MinnFinn,
Your experience is fairly common (I think I need more gun for next year.) Before you buy though, I'd encourage you to pickup Federal's Ammo catalog and study the difference between a "High Energy" 3006 using 180gr and a 300 WinMag using 180gr. Its not much difference. If you are going to buy, please consider putting some seperation between your calibers. If you have a 3006 and something on the order of a 338Mag you've got North America covered in spades! Note: even your guide had a 338, must have been a reason.