Just curious to see what you guys think is the best for under $250. If it's one that's not on the list, just vote other and list it in this thread.

I've been very happy with my nikon buckmaster

I had the buckmaster scope on my older muzzleloader and I was also happy with it

I don't know if its the best. I would have had to use all the rest of them to tell. I do own several Burris FFIIs (both US and Phillipino made) and they have always done exactly what I expected with zero trouble. For a basic deer/antelope/elk rifle shooting less than 300 yds. I'd have no trouble sticking with them.

I'm going to say the Sightron S2 3-9x42. Natchez SS has these on sale for $199. I picked one up on clearance for $150 and have been very pleased. There are a few models of Elite 3200's under $250 and the Elite 4200(3-9x40) is just a tad more....I actually picked one up in January of this year for $220 shipped.

Edited to add: You can find some good used scopes at this price point as well.

The older Simmons Aetec's were a bargain and I own several. However, I believe that technology has improved greatly and a better scope can now be had for the same money. The Burris FFII seams to be a good scope at a bargain price. Those words rarely go together.

The Viper clearance models, no question, assuming you can live with a 2-7x32.

Just a question. I was looking through the new Natchez catalog, they have pages of refurbished Nikons on sale. Why? Apparenly I am not the only person to have problems out of them. These are all scopes that have been returned to the manufactor for repairs because of defects or poor quality. Last year I went through three, two Buckmasters and one Monarch, and that aint no BS. If you want to find out the durabilty of a scope, put it on your fourwheeler and ride several hundred miles in the rough mountains, it puts a hell of a beating on a scope. Nikons will literally start falling apart. Great optics, but no durability! I personally will never buy another Nikon, if it doesnt say Leupold, you wont see it on my rifles, and I am not talking about the Rifleman series, I wouldnt own one of those. You can buy a VXI for a little more and it is four times the scope. JMO.

I just use a old cheap tasco. I dont need a fancy scope to shoot 150 yards.

I don't have any experience with the others except the Nikon Buckmaster, which I loved when I had one. If I was going to buy another scope under that price, I would look at Vortex for sure as well as the new Redfields, but that is just my .02.

I have a $100 Bushnell on my favorite rifle right now that works great and I have shot many deer with.