A 26" .30-06 AI can push a 185 VLD over 2,900 fps... I'd say that's pretty fair level of performance.
As smart as you think you are, and as dumb as you think I am (apparently), I still don't understand why you would waste a $1.00 projectile and a firing on your brass that was derated, when you could simply buy the proper rifle to begin with. If you load the rifle down to hunt locally, then it's obvious that you don't need a rifle that powerful to begin with. If you hunt out of state a lot, then that's one thing, but if you never hunt out of state where you need something of that caliber, then why own it? There is always that "because I wanted it" factor, and if that's the case, then why not load up full-power loads and go shoot it? Last I checked there are no elk, caribou, moose, or brown bear in Louisiana. And more whitetails per year are killed with more .243, .270 and .30-06 rifles than anything else.
I hunt with a 7mm RemMag, as well. But even it is slightly overkill for whitetails. But I like the flat trajectory.