Decent scope for about $200?

What kind of reticle does she want and does she want a fixed or variable power scope?

this would be my "cheap" option https://www.natchezss.com/bushnell-...x-reticle-35-12-fov-3-5-eye-relief-matte.html

this would be the scope I actually bought. https://www.natchezss.com/refurbish...pe-2-5-10x42mm-sfp-bdc-40-3-10-1-4-matte.html keep in mind however, nikon is exiting the scope market.

Another site preaches, under power - over glass. What they are saying, buy better glass at lower power.
https://www.chuckhawks.com/index2i.scopes_optics.htm

I have had great experience with Leupold glass. I have not used the following, but it is in your range:
https://www.amazon.com/Leupold-VX-F...nements=p_89:Leupold&rnid=2528832011&sr=8-152

I do use the following (4x in my case on a 30.30). All the glass you could ever ask for. A fixed 6x is the essence of simplicity and durability. The 6x should pair nicely with a 243 depending on range (you might consider a 4x depending on your property). Remember, the USMC had used a fixed 10x for their sniper teams to 1000 yards. Power is not always the pinnacle. This is beyond your stated price point, but not outrageously.
https://www.amazon.com/Leupold-FX-I...ts=p_89:Leupold&rnid=2528832011&sr=8-180&th=1

Burris Fullfield

From our own “sale site”

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...d-vari-x-iii-with-rings.866189/#post-11455608

EDIT...looks like you get rings with this, too....

Underpowered, overglassed (thanks @rabid wombat), and you can't go wrong with a Leupold. I would buy a new or used Leupold 3-9x40.

Sniper66 said:

for about $200, that's the budget. I've had Nikon Prostaff 3-9X, which is well under that budget, but I didn't like it and sold it

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another rule of thumb about glass...”buy once, cry one”....

the good stuff is not cheap...

For budget options, my favorite that I've had so far is Primary Arms. This is what I have on my 223 Weatherby Vanguard:
https://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-4-16x44-sfp-riflescope-mil-dot-reticle

I also have a Weaver Kaspa Tactical and Mueller APV. Both are good for the price but IMO the eye box on both is noticeably less forgiving than the PA. Part of the reason I have chosen the ones I have is I want adjustable parallax, which is not really available on some of the better known brands in this price range. The Mueller in particular has a very good reputation as a budget option over at Rimfire Central, though it isn't just a rimfire scope (and 243 is no powerhouse).

Outside of that, here are a few I've never owned but heard good things about:

Athlon Talos 3-12
Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9
Burris Fullfield II 3-9

Leupold VX-Freedom is $199 in most places. That is never a bad choice. I find $200 MSRP to be where decent starts. I'd not feel the least bit handicapped with the Leupold or most any of the $200 scopes. And if you can find one discounted for less great.

The Burris FF-II has a $199 MSRP but I see them at $150-$160 at times. I wouldn't buy anything with less than $200 MSRP though.

You can spend more and get some other features, one with one of the less common magnification ranges, a fancy reticle or long range dials etc.

my pick https://www.natchezss.com/redfield-...-9x50mm-accu-range-33-13-1-3-7-4-2-matte.html

NIGHTLORD40K said:

Burris Fullfield

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+1

I faced the same dilemma, I went with burris fullfield II in 2-7x35 on my deer hunting 30-06 and I am very impressed. In my opinion best bang for the buck lower priced but quality scope! 2x gives a large field of view and 7x is plenty of magnification for hunting distances for me in Wisconsin.

https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes/fullfield-ii-riflescopes-series/fullfield-ii-riflescope-2-7x35mm

What, no love for Vortex? Crossfire II can be had for $200 or less.

Regardless of your choice, try Scopelist site and make a reasonable offer for the one you want. It's worked well for me. https://www.scopelist.com

Cabela's frequently put the Burris Fullfield E1 scopes on sale for $150. The glass is MUCH nicer than the Fullfield 2 (sniped sales and got both for that price to compare), but be aware that they usually have 30mm tubes.

I wanted to upgrade the cheap Simmons scope on my Savage .270. The clerk talked me into a Vortex Diamondback 4x12x40. Bright clear optics edge to edge, great warranty. Mounted it up, sighted it in and I liked it so well I bought and mounted up another one on my Tikka .243. I think Vortex Diamondback is a great scope for under 200.00 !!! hdbiker

No Chicom stuff

badkarmamib said:

Cabela's frequently put the Burris Fullfield E1 scopes on sale for $150. The glass is MUCH nicer than the Fullfield 2 (sniped sales and got both for that price to compare), but be aware that they usually have 30mm tubes.

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When I worked the gun counter at Cabela’s our Burris rep said they have the same glass, and it sure seemed that way to me.

It’s been a good while but I’ve owned both.

sparkyv said:

What, no love for Vortex? Crossfire II can be had for $200 or less.

Regardless of your choice, try Scopelist site and make a reasonable offer for the one you want. It's worked well for me. https://www.scopelist.com

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Compare the eye relief, eye box and glass clarity in low light between a Crossfire and Fullfield. For most people there is an easy winner.

cdb1 said:

When I worked the gun counter at Cabela’s our Burris rep said they have the same glass, and it sure seemed that way to me.

It’s been a good while but I’ve owned both.

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I emailed Burris to ask them, and got a reply that the E1 has better glass. Within 100 yards, I can't tell the difference. I had a harder time seeing a 6" splatter target at 200 yards through the Fullfield 2, than seeing 10" steel at 400 yards through the E1. YMMV.

hdbiker said:

I wanted to upgrade the cheap Simmons scope on my Savage .270. The clerk talked me into a Vortex Diamondback 4x12x40. Bright clear optics edge to edge, great warranty. Mounted it up, sighted it in and I liked it so well I bought and mounted up another one on my Tikka .243. I think Vortex Diamondback is a great scope for under 200.00 !!! hdbiker

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To my eyes the Diamondback is a decent scope and much much better than a Crossfire. In fact the only area where I feel the Fullfield and Freedom are better are in low light and the difference isn’t huge. If I were going to dial, I don’t, I’d probably take a Diamondback over a VX-Freedom.

badkarmamib said:

I emailed Burris to ask them, and got a reply that the E1 has better glass. Within 100 yards, I can't tell the difference. I had a harder time seeing a 6" splatter target at 200 yards through the Fullfield 2, than seeing 10" steel at 400 yards through the E1. YMMV.

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They very well could have upgraded the glass on the E1.

spazzy said:

I faced the same dilemma, I went with burris fullfield II in 2-7x35 on my deer hunting 30-06 and I am very impressed. In my opinion best bang for the buck lower priced but quality scope! 2x gives a large field of view and 7x is plenty of magnification for hunting distances for me in Wisconsin.

https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes/fullfield-ii-riflescopes-series/fullfield-ii-riflescope-2-7x35mm

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I had a 2-7 on my 30-30 and on my daughter’s .243. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy one again.