I've got a couple SKS's (in addition to my AK's) and I like them, but there is one thing that keep the SKS from being "as useful" as an AK in my book, the inability of the "Half the price" SKS's to accept interchangeable magazines, unless they are heavily modified. You have to pay as much for one as you would for an AK to get one that will allow you to do that.
A number of years ago, they sold a Chinese SKS carbine with a short barrel that uses an AK removeable magazine. I got one for $130. new.
Incidentally, commercial bullets for reloading the 7.62 x 39 are generaly .310"-.311" in diameter, as opposed to the 7.62 x 51's .308 diameter.
For some beauty pics, see "Fun with Automatic Weapons" at http://karl.linn.net/
I don't know what you mean by interchangable magazines. Do you mean magazines which will fit AK's and SKS's?
I didn't go that route. I just bought some fairly inexpensive SKS magazines for my SKS.
I'm looking for another SKS to buy. I want the same type and model I had before. This will be the one with the spike bayonet and shorter barrel. The ones I have seen imported lately have a blade bayonet and some sort of long flashhider which I don't particuarly like.