The good news here is that you don't have to go either expensive or cheap. There are some good middle of the road priced scopes. Bushnell Trophy scopes go for about 100.00 on up. Swift scopes go from about 100.00 on up. The Luepold Rifleman and VX-l go for about 180-220.00 dollars. I have never had a problem with the Bushnell Banners and they go for under a 100.00. I used to use Tasco scopes. Never had a problem with them either but Tasco is a little iffy. They went down once and thier future is a little uncertain IMO. I would not be afraid to bet my hunt on a Bushnell Troopy Model. Or go a little more and get the 3200 series. They are top quality for 200.00 most places. If I had waited to hunt until I could afford a Luepold scope, I would have missed my first thiry years of hunting. I have f iour Luepolds now but they are really not that much better scopes than some of the middle priced scopes. The Simmons Aetec is one of the best scope going and they start at about 130.00 Nothing beats them for eye relief and I have seen nothing clearer or better in low light. I have a Simmons 6Xx40 straight power on my 30-06. ^%.00 I love it. Graeat light gathering and mighty clear. I would bet on getting 15 years or so from that scope. I have a Redfield and two Bushnells that I have had and used hard for thirty years so far.