Personally I always liked the jungle carbaine model. You used to be able to pick these up for next to nothing, but now they are collectors items.
I would have recommended the Lee Enfields, but for the .303 ammunition issue. Jungle carbine in .308 would be great. Dunham’s has one for $699.00.
I have a 303 enfield dated 1942. What a honey. An action so smooth that it almost works itself.
I also have a M1917 enfield from the Eddystone arsenal in 30.06. That thing is a beast, the closest thing is a German 88mm antitank cannon. When a person fires that, they gain a new repect for those doughboys in WW1. It kills with sound and the feeling of the cold steel buttplate on your shoulder makes you happy to pick up a Icepack.