Thing about the Barnes stuff vs lead based bullets, a 62 grain Barnes is longer/higher SD/BC than a 62 grain lead bullet. The 62 grain Barnes gets NEAR, but not quite TOO MOA in my 1:8 Bushmaster M4 carbine. I haven't tried the heavier Barnes, might even GET MOA. But, even with 55 grain FMJ, the cheap stuff, it shoots 1.5 MOA. The accuracy of these rifles/carbines amazes me and to 100 yards out here in the woods, you can definitely thread the needle if need be. Accuracy always wins me over to a new rifle. Work with it long enough and I could get it under 1 MOA I'll bet, and the gun ain't anything special....basic off the rack M4, no floated barrel or anything.
If you can put that bullet where it counts consistently, you'll have freezer meat, at least to woods ranges. .223 poops out way sooner than most bolt action hunting calibers like .308 or my 7 mag. But, in the woods, it doesn't matter as you won't get a shot past 100 yards ever.
I have been getting a few opportunities to hunt west of these woods again, even got an expedition for elk planned this winter!
Out there, I like flat shooting bigger calibers. I plan to take my 7 mag this winter on my elk expedition and I still am infatuated with that little M7 Stainless in .308 for deer hunting, but around home, these rifles are a bit excessive. Still, I like the wretched excess of that .308 and the bang flops it produces with a 150 Nosler BT on deer and hogs.
I don't like having to blood trail game in these woods, haven't had to on deer, but the one I shot with the .223 did keep running for about 40 yards. It didn't head for the thick stuff, fell by the fence, stuff like that does happen. It was a great shot placement, quartering behind the shoulder, took out the heart. He was pretty much dead on his feet until he fell. Range was about 20-25 yards max. However, I have anchored deer at 150 yards with this same shot placement in the past with the 7 mag. It don't mess around, just gets the job done, but it's actually a little too much at close range. For some, too much is never enough, but I do like to retrieve a portion of the meat from a kill without having it all bloodshot.