More than $500 or less than $500?
For more than $500, why not one of those wonderful Kimber 22s? Drop dead gorgeous, and built like a swiss watch, and very accurate. What more could you want?
For under $500, a Ruger 10/22. Period. Whether plain or tricked out, it's the all-time winner in the plinker category. Stick a scope on it and pop tin cans all afternoon. 500 rounds after supper is plinker heaven.