An SKS usually has a 10round fixed magazine. It can be modded for detachable. This mod is kinda lame IMO and clunky to operate. I always preferred the fixed 10 rd mag when I had mine. Good rifle and would be suitable for short-med range hunting.
SKS is a Russian magazine fed semi auto rifle. Kind of like the M 14 without the auto select switch. The mag I believe held ten to fifteen roundsin original form. Other than being of foreign make it would be like using a Ruger mini 14 Thirty, which fires the 7.62 NATO cartridge(308). Since I can buy a Ruger at Sports Authority or Galyans here on Long Island, I don't see where using an SKS is a big deal in this crime.
SKS is made with a 10 round fixed box magazine. It has no pistol grip or detachable mag which makes it an 'assault rifle'.
There are conversions to make it take AK mags,but they are rare, difficult to modify correctly, and not that well thought of.
If he did indeed use an SKS, it was 99% likely to be the standard 10 round fixed magazine variety.
The Chinese made a fixed 20-round "Red Star" mag which I use. But yes, the unmodified fixed mag rifles are outside of the AWB.
The gun grabbers don't care about this, it was hunters after all that got killed and wounded.
The SKS has long been on the antigunners hit list, so this is a minor 'win' for them.
The rifle was mid-identified. Vang used a Saiga Sporter, which also shoots 7.62x39 ammunition like the AK and SKS. This rifle has to be modified to accept AK magazines, and most likely Vang's rifle had been since he was using 20-round mags.