No judgements. Just open conversations and opinions here as adults
Fair enough. I have a couple of suggestions that should fulfill your criteria. I believe you said that your budget was ~$700 and you wanted two firearms. I believe you also stated that you would like a pistol for primary defense and range fun and a second firearm, mostly for the range. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I see a lot of good suggestions on here, and I'm not arguing against any of them. However, if you just want a couple of simple firearms that fit all of your criteria (especially the budget), I'd suggest two that I personally own and have had zero issues with.
For the first, the handgun, I'd suggest a first Gen Springfield XD in 4" or 5" in 9mm. If you're not planning on concealing, the 5" might be the better choice. The 4" though, is the one I have and not impossible to conceal. You have a rail on the bottom of the frame to attach a light for home defense. That's it. Upgrades are available, though not as plentiful as many other platforms. I don't recall upgrades being a part of your post though, so if you're looking for a simple, easy solution with an actual military pedigree, this is a solid option in the $500-550 range. Used examples are going for quite a bit less.
For the second, the rifle, I'd suggest a Rossi RS22 in .22LR. Again, not as fancy as some other suggestions, but one I've had a lot of fun with. For right around $150 you get a synthetic Monte Carlo stock (numerous color options), adjustable fiber optic front and rear sights, sling studs, removable magazine (interchangeable with the Mossberg 702 Plinkster), and a dovetail receiver, so you could mount a scope in the future. And the whole thing weighs in right around 4 pounds.
There you have it! Reliable budget options that I can personally recommend.
