223 in the woods

[Serving4Him]

So Ive read through most (not all) of the 223 thread. Growing up hunting the piney woods and hardwood bottoms of Louisiana no one I knew ever hunted with a 223. I started out whitetail hunting with a 30-30 then 243 then 270. Still have the 270. Throughout the years ive had various calibers but these days i tend to lean to less recoil. I was extremely surprised after reading through the 223 thread, but with all the data any doubts about the 223 have been erased. My one remaining concern is its effectiveness in the thick woods. Im looking at a tikka with 16” barrel. I plan to us the rifle to whitetail hunt in the woods with shots less than 100 yards, but also hunt in on food plots and highlines where shots could get to 300 yards. Any real world 223 experience hunting in thick woods or should I also be concerning at 350 legend for the woods. I appreciate any and all feedback. Thanks.

 

[justinspicher]

I wouldn’t hesitate to hunt anything anywhere with my 16” 223 rifle.

 

[SamsonMan22]

I hunt as much thick woods as anything with the 223, it’s a non issue. The whole brush buster thing doesn’t exist imo, I do however like how easy it is to “thread the needle” with the 223 and see the impact. I have taken shots with the 223 I’m not sure I would have with something that recoiled substantially more due to position and size of the window I had to shoot through. The other thing is follow ups with the 223 is extremely fast which can be a plus when trying to get shots off at running animals in the thick stuff. Get one with a short barrel and go at it.