Well, the 7.62x39 is really cheap to shoot (assuming that NEF will fire Wolf ammo) and the recoil isn't quite as sharp as a .243. This means that a kid could practice more without recoil fatigue. Presumably this could mean he/she will become a better and more confident shot. I've heard that where you hit a deer means more than what you hit it with. Ballistically, it packs a little less energy than a .30/.30.