With the rifles you were talking about and the different considerations you mentioned, I would go with the H&R Huntsman or Sidekick. They are American made out of American steel. They are from a well known company, and the posts I have read on the rifles tend to describe a very accurate rifle with an excellent trigger. Being a break open, and H&R has been making them for countless years, this would be my deciding factor. They can be bought for around $160.00 and that would leave you plenty left over for the extras and a scope if you wanted....