I vote 6.8 SPC if your wanting to do a 16" hunting rifle.

Ive been using one since 2009 for deer, coyotes, hogs, varmints and every other kinda hunting.
I killed a bunch of the above with the 120gr SST. Now i switched to the 105gr Cavity Back Bullets for hogs and deer, 120gr SST for everything else.

Before i got the 6.8 i killed alot of the above with a 223 AR using 75 and 77gr match bullets.

Hunting and blasting, go 223.
Dedicated hunting rig go 6.8.