It is dumb to pigeonhole the rifle but my opinion is legit and here's why:
1. The OP wrote, "Im hoping to get to the range with a friends 300 Win Mag, and if that doesn't bother me thats another option. i wouldn't say that i'm recoil shy, but i would prefer to have something that doesn't beat me up. i'm anticipating 60/40 deer/elk hunts with this rifle and id like to have enough caliber to shoot 500 yards if i get to that point one day." We've all been there. If ya wanna be proficient enough to take a shot at game from 500 yards then you wanna be able to consistently hit a stationary target at 1000 yards so the 500 yard shot feels like a chip shot. yeah, i had to put a muzzle brake, aftermarket buttpad on my winmag to make it comfortable but lotsa guys do this. No different than adding a Tinmey trigger. Accuracy matters.
2. A .300 winmag is a flat shooter with lots of (often cheaper) ammo choices that is easily readily from numerous vendors. The caliber's popularity makes this so. With the variety of bullets, it's a very versatile weapon.
3. Dead is dead, you can't use too much gun. A .243 will kill an elk but if you find yourself stalking an elk and accidentally spook a brown bear...which rifle do ya wanna be holding?
4. Once you start shooting longer ranges, you wanna keep practicing at longer distances. That .308 is okay to 800 yards, the .300 is capable of reaching out further. Prior to dialing in my winmag I couldn't consistently hit squat beyond 350 yards. Now I'm repeatedly ringing 1000 yard steel. That's fun! And the animals deserve our best shot.