OK I am ready for my "beating" ... and I'll get one from this reply. Anyway .... in your $200 range you are at the bottom end of "good". I feel the lumps groing now! But you do not have to sopend $1000+ to get a really good scope.

Take a look at Vortex, Pentax, Burris, Leupold and Bushnell. These all offer decent optics within $50 +/- of your price range. Honestly, I have had very little expereince with Vortex, but what I have had ... this scope line seems like a very good value. Friend has 2 and I like the clarity and low light performance of his .... which are both in the $275 range. Not sure yet how well it'll take field use.

I am not a fan at all of the low end Nikons or any Simmons branded optics. Avoid the "discount catalogue" stuff like the plague .... Osprey, Tasco, BSA, Barska, etc. Very poor QA, mediocre optics and "BS" ads. I bought a Tasco "World Class" several years ago and it "died" withing 4 seasons. It was on a 30.06 Spr. I bought a used rifle that had BSA "best' scope on it. In low light it was about like peeping down a straw, it "tunneled" so badly.

You can wait and save? The Ziess Conquest 3-9x40mm is a very good value in my book. Maybe buy used ??? Take a look at "Mark's Outdoors" in Vestavia, Al. On their web site is a listing of used scopes. These are trade-ins, "take-offs" and often factory demos. Usually can get a pretty good deal ... and this is a fine business which stands behind their used scope (and used fire arm) sales 100%. I have probably bought 10 used scopes from them for both myself and friends.