i used to think cheap scopes were just as good as expensive ones...i put a cheap tasco on my mauser and it lasted a year...the next year it breaks and i dont know yet and loose 2 deer and miss one and thats at under 50yds! every time i changed the power of the scope the crosshairs moved somehow! i foudn that out that summer when i savedgrass cutting money all summer and bought a leupold varix II 3x9x40...ok it was used but its got a lifetime warrenty and how could i pass it up for 150bux not a scratch on it and crystal clear?? i was looking for say a expensive tasco or simmons until the guy told me he had something just for the money in my pocket and its a great scope..i shoot it 4 or 5 times(100+rds) and taken 2 deer with it since the summer and its crystal clear and holds its zero like it should...man you hold a used leupold up thats a year old and a used tasco up you will see the diffrence! my leupold you se what your eyes see...the tascos are kinda blurry and have like a white tint to them...if you buy a 500$ gun and a 300$ scope you should have a good setup...you can get a brand new leupold varix 2 for about 300 or so depending on magnification and such...thats a pretty good scope..there are a few others in that range also....