Re: 6.8 upper question
There is a whole lot of info over at the 68forums. The people over there are good, I have used the 6.8 to harvest a few animals and the 110gr TTSX was more than enough, it is moving about 2650fps. I might get some of the 95gr TTSX when they come out to try them, but i do not see how the 85 gr stuff is an improvement over the 5.56.
The 6.8 is a great caliber but don't get sucked into the "has to be a 1:11" vortex. Although both of my Bisons are 1:11 I know a few people that shoot loads just as hot as me in a 1:10 with the same pressure signs. My 6.8s are shooting fools, the 18 is very consistent with 90-110 gr bullets at 3/4MOA (5 shot groups) and the 16 seems to shoot a touch better but it does not like to run light bullets fast (SSA TacLoad 85gr TSX @3050), they shoot fine they just turn the rifle into a single shot.
So to answer your question, a 16" barrel is fine for hunting, 1:11 is optimum but not that necessary if you have a SPCII chamber (or better i.e. ARP's DMR-C, Noveske's Mod1), mid-length seems to be the ticket as well.