To my mind, don't get TOO hung up on the brand. Browse around a lot, keep an eye open for something that has a lot of holster wear but ain't been shot much. These are VERY common. Use the "checkout procedure" to spot a mechanical gem in a cosmetic turd .
Is it round-butt or square?
Also, is it a "heavy barrel" or "pencil barrel"? The latter (skinnier tapered barrel) will shoot better than you'd expect and balances REAL nice...despite the length, it's a carry gun candidate with the right holster.
Go put a little Ruger Bear Cat in your paws! It's in your price range.