RE: i need some help from you guys and gals
Ruger is generally less than Winchester or Remington and a nice rifle.
Can' t go wrong on a budget with a Savage.
NEF makes a nice single shot for $200 dollars. Great value for the money, they generally shoot well, if I had a really tight budget I would definitely look at one.
I have one in .223 nice little rifle, shoots 1" groups, and the trigger was OK when I got it.