The S&W for $450 sounds like a really good deal, if it's in good shape. It's used, right? It got good reviews in the magazines (take that for what it's worth... S&W pays for a lot of advertising...) and it's got more bells and whistles than the Springfield government model.

I really don't think you'll find a Kimber in your price range. If it were me (and I've done it, twice) I'd save a couple hundred extra bucks and get a hi-cap. I got a stainless, ParaOrdnance P14-45 Limited for about $750. Holds 14 rounds instead of the government model's 8.