Has anyone used or seen one used for deer?

Ruger American Rifle Ranch 7.62x39 16.12"NEW 16976

Their under $500 with a solid scope mount on top.

I know its late in the hunting deer season, but I'm curious for a youth rifle. Plus cheap ammo.

Is everyone knapping?

I have an Ruger American Predator in .308Win. Same as the ranch, just with a piccatiny rail on the receiver, and a threaded barrel, but other than that the same.
It is a great rifle! Especially for the price! I've hauled it all over heck and gone with no issues.

Its what I'm wanting to know for our Michigan close range shooting for a youth to carry.

Often from 30 yards to 150 yards max.

My firend Dan has hunted deer with a 7.62x39 for years and is accurate with it and he loves the fact his ammo is cheap. Will suit you fine for deer in Michigan. Has a range that likely works within the terrain you have there. Not 100% sure of where you are hunting. Now if you had said you were going to get one and bring it out here into the wide open world of wind and range shots i would go a different direction but especially as a youth gun it would work out great. Cheap to practice practice practice and will get the job done.

I live and hunt in the middle of the state with lots of crop and woods.

Even in the U.P. the shorter range is fine.

Most people can't shoot well beyond 200 yards. Not for a steady rest, or being steady themselves.

So to be in a blind either on the ground or in a lifted version, its what can work well.

As a matter I have used my Winchester .32 Spl. for 60 years. With a few bucks added to the pile.

7.62x39 is a good round for short range (100 yard) deer, my dad used one to take a deer at that range. Just be sure to use a soft point bullet.

It is ballistically similar to a 30 30.
The Russians in the bush take reindeer on frozen lakes at 300yds plus with old sks's.They must be good at estimating distance and hold over,lol.

300 isn't that hard with the 7.62x39 but past 300 it starts dropping real quick had a guy running an AK with a scope to 400 he did fine at 1,2,3 but 400 he had a hard time keeping them on the target not that he was missing by much but a miss is a miss.

if they are on a frozen lake at least you can see them run a long ways till they expire

I have a CZ 527 in 7.62 x39 and have taken several deer with it out to 250yds. Have BDC style scope that works really nice with it.

A former hunting partner used that exact rifle and cartridge on caribou. I think he used 125 nosler ballistic tips. I saw him take several 'bou out to around 200 yards. I recall he'd added several accuracy enhancing mods including luepold scope.

It’s basically a 270 on a 308 case give or take good cartridge for short range just pick a decent expanding bullet it likes