Might have to put some $ aside for a 16" barrelled one in 7.62x39. I know someone has done it but modding one to be a pump would make a pretty sweet white tail gun.
I had a short x39 barrel with a muzzle brake on a Renegade for awhile, but it was AMAZINGLY LOUD letting all that noise out way too close in front of me, and it had extraction issues because x39 is synonymous with cheap surplus from the evil empire and actual quality ammo in that caliber feels like an inherent contradiction of some sort!
But I can see that quality brass plus appropriate hunting bullets could make for a decent Bambi gun. But then .300 Blackout or .350 Legend might be even better?
Whatever you do, get a longer barrel and/or keep it a straight pipe or add a linear comp rather than a brake.
Yep I have all the stuff to load decent hunting rounds and where I usually go I doubt there would be anything farther than an 80-100 yard shot.
Make sure to put a stout firing pin spring in these so they can handle surplus…