re: Is the SKS widely hated?

I've got one of the M models they were marketing in the US that accept AK mags and had the short barrel. Love that rifle. Takes a beating and gets dirty riding around on the 4 wheelers and has yet to fail. Not the worlds most accurate rifle but it will hit what you're shooting at as long as you aren't asking too much from it. Not as cool as my AR, but it still hits like a 30-30 so it's better for pigs.