When you say you want to hunt with it what do you mean? Just deer? Or maybe a bear? What range do you want to be able to knock down the animal at?
I have a couple rifles in 300BLK that I would shoot a deer with but it would have to be within 100 yards for me to feel comfortable and after reading up on the 6.5 Grendel it looks slow as well, it is a much more efficient bullet but to get the velocity up you have to stay with the lighter projectiles making it good for long range target shooting but not so great for big game hunting. You would have to be very selective with projectiles, a target bullet wouldn't be the best choice and heavy hunting bullet may not be traveling fast enough to expand properly.
If you go with a rifle designed around the 223 I think the 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 SPC would be your best choices for hunting but I wouldn't be shooting at an animal more than 200 yards away even though the accuracy may be sufficient out to 300+.
I think you can reach your weight goal if you stick to the receiver sets based off the 223 cartridge and are very selective on the parts you pick but it will end up being over $3000 and the cartridge will be slow making shot placement extremely important which isn't always easy in the field. If you're mostly hunting in the bush where long shots are unlikely it should work but I would like a little more energy going downrange for hunting as I hate chasing a wounded animal.
I've packed M14's, my RFB, even my DT SRS in 338 Lapua through the bush. I find that the weight of the rifle is less important with a good wide sling to make things easier. I'd gladly pack an extra pound or two and have a cartridge that I know is going to do the job than save a little weight and be shooting a cartridge I'm not confident with on big game.
I have a couple rifles in 300BLK that I would shoot a deer with but it would have to be within 100 yards for me to feel comfortable and after reading up on the 6.5 Grendel it looks slow as well, it is a much more efficient bullet but to get the velocity up you have to stay with the lighter projectiles making it good for long range target shooting but not so great for big game hunting. You would have to be very selective with projectiles, a target bullet wouldn't be the best choice and heavy hunting bullet may not be traveling fast enough to expand properly.
If you go with a rifle designed around the 223 I think the 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 SPC would be your best choices for hunting but I wouldn't be shooting at an animal more than 200 yards away even though the accuracy may be sufficient out to 300+.
I think you can reach your weight goal if you stick to the receiver sets based off the 223 cartridge and are very selective on the parts you pick but it will end up being over $3000 and the cartridge will be slow making shot placement extremely important which isn't always easy in the field. If you're mostly hunting in the bush where long shots are unlikely it should work but I would like a little more energy going downrange for hunting as I hate chasing a wounded animal.
I've packed M14's, my RFB, even my DT SRS in 338 Lapua through the bush. I find that the weight of the rifle is less important with a good wide sling to make things easier. I'd gladly pack an extra pound or two and have a cartridge that I know is going to do the job than save a little weight and be shooting a cartridge I'm not confident with on big game.
