A famous Russian Gold Medal Olympian rifleman advised: "Get the best, and stop looking to your equipment for any short-comings".
However, it can be embarrassing to be less than an Expert on the line at a club league match with a $3000 pistol while a Junior, or little old lady uses a beat up $200 Ruger MK II 22/45 to shoot a High Master (97%) overall score. I have seen it happen. More expensive equipment does not insure better scores! "Its ninety-five percent skill; five percent gun and ammo". Also a pistol feeling comfortable in the inexperienced hand has little to do with how well you will score with it. Sometimes less than comfortable is better. Especially, if your scores are consistently higher.
I am well past my prime as a shooter, with bad eyes, bad right arm, and sixty-something age. Also, I really do not enjoy going to matches, shoot only once or twice per week and have a hard time breaking 94 at 50 yards. {If I could stay above 95, I might enjoy matches.}
I probably own at least a dozen assorted decent 22 Target Pistols, including three Hammerlis. At 50 yards I do not shoot any better with with the Hammerli fitted with a 1" UltraDot, than a nearly stock Ruger MK II 22/45 (with no optical sight) that I use to train new shooters. The UltraDot starts improving scores in timed and especially rapid fire. A 70 year old fellow club member (who once shot 2641/2700 in registered competition, and holds a number of national records) just put his Hammerli away for his 40 year old beat up High Standard with a 4" barrel. He shot a third generation Woodsman in his prime days.
I would give this specific advice. Look for a newer used Ruger MK II (steel handle) 5" Bull barrel target pistol that has been set up for Bullseye match shooting ( with a 1" UltraDot); and has not been used extensively (shot out) in competition. Hopefully you could have a Master test it before you buy; or have an agreement that it can be returned if does not shoot to expectations. What I describe will likely be around $300 - $400; and will be good enough to win at Camp Perry.