Core-Lokt and bonded bullets are designed for controlled expansion and weight retention. This helps in the transfer of energy to the target. Ballistic tips and SST's are a little more explosive on impact, but can still be made to retain weight instead of fragmenting rapidly. The polymer tip is supposed to make the bullet flatter shooting and help initiate expansion. A lot depends on the thickness of the bullet's jacket. A thicker jacket will make the bullet expand more slowly and retain more weight. A thinner jacket will make the bullet expand faster and sometimes fragment.

Any of the bullets you have mentioned in a .270 or .260 will work nicely on a deer.

Spending big bucks on hunting. Hmm....don't know anyone with that problem!