It mostly depends on what My Favorite MLer of chioce is, that one usually will get the best scope as that Mler will be the one I will put my Hunting success on.
For My Best choice I have a Leupold Ultimate Slam ML Scope on My ACCURA. My second ACCURA has a Bushnell Banner Dusk to Dawn Scope on it. My 3'd ACCURA has a Nikon Pro Staff on it, I like all 3 scopes and non have let me down. Most of my other MLer's have Bushnell's on them, about $89 scopes and work very well.
Even my Old Mossberg Trophy Slugster has a Tasco (cheapy) on it and ascheap as it is I started off with it to replace it and I never did as it never gave me a problem and for the $39 I spent on it 20 years ago I cant complain. There are other's but if I had to choose it would be the Leupold's then the Bushnell then the Nikon. But again all 3 brands have done well for me with no complaints.
So for my favorite MLer (the one I will use the most) I will put the best I can afford on it. I will only shop around for a deal if Im looking for a certain brand model scope, when I find the best price for it I'll buy it. Other than that Im happy with most of the Nikon's and Bushnell's they all have done what they say. Sure I'd like to buy all Leupold's, but as mentioned above more money does'nt quarantee a better scope.
(BP)