As ColtPythonElite said, cheap scopes are OK until they're not. When I was young and poor, I bought what I could afford...Simmons, Tasco and the like. Eventually they all quit working and went into the trash heap. I eventually earned a better income and now have great scopes on all my numerous rifles, mostly Leupolds, Bushnell Elites, and one Burris. The thing is you don't have to stop shopping for the best deals. I recently bought a Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10X for $270. MSRP is $540. Got the Burris Fullfield II for $235. MSRP is around $450. I buy Bushnell at the outlet store in KC with a discount of 40% off MSRP using my Kansas State Rifle Assn membership. Don't know where you live, but look around for options. I NEVER stop looking. Gun shows can produce some bargains, but usually not, which is odd to me. You have to know your prices.
Here's the second issue and at the heart of your original post. I put a Leupold VX-III 2.5-8Xv on my Remington 541-S, my favorite squirrel rifle. At the beginning of every squirrel season I go to the range to zero it in preparation for the season or if I change ammo. Usually it is still zeroed exactly as I left it last season. I recently changed ammo and it shot a half inch different. Two adjustments and 5-6 shots later, it was zeroed. I've had that scope on that rifle for about 30 years and have hunted 100s of times, dragged it in and out of vehicles, leaned it on trees, dropped it. and carried it around for many many miles. It still works like new. Can you buy that for cheap? My hat's off to you if you can.
Here's the second issue and at the heart of your original post. I put a Leupold VX-III 2.5-8Xv on my Remington 541-S, my favorite squirrel rifle. At the beginning of every squirrel season I go to the range to zero it in preparation for the season or if I change ammo. Usually it is still zeroed exactly as I left it last season. I recently changed ammo and it shot a half inch different. Two adjustments and 5-6 shots later, it was zeroed. I've had that scope on that rifle for about 30 years and have hunted 100s of times, dragged it in and out of vehicles, leaned it on trees, dropped it. and carried it around for many many miles. It still works like new. Can you buy that for cheap? My hat's off to you if you can.