Thanks.... My budget? HA! My "budget" is whatever my wife will let me spend!

I remember when my buddy at work let me borrow the Marlin 30-30 last season to check it out, shoot it a few times at the range, hunt with it, etc... I immediately fell in love with it after the first few rounds. It's just one of those timeless classics that just feels right.

So, when we were discussing selling it/buying it and whatnot, I took it up to Green Top Sporting Goods (local hunting/firearms/bows/fishing/etc.. store) to get their opinion, appraisal, overall "street value" sort of thing. I told them the price was $250 for the 30-30, scope, and locking case. They agreed and said it was most likely worth $300 due to the big Simmons scope on it. It is from the late 80's and still in pristine condition with no blemishes, rust pitting, dings, dents, whatever. Same with the scope. They kind of laughed at seeing the overall appearance of the big scope mounted on see-thru rings on the 30-30. I mean, in laymans terms, it was like, "Daaay-um! WTF was your buddy thinking?!? You got way too much scope for gun. But still for the condition of everything, it'll go for $300 bucks easy."

So anyway, I just want to bring things back into perspective. Take my scenario, but do the reverse (too much gun for scope).... In the reverse fashion, it would be like me having a huge Weatherby but only having a Tasco 1-4x20mm scope on it! [&:]

Getting back to your question about price ranges and budgets? I would probably be willing to spend around $100 bucks on a nice, small scale, quick focus, scope that would be perfect for the 30-30.

Butch A.