22 lr& 22 mag is what i chose last time this came up(here i think it was) a few yrs back- so id agree for the reasons you mention.

Almost bought one of those 22 lr./410 survival over& under rifles ( use to see them at walmart in the past- pretty resonable in cost- that yall mentioned above( made by springfield maybe?( cant remember)- seems like it be a good choice to.And the Ar 7- never ended up buying either tho.