Chinese or Yugo would be my choice
I have a couple of Yugo's. I find them to be fairly accurate and reliable in unmodified condition. My Dad has a Chinese and a Russian. The Chinese by far outshoots the Russian and the Yugo.
The Russian looks the best and I have heard great tales about what an excellent gun it is but the one my Dad has must be a bad one. On its best day with good, brass cased ammo, it has never shot better than a 6" group at 100 yards. I don't care whose shooting it or how good the ammo is. It's a very inaccurate gun.
I've seen people trick the SKS out with all kinds of fancy stocks, bipods, scopes, trigger jobs, etc ad nauseum and I've never seen one shoot any better for it. I like the old, natural look on old C&R military guns.
As far as magazines, everyone I've seen that tried the removable magazines and all that other "shadetree gunsmithery" to make it hold more rounds has had nothing but problems. I've yet to see one that had a 30 round magazine that would cycle all 30 rounds. I guess it could be poor gunsmithing but I'm thinking it's more likely poor aftermarket parts. :banghead:
Anyway, if I could get a Chinese for a decent price (< $300 ) I'd buy one. If not, the Yugos at J&G are a good deal. The Chinese my Dad has shoots 2" groups at 100 yards. The Yugos I have shoot 3" to 4" groups at 100 yards. I am no sniper so part of the wide grouping could be me. However, I am using the original iron sights and the cheap, steel case Wolf ammo. I tried a scope once and found that I could not keep it zeroed. That bolt cover it mounts to moves around too much.
Have fun with whatever you buy. If you run across a Russian, I'd buy it just to have one whether it shot good or not. It's a great collector's piece and rare these days.
Molon Labe,
Joe