Good value guns for a level 26?

I’ve been experimenting with different guns and ammo’s, and at the moment I’m on the fence between a few guns due to their price, capabilities and availability.

Here are my current thoughts:

The m4 barter for 140k (sell and swap out a few parts, resulting in around 120k total):
This is an easy way to get a suppressed m4, and with m856a1, it feels decent. I feel that I could do with more pen, but being level 26, that’s all I can get with this gun.

The VSS. Kitted out with an optic and laser (haven’t done gunsmith 16 for jaeger’s VSS attachment), and at around 100-120k with 20 round mags, I am slowly falling in love with this gun. I would only use sp-6 as it dominates, but the accuracy and crappy long range capabilities show. Sp-5 is ok. I like the ROF, and everything else about it, but people say it’s shit.

So I’m basically asking for your thoughts on these, specifically the VSS as I’m quite invested into that gun. I know there was a meta for it a while back and people think it’s dogshit. But why?

What are some better options for guns around 100-130k, that are controllable and pen level 5 easily?

Thanks