$450 is a bit low. New revolvers are quite expensive. You'll need to go with a used one. But, you'll still pay the difference in gun smithing. This gun is for carry; it is not a range toy and it will protect your life. Going cheap with an off-brand is not the way to go. You would be better off to wait, save your lunch money for awhile, and get a gun when you have enough cash to pay for the gun and some mods.
My general guidelines are:
1) Magnum caliber gun carried with magnum ammunition.
2) 3 1/2" or 4" barrel. This gives you sight radius, good terminal ballistics and some recoil dampening.
3) Custom stocks. Herretts Stocks Jordan Troopers are the way to go and they don't make stocks for all makes and models.
4) Pinned front sight so you can swap it out.
Trigger job, chamfer chambers, and radiusing the trigger will improve the feel of the gun and how it shoots.
I do recommend going with S&W or Colt. I know many dislike current S&W's, but they can be made into good guns. I personally prefer S&W N-Frames in 357 with eight shots or in 44 Magnum with six shots. A 3" N-Frame makes a good 44 Special shooter, and carries well, but a 4" barrel is better. The last generation which is now gone preferred longer barrels on their revolvers for a reason.