If limited to $500 I would start prowling the used market for a nicely maintained example of a rifle that started out as an $800 rifle a couple years ago. More bang for the buck than a new sub-$500 gun.
That said, the last .22 bolt gun sporter I bought was an old BRNO #2, unfired looking, for right at $500. The last .22 bolt gun of any type that I bought was another M2 Springfield, in righteous condition, for just a few bucks more- $700. The deals/bargains are out there if you have the nose to dig them out.
