I appreciate the feedback. The $6/box ammo, again, is just for practice, trigger time, recoil management, etc. I can get pretty much any of the premium bullets federal offers (partitions, accubond, triple shock, etc in 165gr, 180, etc) for the 300, I have also been getting them for my -06. I don't trust them to have hand load consistency, but I was actually shooting several 5 shot groups at roughly moa accuracy at 100yds with the $5 nosler partitions, 100yds was about as far as we could shoot on that property though. I will get into hand loading at some point, just not in my budget or time capacity at this point (new baby girl due any day now, and work 50-65hr weeks consistently). As far as recoil, I'd consider a muzzle brake, at least for the range.
I don't want to seem "dead set" on the 300, like my pal, Cory, makes it seem. I'm open to new ideas if they seem to fit the bill for my particular situation. That's just what I'm leaning towards based on my experience and limited research.
