Does anybody have any personal experience with loading the .300 Win Mag down to .30-06 levels? I specificly want to know if it will affect accuracy. I'll also take links to online research studies about this.
Although I don't have any personal experience in this matter, if Remington can do it, we should be able to ... :) Federal does it for several loads, but the .300 is not one of them. A lighter bullet at a reduced charge is going to give youy less recoil. Remington uses a 125gr bullet. They are intended for a 200 yd hunting range as the velocity drops off sharply much further than this and you will not get as reliable expansion further out.
It is infernally easy.
Pick a 3006 load in your favorite weight and brand using either H/IMR/XMR4895 and go to town.
You can expect to loose possibly 1/2 MOA in the accuracy end due to inconsistent ignition, otherwise you'll be happy.
Hogdon instructions allow reduction in powder charge for their 4895 of as much as 40% from max with complete safety. I have had similar result with the IMR and XMR products for a long time before Hogdon printed and information.
With the right bullets you can go down to 30WCF levels in the 300 and still make very useful loads for deer and the like. While some prefer using the lighter bullets, I have had poor results with them.