I LOVE my dowdy old SKS (”Olga”)...if you don’t expect too much out of her, that is, beyond what she was designed for, she’ll never let you down.
300 meters (very optimistic, I know) max - that’s what it was designed for. I took off the wooden stock and replaced it with something more modern (and longer length of pull for my monkey arms). All in all, it does what I want it to do when I use it. 7.62x39 is a capable round.
The AK is a little rougher fit and finish wise, but just as reliable (other than the crappy ergs). Everyone in the house can handle both of these with ease, and that was the purpose for both purchases. If I come across an SKS that takes AK mags, I’ll pick that up too.
I like Commbloc weapons...it’s the ONE thing those dumbass Borscht-sucking B*stards did right.