ORIGINAL: hometheaterman
I didn't want to spend $100+ for a scope that I would only be using for 3 weeks. Thats why I went with the Tasco. Leupold said that it should take 2 weeks to fix mine plus shipping time. Being as it's right in the middle of hunting season I didn't want to go without a scope for that long so I bought a Tasco to use for the 3 weeks. I play to after that put my Leupold back on and keep the Tasco as a spare incase I ever need it again. Now it is my main scope for now on my muzzle loader and hopefully will hold up as little as I shoot that. If not I have open sights on it too but my rifle doesn't have open sights on it. Thats why I needed a scope.
I am assuming that you only have one "deer" rifle, and if that is the case and only have 3 weeks a year to hunt, I would personally use the best equipment that I could possibly afford. You have taken the cheap route twice and are paying the price now by being without your scope. This just a piece of friendly advice, but if I were you, I would get through this season as best I could and save up for a Zeiss Conquest 3-9 for next year.
Actually, Tascoes weren't terrible scopes in the 80's. I had couple of them that served me very well for several years. I have no first hand knowledge of the quality of Tascoes today, but from what I read on this board and others, they must be pretty bad. I put VX-I scopes only a small notch above a Tasco or Simmons. I have several rifles and have Leupold Vari-X II's, III's, VX-II's, III's, Zeiss Conquests, Swarovskis, and one Nightforce. Since I just bought the Nightforce, I can't attest to how good it really is, but my favorite "hunting" scope though is my Zeiss Conquest 3-9. In my opinion, it is the best scope for the money on the market today. My second favorite is my Swarovski A series 3-9x36mm.