Suggest you go around to shops and handle as wide a variety of price acceptable guns you can.
Find the one that feels best, points best, etc. Perhaps go to the local shooting range and see if you
can persuade other shooters, with guns that you might be interested in, to allow you to handle theirs.
I grew up with Ithaca 37's. My dad rarely missed but I never could hit anything with them. Same with 870's but I know 870 shooters that are absolutely deadly with them. Try to find what fits you.
I would agree with comments about low cost O/U's and durability but would point out that occasionally you'll see something
like a Beretta 686 in some of the basic models that are not far off you price range.
