My experience in shooting a deer with an SKS is that I will Never do it again. Now, I must preface that by saying not with Russian hollow point ammo.
I shot a big Kansas Doe, 240lb, at about 15yd. first shot front chest, grazed the heart, second shot while running downhill broke back leg, last shot in the neck. bullet disintegrated and I think would have run off and die latter without the second shot. I only shoot coyotes with russian ammo. I have purchased some American ammo SP, and may try that if opportunity knocks.
But others around here have had same outcome, not just me, we shoot a lot of deer and the SKS just does not starch them, even the little ones, 150lb or so, with good shot placement, I think the animal deserves humane treatment and a quick end. Hell, poachers use .22's and kill deer, but letting things suffer is not for me. From what I have read the 7.39 round was developed to incapacitate and wound a man, not neccecarily kill, like the .223, and tax the resources of the enemy. IMHO