I think you're on the right track. The .223 tends to bemore accurate in general, and it stays true at much, much farther distances than the 7.62x39. The 7.62 hits harder, which would be good for deer, but the .223 hashigher velocities and creates some nasty wounds in medium game like coyotes and the bigger varmints.

Last year I had a really hard time finding 7.62x39 ammo, boxes or cases. Now the tables have turned and the .223 is harder to find in quantity. That basically only applies to cheap surplus and FMJ plinking ammo, though; thereis plenty ofgood hunting ammofrom by Federal, Winchester, and others.