ThudThumper, the SKS is a handy, reliable and generally sufficently accurate for its intended purpose. However when you start sticking a bunch of accessories on it you give up the handiness, and sometimes the reliablitiy and the accuracy. I have an SKS that I shoot a fair amount and carry some as a woods roaming rifle, I put a choate stock on it because it made it fit me better and it cost me very little off a "bargin table" and removed the bayonet, to reduce the weight. It has never had a stoppage of any kind and the accuracy is fine for what I use it for, if I miss a coyote out to 200 yards or so it is my fault. However, if you want a relatively inexpensive scout style rifle, I would recommend that you buy one of the Yugo 48s that are floating around and use that as the basis for your rifle, it will better fit the scout role and will not cost you any more than the SKS. I have one of the 48s and the one I bought was like new on the inside and had minor scuffs on the outside. Replace the stock, cut the barrel, replace the sights, and install the forward scope mount and you have a near scout for 400 dollars or less depending on how much of the work you can do yourself and what you can find used,or on sale. 8mm ammo is cheap and plentiful right now, most of it is corrosive but that is no big deal in a bolt action and commercial hunting ammo is also readily available and the performance of the 8mm fills a wider range of use than the 7.62 X 39. Hope this helps.
