As you both probably know, you cannot beat the system with optics. Especially, with high-magnification scopes. Good and cheap are mutually exclusive terms because the cost of high quality glass is the combination of the extreme cost of the material and the extreme cost of the equipment used to make the lenses. Therefore, you can have one of the two.
So can you get pretty good and relatively cheap? I think you can.
Simmons Whitetail Classic 6.5×20. If you want to go up to 20+ power, here’s the one. Get one of these while you still can, because they are no longer in production:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/746570/simmons-whitetail-classic-rifle-scope-65-20x-50mm-adjustable-objective-truplex-reticle-matte
I have this scope on a .22-250 Tikka. Is it a Zeiss in Simmons clothing? Hell no. But it actually does have perfectly reasonable optics and several hundred pasture poodles have found out that it is at least good enough to whack them up to 450 yards.
Kootie, one thing I will ask is have you used a 20+ power rifle scope for actual game hunting? Personally, I find above 16 power, the field of view is so limiting as to be impractical. It’s just so hard to acquire and track the target and at 20 power, your first shot will be your only shot at a coyote because once you shoot and he runs, you won’t be able to find him in the scope again at the high magnification for a second shot.
Also, there is the obvious issue of heat shimmer, which I’m sure you’re well aware of. Not as much of an issue in the cool months, but for summer it takes high mag settings off the menu.
Now to coletrain.
First, I’d say if you’re willing to go with a 3×9, this is the deal of the century: Minox Zv series. You can even get BDC reticle for a few $ more. $159 is almost stealing this scope.
http://www.opticsplanet.com/minox-zv-3-3-9x40mm-rifle-scope.html
While Minox won’t say where the optics in the Zv series are made, the optics in all other Minox scopes are made by the German optics company Schott. Even if the optics in the Zv series are NOT Schott, Minox doesn’t make anything less than stellar IMO, so while I haven’t used this scope on a rifle, I can’t see a German company suddenly adding one bad riflescope to what is an otherwise all-primo lineup.
BTW, if you’re interested in the break-the-bank Minox, take a gander here: http://www.opticsplanet.com/minox-za-5-3-15×50-riflescope-w-side-focus-parallax-adjustment.html
This scope is better than Zeiss models at more than twice the price. All Schott glass makes this scope a bargain relative to any other offering of this quality.
I’d say that in the 4-12 world, nothing that I’ve seen will beat the Leupold Rifleman 4×12 or for a little more, the Leupold VX-1 4×12. The Rifleman runs about $249 and the VX-1 is generally about $300.
If you watch Cabela’s and get their coupons, you will often see them run $20 off orders of $150 or more and the like. Worth watching for if you aren’t in a hurry. I have the VX-1 on my .243. Optics are fantastic.
Grouse
But i have also sold a lot of used scope on different forums and ebay. Generically, about 40% recovery has been my experience with used scopes if your looking to sell it later. Sometimes more, sometimes less. A 3×9 will be much less that what you’ll want on that nail driver. Definitely look for something 4-12 or higher.
