Joined the pop gun club...223 takes its first animals bush stalking

Most people know im a 243 man, thats my go to rifle all day long, esp bush stalking. Quite awhile ago i added a 308 for longer range areas and as a back up rifle for a change now and again etc.
Just recently i bought a 223 of the forum, this Howa 1500 with a suppressor and a throw away cheap guncity scope.


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I decided i join the 223 club for areas where theres more goats, fallow and i will use it on Reds as well in certain areas.
In a couple of days a Leupold VX1 scope will arrive(from forum again) which i put on it and that do for a nice cheap set up.

After sighting it in a couple weeks ago with that crap scope that wouldnt track we managed to get it shooting not a bad 5 shot group at 100yards that should be good to go while i wait for the leupold to arrive.
Today, thought as its abit heavy than i like, i take it for a walk and see how i like it and check out a area i hunted pigs 25 years ago to see whats in there.

Didnt get up early, left about 6am from home and went up the perlous where i knew there be goats at least in that jungle and a place 25 years ago plus we did alright on pigs.


Had to cross the river, bit deeper than i remember and into the bush.





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Well, nearly was another of these hunts of mine laterly and home early as only went 50 yards and two pigs i disturbed 10 yards in front of me in real thick crap moved off.
Nearly got to shoot a pig around 50lb but the scrub was just a little to thick for the shot so they were lucky pigs.

Still, good to see pigs here still and if bought my mate with his dogs we would of got one ok. Carried on , but knew my best hope was a goat or a unlucky deer as the bush was typical sounds like,
thick fern, manuka, gorse see about 30 yards etc.

Found some fallow sign not too old and more freshish pig rooting further back and the odd mark here and there and some old goat sign.

Got used to carriying the 223, so didnt think it was too bad and was quite enjoying the walk in the scrub as some areas opened up and was a pleasant day.







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Started the walk back to the river and saw some legs ahead in the scrub. Was hoping it was a deer but it ended up a youngish billy looking at me.

Any animal in here bush stalking was a win, and here was the prime chance to shoot the first with the 223.
Didnt try any fancy shot, esp with this scope, just centred it on the middle of its chest as was facing me and squeezed of.

POP... no BOOM, felt like i took a pop gun to a gunfight haha. The goat turned and bolted and i was thinking fuck, not like the mighty 243, how far is this going to run lol.

Should of had faith in the 55gr softpoint as found the goat dead only 20 yards from where it was standing and wasnt smelly and looked in good nick so goat curry is on the menu.









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Took the meat and carried on out and low down saw some more movement and another goat shows itself. Tried a neck shot this time and POP and down it goes.


Not bad for a look with the new addition. Two shots, two animals, got a feed and when i put the better scope on it we see if i can knock over a deer in the bush next.

Still, feel under powered with this pop gun but clearly it works so it be a toss up between the three cals and areas which one comes but its never replacing the mighty 243 but happy days


Cheers

Good stuff, its plenty for goats ay.

Good stuff! Glad you got it out in the bush. That's two more animals than I shot with it....

Nice story. That river looks perfect for a swim!

Do hunters generally use ear pro, or does that get in the way of stalking?

Good shooting. It’s a great caliber till you don’t hit the animal quite right. Then it becomes fun trying to tidy up the mess. 243 owns it.

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Originally Posted by Recoil

Do hunters generally use ear pro, or does that get in the way of stalking?

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If there is time.
Some bush stalkers use electronic muffs as it is like having bionic hearing, I have some but find them to hot and sweaty to have them on all the time in the bush.
Open country hunting I generally use earplugs as there is usually time to put them in before a shot.

don,t worry about the 223 killing power works well. I use to think the same but as long as the engine room or the neck is targeted out to 200m deer will die for sure the 55gr soft point works well

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Originally Posted by Sako851

Nice story. That river looks perfect for a swim!

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It was as clear as ive seen it. It be perfect, some deep pools, seems not many go there but further down where its a popular place and looked full when drove past. Was pretty hot by lunch

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Originally Posted by mimms2

It's not the size it's how you use it...

.223 Is a well capable cartridge. Certainly there are instances where it's "not enough gun" but there are plenty more instances where there's "not enough hunter," regardless of calibre.

Thats a fair hefty can though. Is it really necessary?

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Its a over barrel one thou and it came with the rifle. works well I dont use a can on my other two but i keep this as is. Its certainly on the heavy side, seems howas weight abit .
Its ok thou, used to carrying such things around, my 308 is 24 inch and its not a issue in the native i normally hunt .

I sold the rifle to deer243 I can say the suppressor is long (looks very much like a gun works copy to.me) but pretty light. Lighter than my hardy gen IV. The weight is in the rifle it self. Has a solid barrel and action. Certainly not a varmint rifle but not a modern lightweight either.

Might want to get the barrel chopped back so the suppressor is just about touching the stock, will make it more handy in the rough and won't lose much in velocity.

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Originally Posted by Walker

Might want to get the barrel chopped back so the suppressor is just about touching the stock, will make it more handy in the rough and won't lose much in velocity.

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My thoughts exactly

i could be it doesnt worry me that much. I try hunt open native, always carrying the rifle as a deer could be just inside the bush so always never really carrying it over my back.
My 308 is 24 inch, my 243 is 22 and i find both those no problem at all in the bush. Even taking the 223 in thicker stuff it didnt really bother me or got caught up so i leave it as is.
Only going use it in certain areas so wont be used that much cpmpared to the 243 then the 308

Great story you inspired me to get out and bush stalk a bit vey dry and noisy but I got my goat.

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Originally Posted by trooper90

Great story you inspired me to get out and bush stalk a bit vey dry and noisy but I got my goat.

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Nice one. Yeah, i little dry. Went for a look couple of days ago. found where a stag was living.
Only real sign apart from one creek head. came across a goat on way out, could of shot it but decided to pass up on it. wasnt a bad day in the bush though

Go the Howa. I'm with the other fullas though. Chop the barrel back a few inches. You won't regret it.��

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mimms2

It's not the size it's how you use it...

.223 Is a well capable cartridge. Certainly there are instances where it's "not enough gun" but there are plenty more instances where there's "not enough hunter," regardless of calibre.

Thats a fair hefty can though. Is it really necessary?

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But lets face it very few of us are as good in the bush or as good a shot as the old deer cullers running around the hills with their 222s. I don"t care what shape bottle you decide to hold your powder in but feel to have a resonable margin of error a miniumim of about 120grains doing about 2500fps is needed for Sika and up.

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Originally Posted by Got-ya

But lets face it very few of us are as good in the bush or as good a shot as the old deer cullers running around the hills with their 222s. I don"t care what shape bottle you decide to hold your powder in but feel to have a resonable margin of error a miniumim of about 120grains doing about 2500fps is needed for Sika and up.

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Total nonsense. A 243 will deal with anything in Nz at a reasonable range, esp bush ranges and thats using 80-100 gr . Anywhere in the boiler room or shoulder will deal to big stags and theres plenty of room for error/
I use 100 gr Fed Powershoks, ive bowled over stags up to 150kg straight in shouler and gone 20 feet and thats it. I take my 243 more in the roar than i will take my 308 using 165gr .
If its bush ranges and a little further its got plenty of knockdown power.
Many are happy to use a 223, esp for reds but shot placement needs to be a little better and distance is cut down a little but seems to work for many.
I be using the 223 on deer soon and i report how i get on. Rather use the go to rifle (243) but for certain areas i be taking the 223 and areas where distance shots could be on my 308 will be coming but
when it comes to game no matter what the size the 243 will do as good as the 308 at those bush ranges and tou certainly dont need 120gr or bigger to knock over deer.

Plus many hunters would be better of using something like a 243 in the bush rather than some big cannon as so many think that because they have a cannon they can just aim at the biggest bit and squeeze off.
Theres prob more deer lost wounded with 7m mags, 308 etc than a 243 etc as no matter what Cal you using shot placement is the key.

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Originally Posted by Got-ya

But lets face it very few of us are as good in the bush or as good a shot as the old deer cullers running around the hills with their 222s. I don"t care what shape bottle you decide to hold your powder in but feel to have a resonable margin of error a miniumim of about 120grains doing about 2500fps is needed for Sika and up.

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Ill add a good percentage of us are far far better shots than the(most) old deer cullers and are using far more accurate gear with detailed knowledge of trajectory's and wind drifts with a vast array of projectiles to suit virtually any game at any range.

I've been using a brno 223 over the last 12 years and shot all my deer (probably up around 30 deer now) and not one has gone further than 30 yards downhill. I've just recently upgraded to a 243 brno just for a little bit more distance and knock over power, but seriously it's how you shoot not what you shoot that determines your success and failures as a hunter.

No bias in that statement at all...none....nada


Quote ‘Theres prob more deer lost wounded with 7m mags, 308 etc than a 243 etc as no matter what Cal you using shot placement is the key.’

I was the same when I got my .223 felt underpowered but after 3 deer for 3 shots and they all fell over on the spot (neck shots from 20 to 170m) I was convinced it's one of the most awesome calibers to use

red spiker at 50ish yards went flop after the pop when a 50grns barnes entered top of shoulders straight into chest...he was facing towards me going steeply downhill.... that put him down permant like but as I had such a good rest and seen as though it was nice enough to present head side on as it gave last gasp...a bog standard hornady 50 pack 55grn load (yip one you gave me Andy) went in behind ear and dislocated its skull.....

Great to hear you are on the board with the new rifle.......now seriously find yourself some 50 grns ttsx projectiles to load up......it makes the wee pop guns (with slower twists) into giant killers if ever there is a projectile to do so.