C8 would be hard to beat in stock form. Is the .17 cal air rifle a pre charged Pneumatic or a spring piston. Believe it or not, the spring piston air guns are hard on equipment attached to them due to the “dual recoil” as the piston slams the air into the barrel and then comes to rest on the front of the chamber…
The new BLF Group Buy of the D80 HERE would be a close second for me in your situation.
Thorfire or Convoy C8s are good stock, but staying under your budget the XinTD C8 HERE with the XP-G2 S4 2B may be the best bet…
Let us know what you get and how it works out…