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.

 

[Eleven]

I’ve used .223 in thick northern woods. While I won’t hesitate to take it on more open hunts It’s no longer my first choice when I’m going to be stalking through heavy thick areas. The reason being is that if I don’t get an immediate bang flop it can be a real chore tracking through that stuff with a minimal blood trail. I had one really nice buck that I shot at 30 yards that took me a long time to find, not because the cartridge did anything bad, in fact it worked really well, but because the buck ran 70ish yards through a hellscape of tangled brush and there was no leaking. He was dead after that sprint (essentially at the shot) and the insides were mush. But if I’m going to be hunting in those types of areas I want something that will likely give two holes to provider as much of a blood trail as possible.

 

[RedRidge]

Don’t hesitate with the right bullet. I hunt thick woods mostly and I’m a bow hunter at heart so end up setting up that way mostly and get shots 20-60 yards. Easy to carry and shoot accurately.

 

[Scoutfan]

I agree with both Samson and 11. If sitting still in heavy woods I don't think there is anything better than a 223 for threading the needle. Almost all of my shots like that are head neck and no tracking needed. If I am still hunting and taking snap shots I love my 308 and 35 whelen for any angle penetration with an exit and a good blood trail.
I have probably killed as many animals with my 223 as everything else combined, but I don't think it is always the right tool for the job.

 

[KHntr]

I hunt thick timber all the time, but with the added fun of a jag of grizzly bears.

Bullets matter.