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POF questions

10MM Man

Private
Minuteman
Mar 22, 2012
24
0
67
Albuquerque
Hello members. I'm new to the forum. My questions are directed at those of you who have experience with the POF platform 308 caliber. I just ordered one 16.5 inch barrel length.
What type bullet have you had good accuracy with, weight, bullet type, and if you reload, what powder have you had the best luck with?
Is there a suggested break in procedure? Overall, how happy are you with your POF?
Glad to be a member of this forum, there seems to be a ton of knowledge to draw upon here.
 
Re: POF questions

I was so happy with my first P308 that I bought a second one.

The P308 really likes the pricey ammo such as Hornady TAP and A-Max 168gr, Federal Gold Medal Match 168gr SMK and 175gr SMK, and Black Hills 168gr SMK and 175gr SMK. I don't reload so I can't help you with that question.

The POF rifles/Rock Creek barrels require no 'break in' procedure; just go out and shoot.

Oh, and welcome to the Hide!
 
Re: POF questions

I am shooting 178 AMAX as that is what my bolt gun and I like and they seems to be working. Have shot it out to 800 yards no problem so far. Here is my load for my 16.5 POF....<span style="color: #FF0000">use at your own risk, this load shows no pressure signs in my gun whatsoever </span>.

178 AMAX
Win case
42.0 grains RL-15
BR-2 primer

I have bullets loaded to test the accuracy node, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Oh and hell yes I like my POF!!
 
Re: POF questions

Killshot, I checked out the link to your rig, nice set up. How many rounds have you put through it? I'm a big fan of Nightforce optics, great glass.
 
Re: POF questions

My POF 308 likes 44 g varget behind 168 amax. I have shot out to 800 yds with this load with excellent results. No pressure signs but according to many reload manuals it is a fairly hot load so start lower and work up.
As far as factory loads it likes federal 168 match and hornady TAP. On a good day it will put them in a ragged hole at 100yds.
 
Re: POF questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: springer01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am shooting 178 AMAX as that is what my bolt gun and I like and they seems to be working. Have shot it out to 800 yards no problem so far. Here is my load for my 16.5 POF....<span style="color: #FF0000">use at your own risk, this load shows no pressure signs in my gun whatsoever </span>.

178 AMAX
Win case
42.0 grains RL-15
BR-2 primer

I have bullets loaded to test the accuracy node, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Oh and hell yes I like my POF!! </div></div>

Thanks for the info. I was just checking my inventory and have. 308 in 150, 165, 169,and 180, no RL-15 but have some Varget and TAC. ZShould keep me busy for a while. To me, conjuring up a load is half the fun of getting a new firearm, it's like finding gold when you figure out the magic combo.
 
Re: POF questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nfoley</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My POF 308 likes 44 g varget behind 168 amax. I have shot out to 800 yds with this load with excellent results. No pressure signs but according to many reload manuals it is a fairly hot load so start lower and work up.
As far as factory loads it likes federal 168 match and hornady TAP. On a good day it will put them in a ragged hole at 100yds.
</div></div>

Thanks. I've had good luck with Varget. If my POF likes it as much as yours does I'll be a happy camper. I use it in my 223 and my 308 bolt gun. What length is your POF barrel?
 
Re: POF questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hardcast</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nfoley</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My POF 308 likes 44 g varget behind 168 amax. I have shot out to 800 yds with this load with excellent results. No pressure signs but according to many reload manuals it is a fairly hot load so start lower and work up.
As far as factory loads it likes federal 168 match and hornady TAP. On a good day it will put them in a ragged hole at 100yds.
</div></div>

Thanks. I've had good luck with Varget. If my POF likes it as much as yours does I'll be a happy camper. I use it in my 223 and my 308 bolt gun. What length is your POF barrel? </div></div>

My POF had 14.5" barrel at that time.
 
Re: POF questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jc98ss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">pof</div></div>

Huh?
 
Re: POF questions

Try the 155 AMAX over 45.8 grains of varget. I have the same rifle you just ordered and had an issue that POF fixed right away. The
gun has always shot better than most behind it!
 
Re: POF questions

Thanks Kino, that is certainly good to hear.
smile.gif
Next week I'm going to start loading for it. Did you crono that load?
 
Re: POF questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hardcast</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks Kino, that is certainly good to hear.
smile.gif
Next week I'm going to start loading for it. Did you crono that load? </div></div>

2552AVG 35ES 12SD for 10 rounds. New Win. brass and federal 210M primer at 2.805 Not the fastest but shoots bugholes. My rifle likes the 155s way better than the 175SMK loads I have ran. I have not ran any type of 168s. I spoke with Cody from POF and he said the rifles was throated for the 168 and 155 amaxs.
 
Re: POF questions

Mine likes a 155 Berger VLD on top of 45 gr Varget. Lapua brass and Federal match LR primer. Of the top of my head the sight in chrono was about 2550 fos.
 
Re: POF questions

Thanks Kino, that is good info. 2550 is plenty. At 2.8 OAL how far are you off the lands? I was looking at one of my hunting loads (150 Gr Barnes TTX) which I load .050 off in my deer rifle, and had plenty of room in the magazine. Also, in a semi-auto, what is the best way you have found to determine head space? I've got a Hornady head space gauge, but I can't see how that gives me an accurate measurement from the shoulder to the bolt face. The best way I've found in a bolt action is by feel using the bolt. It works great to find out the distance to the lands though.
I realize I can't load is this like a bolt action. What I'll probably do is fire form of brass then neck size 4 a couple of firings and if I don't have chambering issues call it good and work my loads from there. Is that a safe way to do it?
 
Re: POF questions

ggmanning: yes those Bergers will shoot. I've tried them in my 556. The trouble I had with them was the mag length. With the 1 in 7 barrel, I was using 70 and 80 grain VLDs and they were seated really deep. They were still accurate thought. Heck the 80s were seated so deep the ojive was in the neck, and they still shot accurately. I'll definately be trying them in the .308. Thanks for the feed back.
 
Re: POF questions

I also have a 16.5 but don't reload, been lucky to have ran into this company called Heller Enterprise. Picked up their 168 and 175 grain match grade ammo and the POF seems to be liking it. I want to try out SMK's and Amax's from Southwest ammunition since I hear nothing but good review about their ammo. I need to learn how to reload that's for sure.
 
Re: POF questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hardcast</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Reloading is great. It doesn't save me any money because I end up shooting more, a lot more!
grin.gif
</div></div>

Yeah I need to get on that boat, but between a full time jobby job and schooling for a new job can,t do it just yet. Maybe when the dust settles.
 
Re: POF questions

Well, I hit the range with the POF yesterday, and I screwed up big time. I had two boxes of cheap PMC 150 grain, Federal 168 grain match and for the hell of it some of my hunting loads. All was well, the PMC grouped inside1" at 100 yards. The Federal inside 1.5". Then I ran one of the reloads in. The bolt closed 3/4 of the way and seized up. We ran a rod down the bore and tried to tap it while pulling on the charging handle. No dice. When I got home I tried a variety of things but no luck. I took it to a smith this morning and with a great deal of effort he got it out. You could see that it made contact just below the shoulder. When I got home I started sizing some brass full length. I ran the first case into the chamber and bam stuck again. Couldn't pull it out so I went and bought a 1/4" brass rod and pounded it out. I measured the shoulder on a factory round and adjusted the sizing die accordingly. Resized a case and ran it in. Success!
This chamber is really tight. These chambers are supposed to be NATO, but are tighter, SAMMI size. Learned my lesson though, no damage luckily.
 
Re: POF questions

Glad you didn't mess up your rifle.

I am looking to get one of these and suppress it since the piston guns don't foul nearly as bad as DI with a can on.
 
Re: POF questions

Glad to hear everything worked out.

I'll receive my 20" P308 this weekend. No one had a 16.5 in stock at the time.
 
Re: POF questions

I love my POF! I got to take it out to 714 yards about a week ago for the first time. It preformed better than the bolt gun next to me. I zeroed at 200 and pushed to 650 yds from there. after that 714 was cake. I was shooting some 175s from Georgia arms, some PMC 147gr and some 168 TAP. I find that if you are only shooting 700 or so yards 168s seem to do better. I got an extra 2 mills out of the 168 TAP over the 175s at 714yds.

POFandFN.jpg



First shot was low I held top target. Second shot was just out side the red circle and I just walked it in from there for a dead center hit at 650. this was the Georgia arms 175 SMKs The orange circle measures 4". The rifle does what you ask it to do. You cant get much better than that.
650walkin.jpg
 
Re: POF questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mavrick10_2000</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Glad to hear everything worked out.

I'll receive my 20" P308 this weekend. No one had a 16.5 in stock at the time. </div></div>

I'm sure some folks in here with 16.5s are willing to trade you. I was looking for a 20 at one point. Hint hint,
 
Re: POF questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: supermoto917</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mavrick10_2000</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Glad to hear everything worked out.

I'll receive my 20" P308 this weekend. No one had a 16.5 in stock at the time. </div></div>

I'm sure some folks in here with 16.5s are willing to trade you. I was looking for a 20 at one point. Hint hint, </div></div>

Speaking of... I'm looking for a 12 or 14.5 308 upper for my POF so if anyone is in the selling market hit me up.