Just curious what factory load you .243 users prefer for whitetail deer and how many deer have you taken with it (in .243). My boys use 100gr rem corelocks. They work great, but I'm considering a premium bullet.

I have hunted whitetails with a .243 for several years and tried several different loads, including the remington core lokt you mentioned. my favorite by far are hornady custom boattail softpoints in 100 grain. ialso thinkthe remington is a good cartridge, but the hornadys outperform them by far, and give you about the tightest groups you can expect from an over-the-counter factory load. the only other bullet i have found that can touch the hornady brand are federal premium 100 grain softpoints. hope this helps in your decision. good luck

I like the Hornady 100gr BTSP, or the Winchester Super X 100grs. Both shoot the same out of my rifle so I guess either will do.
To be honest I don't think you need a "premium" bullet for whitetail, if you are doing it just to get better groups that is one thing, but I'm sure your corelokts will be perfectly fine.

I also like the Hornady 100 gr BTSP.
Vey accurate and seems to shoot flatter than any other 100 gr.
How many have we killed, to many to remember.
second choice is the Federal loaded with the 100 gr sierra game kings.
However federal shows a new load an, 80 gr speer hot core, super fast and flat, I am going to try these out if I can find them.

None, start them off big 7MM or 300MAG.

Stabnslab - I will be using the premium load, not my boys.

I have a .300 WSM and excessive for deer.

I have a super sweet weatherby .243 and use the federal fusion 100gr

How do the Hornadys outperform the CoreLokts???

I've used the CoreLokts, PowerPoints, and Hi-Shoks to about equal effect for years on whitetails, muleys, and pronghorns. My rifle doesn't seem to prefer any one of them over the other in terms of accuracy, though you may not find that the case with your particular rifle.

I've also used handloads and "premiums", and can't say that the extra time or money spent was evident downrange in accuracy or effects on target.

My recommendation: Find one your rifle "likes", if you do your part getting the bullet where it needs to go, the standard factory loads won't fail you.

100gr Sierra "Game King"