I've got an SKS, whhich shoots the same 7.62X39 mm round as an AK, and as far as accuracy goes, it's good for about 100-150 yards. After that, the bullet loses energy fast and drops like a rock.
Y'all should give a try to the RPK, the squad automatic weapon version of the Kalishnikov, most usually found with a 40 or 45-round magazine, a bipod, and a 24-inch-long barrel.
The last one I had would easily keep every round from a magazine on a GI silhouette target at 400 meters, firing about one shot per second on semi. Headshots at 300 were quite possible, but the guns were really meant as automatic weapons to allow squad maneuvering. With a 75-round drum in place [7,62 version, or double-taped 45-round *Royal* magazines for the 5,45mm veRPK74 version] they'll fill that role very nicely, though since the weapon lacks a quick-change barrel, they do overheat to some extent. That's being addressed at the Molot factory even now.
The Russians are no fools. They formerly had one sniper with an SVD per platoon, but that was before Afghanistan and Chechnya. Now it's more like two per squad. And the RPK can also be used with a telescopic sight or NOD if required.
