Me, I'd easily choose the 7.62x39 with a decent bullet not to say your Russian load wouldn't work. My wife took a fat doe years ago with a Mak 90 and a single Federal 123gr. SP behind a shoulder through both lungs. It went about 25 yards leaving a blood trail a first grader could follow at dusk. Best of luck and please post pics of your harvest.

 

Do you know if your state allows .22 caliber for hunting? Some don't.

I'd still use the .30 caliber. The Hornady SST might be a decent choice.

 

Yes, texas allows .223/5.56. I'm leaning towards 7.62 myself. steel case sst and hornady black are available locally.

 

Go with the bigger bullet.

 

7.62x39 has some great bullets for deer. Mainly the SST. However, the heavier for caliber .223 will kill a deer as well. Good monometal bullets (GMX, TTSX) in a .223 will certainly kill deer. Soft points in .223 will work as well. Both need to have shots limited to 200 yards or closer.

 

Cor-bon has a 150 grain load for the 7.62x39 that is superior to any 223 load.
Double tap has a similar load and the cor-bon load may have been discontinued.

Cor-bon Hunter ammunition

• Caliber: 7.62x39mm Russian

• Bullet Weight: 150 Grains

• Bullet Style: Jacketed Soft Point

• Case Type: Brass
  
  Ballistics Information

• Muzzle Velocity: 2300 fps

• Muzzle Energy: 1762 ft. lbs.

Otherwise, the Hornady Black 7.62x39 - 123 Grain Polymer Tip SST is a very good load.

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/hornady-black-762-39mm-ammo-123-grain-sst-80784-p-59052.aspx

Hornady also has these bullets available for reloaders.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010926078

 

Not a fan of 223 on anythinng bigger than coyotes or really small deer for humane kills. The 7.62 is basically a 30-30, so a good soft point & gtg.

 

Not a fan of 223 on anythinng biggef than coyotes or really small deer for humane kills. The 7.62 is basically a 30-30, so a good soft point & gtg.

I agree with Fred.


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I've taken a few deer with 7.62x39 at close range. Does a good job.

 

This deer was taken by the son on a youth hunt this year. He used an AK looking gun in 7.62x39, Bulgarian make. The Ammo was Hornady ‘black’ for the 50 yard shot, deer went about 40 yards before expiring.

 

In a word amigo....
Go with the 7.62X39.

My late son, (when he just wanted to) used an SKS to kill deer on the ranch, and even at longer range, (than I wanted him too) it did just fine...

Have a great hunt.




CanyonMan
:horse:

 

Bigger boolits make bigger holes.

 

And the bigger the hole in the hull, the faster the ship will sink.

 

I would choose the 7.62x39mm but either will be adequate at those distances.

 

People who shoot deer with a 223 aren’t doing the animal justice. The 7.62x39 is all over a 30-30 and that’s my absolute minimum for deer.

 

People who shoot deer with a 223 aren’t doing the animal justice. The 7.62x39 is all over a 30-30 and that’s my absolute minimum for deer.

 

I'm not a fan of 223/5.56 for deer, even though a lot of them are taken in these parts with them. A Gold Dot or Fusion in 62 grain or better yet, 75 grain would be my choice.
X39 falls victim to ammo. There are several US made offerings that are fine. For ComBlock I would choose 154 grain Tula SP. Hate on Tula all you want, this stuff it legit and a decent enough "Thumper" of a round.
Use extreme caution in believing ComBlock HP ammo acts like any hunting round. It is HP in the since that rear weighted will yaw quicker, that being subjective. Quicker means somewhere under 7 inches.
I would keep all of them in the 100 yard(ish) range. Your range is fine, but timing is suspect. You should have been sighted and practicing a month or more ago.
YMMV

 

I'm not a fan of 223/5.56 for deer, even though a lot of them are taken in these parts with them. A Gold Dot or Fusion in 62 grain or better yet, 75 grain would be my choice.
X39 falls victim to ammo. There are several US made offerings that are fine. For ComBlock I would choose 154 grain Tula SP. Hate on Tula all you want, this stuff it legit and a decent enough "Thumper" of a round.
Use extreme caution in believing ComBlock HP ammo acts like any hunting round. It is HP in the since that rear weighted will yaw quicker, that being subjective. Quicker means somewhere under 7 inches.
I would keep all of them in the 100 yard(ish) range. Your range is fine, but timing is suspect. You should have been sighted and practicing a month or more ago.
YMMV

My rifles have been sighted in for quite some time, i shoot nearly everyday on my property. All i wa

I'm not a fan of 223/5.56 for deer, even though a lot of them are taken in these parts with them. A Gold Dot or Fusion in 62 grain or better yet, 75 grain would be my choice.
X39 falls victim to ammo. There are several US made offerings that are fine. For ComBlock I would choose 154 grain Tula SP. Hate on Tula all you want, this stuff it legit and a decent enough "Thumper" of a round.
Use extreme caution in believing ComBlock HP ammo acts like any hunting round. It is HP in the since that rear weighted will yaw quicker, that being subjective. Quicker means somewhere under 7 inches.
I would keep all of them in the 100 yard(ish) range. Your range is fine, but timing is suspect. You should have been sighted and practicing a month or more ago.
YMMV

Timing is suspect how? I have a range on my property and all it takes is 10 minutes or less to adjust for a new loading. After work i set aside about an hour to shoot rifles every day so I'm not short on practice. Wolf HPs drop hogs on the spot and always fragment into 3-4 pieces.

 

7.62x39 makes the 223 look like a pellet gun

 

Depends on what you're doing.

If you're sitting in a stand, waiting for heart / lung shots then either will do.

If you're hunting with dogs, driving with friends, or even just walking around, then the 7.62 will be the better choice.

 

I'll bet more jurisdictions ban .223 for deer than 7.62x39.

 

Of the two choices the OP gave, I'd go with the 7.62x39. That said, my personal preference is the .308 Winchester. (7.62x51, almost...)

 

I dearly like my .223 AR's, but not for Whitetail. They run big around here and call for a heavier bullet than a .223 can throw. 7.62X39MM will get the job done at the range you suggested. My Son shot his first Whitetail with an Chinese SKS "Paratrooper" Carbine. 160 lb. Doe field dressed. Dropped in place, dead. Good luck to you. 8 Points, 2018.

 

I've killed deer with both. The 223 was 580 Mini that loved the Sierra 65 grain SP and H4895; 2840 fps and three shot groups in 3/4 inch at 100 yards. Heart shot on a button buck at 160 yards with full penetration; he ran maybe 15 yards and dropped.

The 7.62×39mm is a great all around cartridge and we've used it for decades here. Even with imported soft points, a fully capable deer gun to 200 yards or a shade further. I can't remember how many deer we've killed with it but here are the two most recent from 2017.

My wife swatted the doe at about 220 yards with her CZ-527 using Barnaul Golden Bear SP. She clipped the spine at the shoulder with full penetration, doe went right down and kicked itself 10 feet before expiring, The buck I took with a WASR 10, running hard broadside at maybe 60; spined again, behind shoulder. He went down so hard he slid and never moved from where he stopped.

The AK shown with the buck has Tech Sights and a Power 'Red Star' adjustable trigger set for a two-stage, four pound crisp break. I've got a 200 yard range out the back door, so it's easy to tell what works and what doesn't.

Don't buy the line that imported steel case ammo is inaccurate. The CZ-527 will keep five Tula FMJ in three inches at 200 yards. The shortened/recrowned Yugo will give the CZ a run for its money. Imported soft point (I got a deal on a bunch of Barnaul 125 a few years ago) kills deer just fine. 223 if OK if applied with surgical precision on broadside shots. The x39 has better penetration and will allow you to take shots I would pass with a 223.