i believe all of the lower end companies are improving on their optic's quality but as you said "lower end". i'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for". i use to waste alot of money on lower end optics trying to get a "bargain" on a good scope but i have learned that they just don't hold up and do not stay zero'd in. i would suggest you hold out on buying an optic and save until you can afford a better one (leupold, nikon, zeiss, etc.).