Two of a kind, actually. I already have one.
I have two requirements for a self-defense pistol: it has to go bang when I need it to, and it has to hit what I'm shooting at. Whatever that costs is cheap in comparison to my life.
You can buy a nice used S&W model 10 .38Spl in my area for the $275 price range. You can get a Rock Island 1911 used for $300-$350 range. I have a friend who couldn’t even afford those but found a Hi-Point 9mm for $100 because a bunch of pill heads and drug dealers moved into his neighborhood. It’s all he could afford, it’s heavy and butt ugly but it goes bang every time. Heck you can find a good used .12 gauge pump or single shot shotgun for $70-$125 range. They will for sure stomp you into the ground.
“... it has to go bang when I need it to, and it has to hit what I’m shooting at....”
That covers a lot. I would add powerful enough to stop the attacker immediately.