I have all of the rifles mentioned above and can tell you that your expressed needs will indeed be met by a HiPOINT carbine. A 9MM or a 40 S&W will run $150 to 180, they will meet your accuracy requirements, and ammo is dirt cheap. These are rugged and very, very reliable firearms with far more power than the pistol rounds might suggest. The 9MM gives you 357 SIG velocities, while the 40 equals the 10MM auto. They will take +P+ ammo with ease, and 600 and 750 FPE can be had with factory ammo. As an extra, these carbines are the best home defense firearms you can get.

Another fine choice at $383 at your dealer is the new SU 16 from Kel-TEC in 223. With a gas operated AR 15 system they will cut your 50 yd groups to 1 inch or less. The 1 in 9 twist will stabilize 75 gr Hornady A-max bullets in case you want to shoot something way out yonder with a BC of .435. This carbine folds in half and has an integral bipod and a picatinny rail.

Kel-TEC also makes a dandy 9MM carbine that folds up as well, and this year they have a 40 S&W version as well for $279.

I have all of these rifles and can recommend them. The choice depends on what you want to use them for. In your case, I would lean towards the Hi-POINT, which is about as much fun as one can have plinking. However, these are not toys and there is no question that the 40 cal version will easily take deer in close with 180 gr gold dots.

Handloading allows the use of slower powders to take advantage of the 16 inch bbl at safe pressures. Sierra 135 gr JHCs can be diven well over 1800 fps with either Longshot or 800X if blowing up water jugs puts a smile on your face...

The SKS is quite a fun little carbine. My Russian is a little better built than my Yugo, and a little more accurate. Both meet your 2" at 50 yard criterion.

Of the commercial ammo, Lapua is clearly the best, and reloadable, but $.20 per round. Cheetah is next best, at about $.12 per round. And then there are all kinds of Russian made stuff, at down to $.08 per round.

I do reload mine, when I can find the brass. If I can retrieve 8 out of 10, that's about normal.

Bill, who makes that scope mount?

My SKS shoots about 1 1/4 inches at 50 yards after I added this red dot sight.

Millet

The biggest problem was taking out the original sight. Man it shoots great now that I can see. (old eyes)

If you want to make more noise shooting beer cans than you could with a 22, buy a SKS. The ammo is cheap and they shoot MOB (minute of beercan). A CETME or other G-3 knockoff is even louder and a little more accurate.
If you want a real rifle to hunt with and shoot accuratly at 100yards or more, find an used Remington 742/760.........DJ

I'd highly recommend one of the Yugo SKS models. You can buy them essentially new for $149 (if you have a C&R), even at the local dealers and gun shows they are only $179-199. Mine will easily shoot 2" groups at 50 yds. and Saturday I'll try shooting it with the red dot to see how it shoots at 100.

Around here it's difficult (though not impossible) to find a Ruger Mini-14 or 30 for $400, they seem to want more than that for a beat up old truck gun.

You should also be able to find a used Marlin Camp Gun in your price range.