That's a fine enough goal but it's a hard pill to swallow when I see most SKSs priced at or above what you could assemble an AR for. And if you just dig the caliber you could build one in 7.62x39. Don't get me wrong I dig wood and steel .I would trade 2 ARs for 1 AK right now. It's just hard to see that much value in the SKS whem I clearly recall selling them at a Rose's store in Macon for $89.00 on sale most every Sunday. Yeah yeah that was 1990 and none of us has a time machine. I guess I'm getting old and stuck in the " I remember when..." mode.Why settle…get one of each.