Never been into AKs. I have a couple of SKSs I bought years ago. My favorite cost me 75 bucks and back then AKs were under 200 dollars. AH, them were the days. SKSs were cheap even at the time, but not really tacticool and I had no desire to even HAVE a tacticool rifle. I've shot surplus AKs that couldn't hold better than 6" groups at 100 yards. My fave SKS rifle shoots 2" with its favorite ammo. Of course, accuracy is dependent on many variables, but the experiences I've had with AKs left me a bit lacking. Too, I don't like having to take my hand off the gun to take it off safety, seems kinda stupid. The SKS's safety is right there by the trigger, easy to make ready ... and silently, which is important to me.
My tacticooled SKS has a folding stock and is a 16" carbine, close enough to an AK. NO, you can't change magazines, but I have little use for removable magazines. I can load from the top and if I'm in a hurry, I do have a supply of stripper clips. Of course, if I wanna play army or think I'm going to go to revolt or something, I do have a Bushmaster M4 and a supply of 30 round magazines. But, I don't lose sleep over EOTWAWKI scenarios. Weren't for the chemo I'm on, doc says I'd be dead already, anyway. That sorta gave me a fatalistic attitude.
The ONLY thing I've ever used a rifle for is hunting. One of my SKSs is set up for night hunting hogs. Other than hunting, I just shoot my 100 yard gong. The good thing about AKs and ARs is the ammo is cheap enough without having to reload it to kill that gong over and over. I don't know how often I'd actually HIT that 6" gong at 100 yards with an AK, but my M4 is a lot more accurate than the AKs I've tried and rings the thing consistently.
If the jack booted thugs were ever to come after me, it wouldn't be a SKS or AK I'd reach for, put it that way. :rofl:
But, I know how it is. You get in your head that you WANT something or NEED something, there ain't no scratching that itch until you go there.
I had thought a lot about getting a Saiga 12 gauge for hogs, shooting slugs with it. But, the 7.62x39, if you hit where you should, gives 'em a dirt nap pretty quick, so I'm sorta glad I didn't get a Saiga for actual USE. I'd still like to have one, but I'm fighting the urge. :rofl: