I have killed truck loads of deer with 165 g Core Lockt out of both a 308 and a 06. Last couple of seasons I needed something "better" and switched between Nosler accubonds and hornady SST. If you want more meat damage they are just the ticket. They would group better out of both rifles but will a deer at 200 know the difference between a 3/4 inch rifle and a 1.5 inch rifle = no. I used the 165 g CL all through my formative years of deer hunting - ie running shots, texas heart shots, strong quartering shots, basic poor shots. They always penetrated well, didn't blow up or pencil through, mushroomed perfectly when you found a bullet, and killed deer. When you are talking deer you don't need the controlled expansion and high dollar bullets. Ammo is a lot like fishing tackle it is not marketed just to catch fish!