Well...um...if you say so.
I would describe them as "crude but effective."
The 7.62x54r packs a hell of a punch.
A .378 Weatherby Mag packs a hell of a punch. The 7.62x54R just FEELS like it does with the light carbine rifle, with the crudely designed stock and steel butt plate. It's loud as hell too. I used to have one, but decided a long time ago that having one good rifle is better than having 10 cheap, Soviet surplus rifles that have long since passed their prime.
It's about the same as the .308 Win, though not quite as powerful as the .30-06. With the Mosin-Nagant M44 carbine and it's short barrel, you'll be lucky if actual velocity is the same as a .308 with the same weight bullet. That being said, it certainly is enough gun for deer, but with the crude open sights (and short sight radius), the fact that a scope cannot be mounted without significant gunsmithing (WHY?), and that accuracy can be literally hit-or-miss, I'd limit my shots to 100 yards or less. I've heard of some Nagant's that shoot very well, but I've personally witnessed a dozen or so that would not (including both my M44 and M1891 rifle). Both mine were doing great if they shot 4" groups at 100 yards from the bench. Good enough for deer, but just barely.
I'm really not trying to rip on you. The Mosin Nagants are very inexpensive and decent "fun guns" when fed a diet of cheap surplus ammo, but if you really want a good hunting rifle, I'd save a little money over time and invest in a nice little Savage 10/110 rifle (7mm-08 or .270 Win would both be great choices) and scope. It'll serve you much better than all the M44's in the world.
Good luck,
Mike