RE: Scope advice for a newbie.
Try and invest in the best optics and mounts you can afford. Otherwise you will only end up dissapointed.
I have many Leupold scopes. They are excellent and although I've only used their lifetime warranty once for a thrashed M8 4x that I bought used to begin with and then broke when I fell into a stump and smacked the scope on to a frozen log. They repaired it no questions asked and I broke it.
I would suggest a new orused Leupoldwith a lifetime warranty.
Leupold QR or QWRbases and rings are also exceptional.
m2c
Good luck!
Tahquamenon