Welcome.
Definitely a .22lr.
Try find something like a norinco EM332, they can be had around the $350 mark if you look hard.
Or something old but nice like a brno, but they can sometimes be over the $550 mark. The norinco jw15 is a copy of the brno, if you can find the wooden stocked one, they are great, and only $300ish new.
I also rate sportco rifles. Made in australia by the father? of the guy who started kimber.
Actually if your interested, I have a rifle I am thinking about selling, it was my first rifle, a .22lr winchester 320. Heres my thread when I bought it nzrimfire.com • View topic - My First Rifle: 1972-4 Winchester 320 .22lr
Also has the price I paid for it in the thread, which is what id want back for it, no pressure, I don't really want to sell it, but I haven't shot it for a very long time, and its too nice to be a safe queen.
That forums is good for rimfires too btw.
Chris
Bookmarks