If you CALL the dealers you might be surprised on the prices without the "free" garbage.
In your range...New...Recomended.
F2
Ace 250
Tesoro Compadre ($160), or a Silver for about $250, maybe less.
All are popular around here.
The F2,(my favorite), and 250 have screens, easier for a newbie to learn on at first, the other two you learn to hunt by sound using your brain and ears, which takes longer but will ultimately serve you better no matter what you swing in the future.
Some like the Bounty Hunters, (all have VDI screens), stay away from the low end on these.
The classifieds have great deals from time to time, but you gotta act fast on the best ones.