in order to accommodate .308 Win. ammunition. The oversized integral trigger guard is skeletonized to reduce weight. But otherwise, the dimensions are as close to those of an AR-15 as possible. The lower’s components are AR-15 mil-spec, including the receiver pins, left-side safety selector and magazine release button, the polymer A2-pattern grip and the fire control group.
Even though the single-stage trigger is listed as mil-spec, it's what I would call "better-than-mil-spec." This is because, upon closer examination, key contact points have received some polishing. It exhibited a clean, non-gritty feel with a hint of take up before breaking with 5 lbs., 6 ozs. of pull weight. Although it would be a stretch to claim this trigger is competition-grade, it's certainly a serviceable option for duty or defensive applications.
At the heart of the LMR BASE is POF's Keylock bolt carrier group. The bolt, borrowed from the Revolution model, is made of heat-treated V2 steel with a QPQ black nitride finish. The bolt is secured into the carrier using POF's patented, nickel-coated roller cam pin. This pin's roller, which takes the place of the typical fixed square steel head, reduces friction and drag while minimizing wear to the interior of upper receiver.
The carrier is machined from 8620 steel, which is heat-treated and receives the same QPQ black nitride finish as the bolt. It is topped off with a stainless-steel gas key, which is dovetailed into the carrier and secured with a staked screw. Last, but certainly not least, the group is completed with a V2 Revolution firing pin and retaining pin, both of which are nickel-coated. Overall, this is a more durable and sophisticated bolt carrier group than one usually finds installed in "basic" ARs.
This carbine sports a 16.5" long match-grade 416R stainless steel barrel. The button-rifled bore is cut with six-groove, 1:8" right-handed rifling. The muzzle is threaded at 5/8x24 TPI and fitted with a mil-spec A2 flash hider. A standard feature for POF Minuteman and Rogue rifles, the non-adjustable 0.750" low-profile gas block, for direct-impingement gas operation, is milled from a billet of American steel and supports a mid-length placement and a stainless steel gas tube.
The barrel's chamber features an M4 feed ramp and this company's E² Duel-Extraction Technology. The patented E² system consists of four small channels cut into the chamber walls that redirect a small portion of the high-pressure gases generated by the cartridge's ignition. This pressure works to break the seal formed between the chamber and the cartridge case. It also pushes the empty case backwards towards the bolt face as the extractor is pulling the case out of chamber. This significantly reduces the strain on the extractor and contributes to positive, reliable ejection of spent cartridge cases.
The barrel and gas system are shrouded by a matte black, free-floated 15" long eight-sided aluminum handguard. The top surface is an integral M1913 Picatinny optics rail that aligns with that of the flattop upper receiver. The 3-, 6- and 9-o'clock flats are cut with a series of Magpul's M-Lok accessory slots while the remaining four sides sport generously sized weight reduction ports that also contribute to barrel cooling.
At the rear of the lower receiver, you'll find POF's 1.148" diameter 7075-T6 aluminum anti-tilt buffer tube. Configured for six-position adjustable shoulder stocks, it is outfitted with "carrier cradle" extensions to support the bolt carrier group, even when it is seated in the fully forward position. This design is intended to prevent carrier tilt, which, in turn, reduces the wear and tear on the buffer tube. Other features include a matte-black, hardcoat anodized finish and three drain holes.
This rifle is capped off with an adjustable Mission First Tactical (MFT) Minimalist Stock. I've been working with this particular stock, mounted to various AR models, for several years now. Simply stated, it continues to be one of my favorites. It provides the most popular stock features, including an easy to use ambidextrous adjustment lever, a comfortable cheek weld, multiple sling mounting points and a rubber butt pad. Add it does so without the added fat or features that some stock makers insist on including. It's an ideal fit for this sleek, no-nonsense .308.
In keeping with the LMR BASE's lightweight design, it was topped with EOTECH's recently released Vudu 3-9X 32 mm SFP compact rifle scope (VDU3-9X32SFP; $1,059) for the shooting range evaluation. With an overall length of just 6.8", this almost stubby illuminated optic weighs in at just 17.2 ozs. with its rail mount and lens covers installed—it proved to be a terrific fit for this gun.
At the shooting range, the LMR BASE was test-fired using a mix of 20-round magazines. They included the polymer Magpul PMAG, provided with the rifle, an older polymer Hexmag, an aluminum box from Brownells and a steel Duramag. I've used these magazines, or units like them, successfully in AR-10 platforms, however, the LMR BASE and the Brownells aluminum magazine did not work well together. The rifle experienced three failures to feed within about 15 rounds fired. When this magazine was set aside, and that particular load of ammunition moved into a different magazine, the malfunctions ceased. Otherwise, the rifle, magazines and ammunition operated as intended.
Formal benchrest accuracy testing was conducted at 100 yards by firing five, five-shot groups into paper targets using three different loads. The .308 Win. cartridge has a long and storied history with a proven track record as a competition, hunting and defensive cartridge. In this case, I went with two hunting loads, Norma USA's Bondstrike polymer tip and SIG Sauer's HT copper hollow point, along with Winchester's PDX-1 Defense split-core hollow point intended for personal protection. Here are the results:
The new Patriot Ordnance Factory LMR Base provides an impressive balance of .308 Win. performance tucked into a handy, lightweight AR-15 package at a fair price. In the process of cutting this platform's cost in half, the company was careful to preserve its reliability and outfit the gun with a useful and likable set of features. Some folks may want to upgrade the mil-spec trigger, which is not all that uncommon for AR fans to do with factory-assembled rifles and carbines. But other than that, it's safe to say that this supposedly "basic" rifle is feature-rich and ready to use right out of the box. For more information, visit pof-usa.com.
POF-USA LMR Base Carbine Specifications:
Manufacturer: Patriot Ordnance Factory, Inc. (POF-USA)
Action Type: direct-impingement-operated, semi-automatic, centerfire rifle
Chambering: .308 Win.
Barrel: 16.5" match-grade 416R stainless steel; six-groove rifling, 1:8 RH twist; 5/8x24" TPI threaded muzzle, removable A2 flash hider
Receivers: forged 7075-T6 aluminum; matte-black hard coat anodized finish
Magazine: Magpul Gen M3 20-round PMAG
Sights: none; Picatinny rail
Stock: Mission First Tactical (MFT) Minimalist Stock
Drop at Heel: 0.5"
Grip: A2 polymer
Trigger: mil-spec; 5-lb., 6-oz. pull
Overall Length: 33.5" to 36.75"
Weight: 6 lbs., 8 ozs. (with empty magazine)
Accessories: owner's manual, one magazine, lock
MSRP: $1,359
