If you have $500.00 to spend then I would definately go with the Leupold like cowboy4513 said. I was just looking at them for my new Encore and like the 4-12 X 50. The 3-9 X 40 is also nice. Make sure to get the Leupold rings if you can.

Bushnell Elite 4200 3-9 X 40 $258 + shipping at SWFA. Hard to beat that.

Thank you!

For the 500 bucks range you are in the neighborhood of the Leupold VX3 and the Zeiss Conquest variable in 1" tubes and 40mm objectives. I think the Leupold will be about 485 and the Zeiss ahould be 450 (although I have seen them recently from big mail order houses for 400). Both are excellent, although I am leaning toward the Zeiss Conquest lately because of more forgiving eye relief. In fact I am buying a conquest after Christmas for my .300 win mag. If you wear galsses and shoot a heavey recoiling caliber, eye relief becomes more important
You are also in the range of the Sightron S3, Bushnell Elite 4200 (very good and bright scope), Burris Signature select, Meopta Artemis 2000 and 3000series, and Pentax Lightseeker.
And you are just shy of the IOR valdada scopes (around 575 for the 2.5-10x42 and in 30mm tube!). They are made in Romania nd are really nice. The glass on these is made by Schott Glass of Germany and they use Zeiss coatings.
Let us know what you get!