I don't really like most features on scopes today. I demand GOOD glass, GOOD multicaotings and GOOD weather resistance. I don't need an adjustable objective (I don't think any hunters really do), or bullet drop compensators. But for 200 bucks, the best scope period is the Sightron SII 3x9x40.
That said, I think you should spend more on your scope than on your rifle.
Lets face it. A Savage 110 will shoot as well as any high dollor rifle out there. Ugly? sure! But it does what most other rifles do (and some don't), which is to put a group of shots into an inch at a hundred yards. But in optics, you really do get what you pay for. Good glass costs money. And high qulaity coatings aren't cheap. Plus when you start multi coating a glass surface, it gets even more expensive.
A 400-500 dollar scope (Zeiss Conquest, Leupold VX3, Sightron S3, Burris Signature series, Bushnell Elite 4200) is noticeably better than a 200 dollar scope. Especially in Twilight. To Get more performance than these scopes offer, you have to spend alot more. As the quality rises, price goes up with diminishing returns. A 1300 Dollar Zeiss Diavari is a better scope than the Zeiss Conquest. But the Quality of image to price ratio gets less. So at the premium level. where optics are as good as they thoreticly can be, any little improvement represents huge costs in R&D and manufacture.
Still If I could afford it, I would get a Scmidt and Bender, Zeiss Victory, Or Swarovski PH. Would I kill more deer? Probably not. Would my hunting partners be jealous? YOU BET!
okcmco