WHOA WHOA WHOA!!!!!! I didn't notice that you asked about SKS's when I first skimmed your post!!!! I love mine, paratrooper length, folding stock, 30 round mag, bayonet, all I need is a scope for it. I've used mine for rabbits, coyotes, whitetails. Not the most accurate rifle I've shot, but I get 2.5-3" groups at 250yrds. It's a great brush gun. I wouldn't count on it past 350-400 to shoot anything smaller than a yote, and that's if you shoot it so much that your hand is molded to the stock. I'd go with a .223 or .243 a smaller bullet with longer case if you want a "great" varmint rifle, but don't rule out the SKS, it's a "good" anything gun, kinda like a whimpy version of a .30-06, a jack of all trades, just not as stout as a .30-06. Durable and semiauto is really nice, plus the bullets cost $4 a box, instead of $14+ a box.