How good is an sks as an all round type of gun?

can i hunt medium sized game with it within 200 or 150 yards like bores and deer is it a good firearm to protect my home and are they tough rifles (no firearm should be treated badly i know this but i need a rifle that i dont feel that i have to shed a tear because i dropped it by accident not literally but i think any real gun owner has an idea what i'm talking about. i just need one i can take in the woods and for hiking and other woodsy things with, i'm also looking at a 30-30 marlin lever action but i seen my dads old sks and loved it ever since i was 5 years old so i've always wanted one.