I would think that the 7.62x39mm would do just fine on deer up to about the 200lb range.
The 7.62x39mm gets a little flatter trajectory than the 30-30 because of its pointed bullet. Ends up with about the same power and effective range though.
There is some good US made SP ammo out there for hunting, but I would stay away from the Wolf and Barnaul stuff for that purpose. It is OK stuff to stockpile for the invasion of the Red Army and it is great for plinking with an AK or SKS, but I would use something else for hunting.
If you like the rifle, by all means, buy it and use it.
It would at the very least be as good as a Wichester for hunting deer, and since it is both a CZ and a bolt-action, it would likely shoot rings around a lever action. Fast handling and a quick action are good, but hitting where you want is better. In brush, you can't really just wing a bullet through and hit what is on the other side. You have to aim through openings and holes in the brush and make your shot count.
To tell the truth, I think the little CZ 527's are cool as well. If they can be used with that cheap steel cased Wolf, imagine how much practice shooting you could do with it before you hit the woods.
Cheap practice ammo is a good thing, and it would give the CZ an edge over the Winchester.
I did get a refund for a defective gun today, so that may very well be on my list. Hell, you almost have me talked into one. You should go into sales.
In my experience, you can't go wrong with a CZ. I have a CZ-75BD and a 452. Both are really good guns. On the same note, Winchesters and Marlins are good guns as well. It all comes down to what you want.
Either choice will do the job.
If you are dead set on a lever action, a 30-30 Marlin or Winchester will do fine for head shots out to about 100 yards (if you are good enough) and body shots out to about 150.
I use a bolt action Savage .308 with a 2x forward mounted scope, but it is really more gun than I need for the close range hunting that I do here in PA. The deer I got last year was taken at about 60 yards, which is about average.
Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't take a 20MM AA to kill a deer. Unless you are going to shoot at long ranges, a 7mm Mag is excessive. The best way to hunt deer is to sneak up close anyway. It is harder, but the shots are easier when you are close.
Closer=bigger target=better chance of killing it.
Farther away with a big scope and really powerful gun means that the shooter has to be more skilled at hitting in the first place, and that he has to be better at estimating wind and range as well. Factor in that you are new to hunting, so you will have to contend with all kinds of surges and shakes from adrenaline. Close is good.
Learn how to hunt. You know the deer is in range when you can smell his breath.
BTW- I know I am longwinded, but I forgot to mention the venerable model 99 Savage. They are lever action, and they can be had in .308. My dad and my grandfather both used Model 99's for years (in .300 Savage) and they will hold their own against anything else. I think they are now discontinued, but that was a mistake.
Blessed father, please forgive Savage Arms, for they know not what they do.
