Be advised that the most commonly available 7.62 x 39 ammo is FMJ which is illegal for use on game animals in many states.
Soft point hunting ammo is made, but you need to be sure you purchase and use the correct cartridge lest you run afoul of the game laws in your state.
That being said one of those Ruger Mini-30's would be a real handy rifle for many purposes.
L
The trouble with the Mini-30 is that it is notoriously lacking in accuracy, at least those made before 2000 when I bought mine. I have popped a couple of armadillos in the back yard, but I would not want to shoot at a deer at anything more than 35 or 40 yards, as it is not a very powerful round and needs accurate placement for a clean kill. There is nothing wrong with the 7.62x39 cartridge itself, it is just the macaroni barrel that Ruger uses on the Mini-30. I would really love to have a good quality short action bolt rifle chambered for it.
It is true that in firefights against human opposition the 7.62x39 has historically been effective in the AK-47, but a deer is not going to stay around after the first shot is fired.