big country - I like your idea of a surprise, bet they dont stand at 40yds laughing at you for long after thanksgiving. 300mags are only overkill if they bother YOU. If you can shoot it and enjoy it , do it. Most 300's tend to give the best mix of speed/down range energy w/ 180gr bullets. One advantage to this is that you wont have to change anything if you go after mulies, elk, moose ect.. I also like barnes X bullets, but if you dont reload, the factory offerings may be to finicky.