Just curious. I'm lookin at getting a rifle in one of the calibers very soon. I had my mind and heart set on .223 but for some reason the 7.62 has been more appealing for the past two days though I haven't had a chance to do any research yet. Thought I'd start here...

Well, depends on what you are going to use it for. If you are going to shoot game smaller than deer, get the .223. It shoots flatter, and is better suited for varmint shooting. If you are looking for a light, accurate and handy carbine for deer, you can't do better than the CZ 527 carbine in 7.62X39mm.....

Despite showing similar energy levels, at least in the first 200 yards or so, the 7.62X39mm is slightly better for the larger stuff. It is very much in the .30/30 Win class. I get 2300 FPS from 150-grain bullets from my CZ 527 which has an 18" barrel.

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alright, that's all I needed to hear.

It will primarily be a have fun on the weekends rifle but also used for coyote as I'm not interested in blowing the side out with my .270 (or so I hear it'll do to 'em) so I suppose from those two responses the .223 is the way to go. The guy at the shop and a friend, for some reason, almost had me sold on the 7.62 simply because it's bigger but now that I think about it, I'm not really needing power...

Purchase an AR15 in .223 and then purchase an upper in 7.62X39 and have both.

I think a 7.62x39 would be fine, it just depends on what gun you get, the CZ edguello was talking about is a bolt-action, if you get a Ruger Mini-30, it should work fine for you.

One thing you need to realize is that 7.62x39 ammo is MUCH easier to find than .223, because lots of .223 is being sent to Iraq for the M16.

The 7.62x39 isn't a bad cartridge, it's just that cma can be full of crap at some times.(j/k)

I've had both . I'll never buy a 7.62 x 39 again ,,, at least not with the intention of using it for anything but plinking . A compareson between a 7.62 x 51 (.308) and a .223 would be a better discusion .

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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.