You might want to look at that Bersa again. I have the Thunder, in .380 though. No troubles, is steel,accurate, and does not weigh a lot. The price will allow for lots of practice ammo too, even in 9mm.
If you are not opposed to going .45, then for not a lot of money you can get a Tanfoglio(EAA Witness) combo for just under 400. The combo has two barrels and slides: a .22 and a .45. Essentially two guns for the price of one.
Just my .02
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