Does the 7.62x39 round have a practical hunting application?

[Stephen08]

Does the 7.62x39 round have a practical hunting application?

[Bo]

The 7.62 Russian generally shooting a 123 grain slug is compared here to a 30-30 shooting a 125 gr bullet.
MV for a 7.62 Russian is around 2390 fps. 30-30 is 2570. This slows to 2019/2083 at 100yds and to1686/1656 at 200 yds.
Muzzle Energy is 1902/1833, at 100 yds it is 1358/1204. At 200 yds it is 947/761.
So it similar to a .30-30. Better in some points, not so much in others.
Those values are off of the Federal premium website.

[Bo]

I meant to include in the above that anything you can hunt with a .30-30 using the 125 gr bullet, you can hunt with the Russian round.

[Old Salts]

Knocks deer down like Thors Hammer!

[the captain]

Bo, before I clicked on the article I was going to say the exact same thing on the subject... well done, sir!
I would argue that the 7.62x39 is a more appropriate deer cartridge than the .223/5.56 by a long shot. Keep in mind, you will find the same limitations in range as the 30-30. Where I hunt, you need to be able to reach out there, but if you are hunting timber, I would not hesitate to shoot an AK at a deer or black bear.

[Bo]

Captain, I have an SKS that has taken deer with some effectiveness, and a friend uses an AK. I have heard no complaints.