7.63x39 vs. .44 Magnum for Deer?

[Onslaught]

7.62x39 vs. .44 Magnum for Deer?

There's a particular deer stand on my Father in Law's property that is
a) quite a walk
b) extremely "foliate" (is that even a word? )
I don't believe there's a single place you could shoot more than 75 yards, and even that would be if the deer stopped in an exact spot between a bunch of trees. Most shots would be 50 yards or less.

I have another rifle in mind for the barn loft with about a 300 yard clearing, but I am planning on purchasing a small, light weight, light recoiling medium caliber rifle for just that one stand.

I am reluctant to mention the 2 rifle choices I have narrowed down to, for fear that bandwidth will be wasted telling me how crappy they are, or what rifles I should get instead. Since I have personal experience with these 2 rifles in the past, I am beyond that nonsense. I also don't personally like lever guns or bolt actions, so I'm sticking to semi-auto only. I have just never used the 7.62x39 to hunt, so I don't know how it would be.

I don't need to worry about long shots, availability or reliability of hi-cap mags, after market accessories, etc. I will just buy one of these two rifles, top it with a 2x8 compact scope I already own, and that's it.

SO... for taking Deer at less than 100 yards, which would be a more effective caliber, the .44 magnum Carbine, or the 7.62x39, given 2 rifles of similar size, weight, barrel length, and accuracy potential?

Thanks!

 

[Black Snowman]

Kamicosmos can attest to the deer killing power of a .44 Mag from a carbine. 1" diamater hole from one side right out the other using Federal XTP Premium Hunting loads (IIRC). So, obviously penetration shouldn't be an issue and I think you're going to get more hydrolic shock from the .44 and the 7.62x39 isn't really fast enough for good nervous system shock.

YMMV and all the other standard disclaimers.

 

[SodaPop]

SO... for taking Deer at less than 100 yards, which would be a more effective caliber,

As long as you find yourself some decent HP rounds for the 7.62x39 round I'd say go with that. I've seen what those HP rounds can do and they are pretty nasty.

I think you'll find a larger variety of 44 Mag bullets for hunting, though..

 

[Onslaught]

Man, I've not done THAT much fat-fingering in a LONG time!

The 7.63x39? The 6.62x39? Geez! And I can't edit it to fix it...

 

[JShirley]

Either should work fine.

 

[one-shot-one]

EITHER SHOULD WORK,
I VOTE FOR THE 44 THOUGH, I JUST "FEEL" BETTER ABOUT IT.

 

[m14nut]

Federal does make a soft point 125gr. hunting round for the 7.62.

I shot my first deer at 75yards with one shot from a Mini 30 with open sights. It went about 30 yards B4 it crashed to the terra firma. The bullet was lodged just under the skin on the wayward side. It blew a fist size hole in the lung of a 6 pointer.

I'm not advocating using one over the other, because, as you said, this isn't a post 'bout which is better. I do feel the 7.62 makes a better "people stopper" as it was designed to than hunting round. I only used it do to the fact it was at the time the only rifle I owned.

If I was to tell what to use, I'd lead ya towards the .44. It has proven terminal velocity on deer.

JMO

nut...

 

[aquapong]

Either one would do just fine. If you're going with 7.62x39, make sure you use a soft point. The hp's go to fast to expand properly. They will overpenetrate every time.