RE: Quality affordable scope?
As a full blow Leupold nut I would always suggest Leupold, however I have been playing around with the Nikon Buckmaster and I have to tell you that I’m impressed. They seem to be everything the Leupold VXII is and then some, but less money. A 3X9X40 should set you back about $150.00. I think you’ll like is quite a bit. If that is to steep you may want to consider the Bushnell Banner. I have a couple of friends that just love them and don’t use anything else, and as much as I hate to admit to it, they have gotten at least as many deer as I have.
Of course they are just lucky...I'm just good