I have two Norinco SKS's. They were purchased because I have two sons, who when they were of the right age needed to be taken through hunter safety training in this state so they could go hunting. At the range where they took hunter safety training, there is a requirement that to pass they have to be able to put 3 rounds from a 6mm or bigger caliber centerfire rifle on a target at 50 yards.
The SKS had many things going for it. First, even though it was .30 caliber, it has a fairly mild round in the 30-30 class that is OK for small blacktail deer as we have around here. Second, the gas operated semi-auto system helps reduce recoil for a young shooter which really helps in teaching marksmanship. Third, while a short stock might be a handicap for a 6 plus foot adult, a short stock is just fine for young teenagers. Fourth, cheap ammo is available to allow lots of marksmanship training. Fifth, the rifles were fairly inexpensive. Sixth, at 100 yards they have respectable accuracy.
Since my sons have gotten older, I have customized one of the SKS's with a montecarlo Choate stock and red-dot scope. It is a nice system, looks good and shoots well.
Even with one son well into college, when he wants to go to the range with me and a friend, the SKS's are the preferred rifles. They like to spend an afternoon at the range and go through a couple of 200 round battle packs easily, even if I require them to load the magazine with no more than one round at a time and require well aimed shots.
