Good scope for reasonable price ?

You might want to check out https://www.primaryarms.com/ - their stuff is pretty decent for the price point, if "Made in China" isn't a no-go for you.

A USA alternative in that price range is Vortex's Crossfire II series: https://vortexoptics.com/riflescopes/crossfire-ii.html

I've purchased from both vendors and have no complaints.

Specific recommendation would depend on what magnification you want, but brand-wise I'd look at Primary Arms, Athlon, and Burris to get the best bang for your buck under $300. There are Leupold, Vortex, etc. scopes in your price range as well, they tend to be a little more basic feature-wise in that range but are solid scopes.

Really, lots of good options in your range just need to know more about specifics as far as what you want (reticle, magnification, fixed vs adjustable parallax, illumination, etc.).

I've personally never spent more than $300 on an optic EXCEPT my night vision (which is a Sightmark Wraith I got for $375) and I've been pretty happy.

Decent scopes start at around $200. For $300 you can do pretty good. I used to advise the $200 Burris FF-II as my go-to entry level scope. I always felt it was every bit as good, if not better, than the $300 Leupold scopes. They have replaced the FF-II with the FF-IV. My experience is somewhat limited, I have one that I've only taken to the range once to get it zeroed. But that was a positive experience and based on the performance of the older versions will recommend one of those.

Leupold's VX-Freedom is usually in the $200-$350 range depending on the magnification range, reticle, and other features. Hard to go wrong with one of those. I've seen the VX-3i sell at or just under $300 occasionally. If you can find a deal on one of those it is a bit better scope.

Vortex makes some good stuff, but I don't like their low and mid priced scopes. I think you can do better in this price range.

As mentioned , you can do quite well for 300 dollars . What distance will you be shooting ? Woods or open country ? If shooting a known max distance you can narrow it down in regards to magnification . The options are endless for a $ 300 hunting scope , some of that can be wasted on bling you don't need where instead that money may get you better glass.

Deadeyejedi said:

A 3x9x40 is what I have now and I’m happy with that but wouldn’t mind going a little bigger for field of view . I hunt mostly in the woods of the Adirondacks but do get to some more open country but by no means long distance stuff . Thanks for all the replies I will start my research based on them .

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If you want a little more magnification, the Burris Fullfield E1 4.5-14x42 is much better than it has any right to be at its price.

The Athlon Argos HMR 2 can be had right about at the top of your budget if you go with the BDC600 reticle. They also have the Talos line in 3-12x and 4-16x that will come in well below your budget. I have Argos binoculars and a Talos spotter, and I've been happy with both.

Primary Arms has a bunch of options that are 4-14x42 with different reticles.

That being said, most of those are higher magnification so you'd have a smaller field of view on lowest magnification in all likelihood.

If field of view is the big thing you'd want to improve, the Argos HMR 2-12x42 would probably be a good fit, and it gives you more magnification on the top end too, win-win.

I have one of these i picked up for 300.00. I love it.
https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes...es-series/fullfield-e1-riflescope-6.5-20x50mm

Look up the SWFA SS ("Nazi Chicken") series!

Excellent scopes for the price...

A common sentiment is that they're truly bombproof, with excellent tactile feedback and very consistent tracking.

Deadeyejedi said:

a good scope in the 300 dollar range . Is it wishful thinking?

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Nope. 3X9 Leopolds run about $300. Although, the last big game hunting rifle scope I bought is a 3X9 Weaver. I spent over an hour comparing it to a 3X9 Leopold for the same price (almost $300) and there was no doubt about it - to my eye the Weaver was "clearer."
My wife put a fixed 4X Leopold on her newest .22LR. I think she paid well less than $200 for it.

Sig whiskey3 3-9 or 4-12
Burris Droptine, Fullfield 2/e1 3-9/ 4.5-14
Leupold vx-f 3-9 (if weight is a factor, otherwise optically i prefer other options)
Athlon Talos 3-9/4-12, or preferably an Argos HMR 2.5-12
Sightron S-tac 3-16 on midway if still available......

There's a lot of good scopes of the $300 range Those are just ones I have personal experience with.... And can remember right now.

Oh and the Bushnell Nitros

Deadeyejedi said:

A 3x9x40 is what I have now and I’m happy with that but wouldn’t mind going a little bigger for field of view . I hunt mostly in the woods of the Adirondacks but do get to some more open country but by no means long distance stuff . Thanks for all the replies I will start my research based on them .

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I use an old Leupold 3 x 9 x 40 for hunting the ADKs also , I live in the valley where open field shots can be long . Here I use a Burris FFII 4.5 x 14 x 42 . It's plenty for my fields and 4.5 is ok in the ADK woods . Low enough for close shots and plenty enough power if you run into a beaver meadow in the middle of nowhere.

Well below your budget also .

https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes...es-series/fullfield-ii-riflescope-4.5-14x42mm

I'll second the SWFA recommendation. Fixed 10x.

Has the 742 been shot recently, I ask because if you just got the rifle and your replacing the scope. If never shot check the rails for shark teeth, also check the gas system many forget to clean that stuff. What mounts can make a difference in what will fit, like the weaver swing away some 40mm scopes may not fit. I'd look for a 2-7 or 3-9 power range, 742 can shoot very well and 7-10 power is plenty to get good groups. I'd look at Burris then Leopold

Fwiw I have a swfa ss10 I'm looking to sell if interested.

CoalCrackerAl said:

I have one of these i picked up for 300.00. I love it.
https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes...es-series/fullfield-e1-riflescope-6.5-20x50mm

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Good mention.

Burris FF E1 6.5-20x50mm for $169.99 + $8.99 shipping - https://dackoutdoors.com/product/bu...e-black-matte-finish-ballistic-plex-e1-mv-sfp

wiscoaster said:

You might want to check out https://www.primaryarms.com/ - their stuff is pretty decent for the price point, if "Made in China" isn't a no-go for you.

A USA alternative in that price range is Vortex's Crossfire II series: https://vortexoptics.com/riflescopes/crossfire-ii.html

I've purchased from both vendors and have no complaints.

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crossfire ii is also made in china. I think the only scope vortex sells that is made in the US is the razor hd amg. It is a couple grand. And if you watch the cyclops scope guy on youtube, he says he'd avoid vortex because they are no longer offering good value, and their QC is atrocious. They are sold everywhere because they are VERY profitable. They have a huge markup and some of that gets passed on to dealers. Dealers make more selling a vortex scope than a leupold or bushnell, so what gets the shelf space? vortex.

I did a little digging on Dack outdoors. The biggest complaints are slow shipping. Looks like they drop ship. So if the co the order from is out of stock it could take some time. That is great price on a Burris scope. But here is the Google reviews.
https://www.google.com/search?clien...9#lrd=0x87ea6d7833917c1d:0xfe226a167048d810,1,,,

CoalCrackerAl said:

I did a little digging on Dack outdoors. The biggest complaints are slow shipping. Looks like they drop ship. So if the co the order from is out of stock it could take some time. That is great price on a Burris scope.

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I will update when I get "shipped" email confirmation. The slow shipping could have been from Covid.

I got the price link from Gun Deals and Grab a Gun shows $192 but their link shows $289 -
https://gun.deals/search/apachesolr_search/200341

Mil dot version of Gun Deals shows $184 from Dack Outdoors and $188 from two other vendors so maybe $169 is a viable price - https://gun.deals/search/apachesolr_search/000381001931

I will keep you posted as to what happens. If $169 is no go for MV version, I would order mil dot version for $184/$188.

As has already been stated, $300.00 is enough money to get a good scope. You have a bunch of options, sounds like a worn out record but I’m a fan of Fullfields too.

I’ve owned one Crossfire II, mounted a whole bunch of them and received feedback from some of the people whose Crossfires I’ve mounted. Based on that experience I absolutely wouldn’t buy one.

I'm an old man stuck in the past. Am going on 79 and my Remington 760 wears an old Weaver K6W. If needing another scope, I'd look hard for another used one in good shape.

I have this reticle on my Burris.

greyling22 said:

crossfire ii is also made in china. ....

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I double checked because I thought Vortex's claim to fame was USA-made products. My Crossfire scopes are definitely stamped "Made in China" as per US law requirements if they are. You are correct and I apologize for my error.

I suspect pretty much everything in the OP's price range is made in China.