Either of these would be a significant step up from the Banner scopes, and a world apart from the Sportsman scopes you mention. The prices shown were readily retrieved via Google: none areclose-out or ebay prices.

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Bushnell Legend 3-9x40:





Legend Riflescopes


It's durable, it's dependable and, plainly said, you won't find a more rugged, high-performance scope that offers more features and such a large field-of-view at a comparable price. The outstanding fully multi-coated optics provide an impressive 91% light transmission, giving you a scope that's not only tough, but packs the performance you expect from Bushnell.® Featuring a very wide field-of-view and extra long 3.5" eye relief for instant target acquisition you can be confident that your scope won't fail you at that key moment.


[ul]Features[*]Wide-angle field-of-view[*]Fully multi-coated optics[*]Rugged shockproof construction[*]100% waterproof/fogproof construction[*]Dry-nitrogen filled[*]1/4 M.O.A. fingertip, audible / resettable windage and elevation adjustment[*]3 1/2" eye relief[*]91% total light transmission[*]Fast-focus eyepiece [/ul]

$128 at OpticsPlanet

$128 at Bushnelloptics

$129 at Amazon

$130 at Budsgunshop

$134 at BearBasin

$135 at SWFA
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Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x40:






The Elite® 3200 offers multi-coated optics for generous light transmission and crisp image quality. Our exclusive, patented Rainguard® lens coating reduces large drops of water to near-microscopic specks, dramatically increasing light transmission and resulting in a remarkably clear image in wet weather.
The Elite 3200 riflescopes feature a rugged, one-piece aluminum tube. And, like the 4200, this scope is tested to rigorous standards – recoil tested to 1,000 rounds of a .375 H&H magnum. The 3200 offers everything the avid hunter requires.


[ul]Features[*]Rainguard®[*]Multi-coated optics[*]Magnum recoil-proof construction[*]One-piece hammer-forged tube[*]100% waterproof/fogproof
/shockproof construction[*]Dry-nitrogen filled[*]1/4 M.O.A. or finer fingertip, audible/resettable windage and elevation adjustment[*]Elite® Bullet-Proof Warranty[*]"No Questions Asked" one- year replacement (U.S. only) [/ul]


Rainguard® Bushnell’s permanent, patented, hydrophobic (water-repellant) lens coating prevents fogging by causing condensation from rain, sleet, snow or even your own breath to bead up into much smaller droplets than on standard coatings. Smaller droplets scatter less light which results in a clearer, brighter view. Now the hunter won’t miss the shot of a lifetime because of rain or accidentally breathing on his eyepiece.


$164 at Budsgunshop

$175 at SWFA

$175 at Gunshopfinder

$179 at BearBasin

$179 at scopesnmore

$185 at TacticalSight

$186 at Overstock.com

$187 at Amazon

$199 at dozens of other places
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So, if you'll begrudge me an extra $14, "about" $150 will show an incredible amount of difference compared to a $75 scope, or anything below. I'd wager the same for the Legend scope, at $20 less than the $150 limit.

Our nitpicking aside, anyone looking at a scope must use their own eyes to make a choice. Nobody else will be looking through their scope, so they have to set their budget, then see what scopes their eyes like best within that budget.

FC