RE: Need a fun gun (rifle)
I would think that an SKS paratrooper model (shorter) with a few after market add ons would be a great, affordable, fun plinker. You can now acquire rear receiver covers with integral scope mounts that work decently for short range...it is a short range weapon anyway. These cover/scope mount jobs pop on and off if you have the right one. You can get 5 round magazines or just make a block plug for it.
They aren't as light as you might think, but light enough and plenty comfortable to shoot. Ammo is available everywhere and complete stripping and cleaning is a fairly easy issue. I've a few SKS's and I even use some of the pretty nasty dirty ammo....I just flush the parts out with carb cleaner and then put it away with a normal cleaning.
If you have no particular budget then the world is your oyster....but for an affordable way to go the SKS is a viable option.