I can only base my opinion on my own experience but I have had great luck with Nikon Prostaff and Buckmasters for your price range. Zero issues and I like them. Heard the warranty department is good but never needed to use it. I've owned prolly ten of them and are still in use on the rifles I still have in possesion

X2. Have had great luck with the same Nikon's

I picked up a couple of Redfields earlier this year on close out thru Academy, one 4x12x40 and one 3x9x50 for $99 each. I saw someone on THF bought several in Corpus, so I checked the Austin & Round Rock stores which were all sold out, but my son found one in Temple and one in Killeen. My son mounted the 3x9x50 on his 30-06 and absolutely loves it. I had planned on putting the 4x12 on one of my backup guns but haven't had a chance to do so before season opened. I am sure you can find close-out deals on decent optics ... Midway USA offers good deals from time to time as I am on their emailing list.

AND ... you might check out the bargain cave at Cabela's or go into one of their stores and look in their returned items area ... some really great deals can be had from time to time there.

redfield