One afternoon in 2015, I found myself at Patriot Ordnance Factory visiting with Frank DeSomma. While there, we talked about various projects he was working on. In the middle of the conversation, he stopped, grinned at me, and said, “Come here, I want to show you something.” It turned out to be the POF Phoenix 9mm Sub Gun Pistol.

POF Phoenix 9mm Sub Gun Pistol – An American Original

For the few on Earth who are not familiar with Frank, he was, at his core, an innovator. With this as the base, I was curious to see what was in the back of the vault. He turned and handed me a rough but functional prototype for a 9mm sub gun, dubbed the PSG. The gun was a work in progress.

Well, many times, projects like these get mothballed because of other projects, and that was the case with the PSG. That is until now. POF-USA has completed work on this compact sub-gun and brought Frank’s vision to life. The result of the effort is the new POF Phoenix.

The Phoenix is a 9mm sub gun pistol that is pure POF. It is a direct blowback gun, eliminating the need for a buffer tube system. Its monolithic upper makes mounting optics and any other kit much easier. The upper has a forward-mounted side charging handle and a vertical Picatinny rail at the rear to host a brace or stock, should you choose. POF considered fine details and included an adjustable hand stop and integrated QD sling mounts on the upper.

Side Charger

The Phoenix’s upper and lower receivers are constructed of aerospace-grade aluminum. The charging handle can be moved to the left or right side and folded flat against the upper. It also hosts a new 9mm 1/2×28-threaded, dual-port compensator. Its billet lower receiver features fully ambidextrous controls, including safety, bolt release, and mag release.

The gun is small, at only 17.5 inches long, and weighs a paltry 4.6 pounds. The Phoenix’s magazine is a proprietary 35-round magazine. This decision was made to accommodate the AR-style mag release. Because of that, POF went to the drawing board and made their own mag. POF tells me that 10—and 20-round mags will be available for the gun as well.

Weighs only 4.6 lbs.

While the gun has been in the works for some time, POF turned its attention to it over the last year and is a winner. “We’re extremely pleased with the final result and couldn’t be happier to bring another of Frank DeSomma’s visions to the market. He worked tirelessly on this design over the years, and the team couldn’t be prouder to finish it,” said Jeremy Selting, VP of sales and marketing.

I was fortunate to get a Phoenix in for testing. The first impressions were good. Having had the chance to see and shoot the first version of this gun all those years ago, I appreciated the advancements. Everything fits well with no play or slop. This is typical of POF guns and was what I expected. It has a blank anodized finish and is a good-looking gun overall. This is obviously not a beauty contest, so the real test would be on the range.

Trigger Work

The first rounds showed the trigger as acceptable but still firm. I believe POF knows most people will change the trigger on their guns. The mil-spec trigger included will serve those who stick with what the gun comes with. At the eighth round, I had a failure to feed, which prompted a magazine inspection. The rounds had nosed down a bit, but with a quick shake and tap, they were back in line. As the magazine had more rounds run through it, the hiccup disappeared. My guess is that the mag had burs inside, and the in and out of rounds rubbed them away.

I have always had a challenge running guns that identify as pistols but are really rifles without stocks. That being said, the gun was extremely easy to run, and there was only minimal recoil. POF has done a good job balancing the mass of the bolt so that it cycles but doesn’t slam the gun all over.

Put the Brake On

The brake did a good job managing the muzzle, and even with the two-hands extended shooting position, I found it to be accurate. The dual chamber design had a good balance between control and sound. Most brakes are punishing to those shooting beside you, but the design, combined with its being 9mm, was a non-issue. At pace, I could easily shoot a 2-inch group at 15 yards. It would obviously perform better with a stock or brace on this gun.

When I shared with a couple of friends the fact that I had this gun coming in, they asked, “What role does it fill?”  That’s a good question because it sits between a handgun and a rifle. This, however, is not a barren area. In fact, this zone is populated with most of the sub guns of the world. The one that sticks out the most is the H&K MP5K.

In my mind, the compact nature of this 9mm gun makes it perfect for covert carry or close-quarter applications. Along with the standard “stand and shoot” testing fare, I ran close contact drills and immediately included movement. This is a solid personal defense weapon and was effective on the move. The light weight of the gun and very minimal recoil made it fast. I could quickly engage two, three, and four targets at pace. While it is obviously a semi-auto gun, it reminded me of H&K’s little briefcase gun.

POF Phoenix 9mm Sub Gun Pistol Inside a Vehicle

With this application in mind, I ran the Phoenix like a PDW inside a vehicle. I have taken many rides with everything from carbines to belt-fed weapons, and each of them occupied noticeable space. This is where this compact fighter shined. First off, it is easy to store in a vehicle. I can store it next to my legs or in most interior compartments. Once deployed, it was very easy to maneuver, and its minimal recoil allowed me to shoot from a variety of awkward positions. I also rolled out of my vehicle with the gun to move on targets I had staged on the range. Having spent time running carbines in this application, I can tell you that Phoenix is much easier to get into the fight.

The POF Phoenix is a fitting tribute to Frank’s original design. I enjoyed running it and found it a solid fighting gun. If pushed to offer my mods for the gun, they would be few. As a person who is fanatical about close-quarter shooting, I would add a brace or stock and suppress it. Yes, the can would add to the overall length, but it would still be small enough to be agile in close quarters. I would also add a light because you must know what you are shooting at before you press the trigger. In the end, I give the gun high marks and am glad the project has been completed. If you’re looking for an enjoyable sub-gun that’s also an effective personal-defense weapon, look closely at the POF Phoenix 9mm Sub gun.

For more information, please visit:https://pof-usa.com/

Editor’s Note:

It has been a little over four years since Frank DeSomma died in an auto accident. In my humble opinion, Frank was one of the greatest—and most entertaining—advocates for freedom and our Second Amendment rights. His intellect, experience and passion for guns, politics and freedom will forever be remembered by all who were fortunate enough to be able to call him a friend. We miss you, brother.

POF Phoenix 9mm Sub Gun Specs