OK Smoothsteve, One more time! You won't find too many new Semi-auto's for under $600.00 in the three "Big B's". Except Beretta, who has the 390/3901 and Pintail/ES100. Other very reliable and quality choices would be. The Franchi 612, Stoeger 2000, and Weatherby SAS. You also may be able to find a Winchester SX2 (3") on sale somewhere in this price range. Any of these would make a great choice for your intended use. I have a lot of experince with almost all of the above mentioned models. None have had any problems thus far. I recommend to hold all of these and check for balance, weight, and fit. They are all in the same class but have different operating systems and feel differently. Pick the one YOU like best. This should be enjoyable and not frustrating. Try to decide if you want a pump or auto first. That will help determine your budget.