I am looking for a decent scope that is NOT a Leupold ( had 2 - 1 brand new and 1 used and did not like either ).  The longest shot on this rifle will be at a max 250 - 300 yards so I was thinking maybe 3x9x40 or 3x10x40. Any ideas?

I suggest the Swift and Hi-Lux scope for this price range as they are a great buy for this price.

http://www.natchezss.com/Optics.cfm...tle=Burris

I have a bunch of these and really like them and you can sell the GPS if you don't want it.

Bushnell Elite, either 3-9 or 2-7 from Bear Basin Outfitters.

Dale

Ty all for the advice, I am going to the store and comparing each after work Fri. I do have a friend that needs a GPS so I might go with that. Thanks again everyone.

Another brand is Konus at http://www.konususa.com and the best of luck in finding what you are looking for.

Thanks again to everyone, my friend is letting me borrow a redfield for a week and after that my other friend is letting me borrow a bushnell. The only thing they said was not to take it straight up the mountain in a rain storm so I won't break it like my leupold last year.

Leupold scopes have a lifetime guarantee. Have you tried contacting Leupold about repairing your scope?

Last year I was told the guarantee did not cover riding half a ton of mud down in to some trees. I can understand that, my shoulder still hurts from where I was spun around when my pack caught a branch. Snapped the strap on my pack as well so I knew it was a pretty good slam. I try to avoid situations like that however!

Another option is a fixed 4X or 6X. I run both (one on a 358 Win, one on a 270) and have had one problem with each since 1976. The 4X is a Weaver (bought it used in 1976, it fogged in 1984), the 6X is a Leupold M8 ( bought in 79, Leupold rebuilt the windage/elevation mechanisms in 2010, no charge). I've shot deer at 350 yds and groundhogs at 300 with the 6X, never felt underpowered.

New Leupolds are over your budget, but SWFA carries the Weaver 6X for about $155

Dale

I have had good results with Pentax scopes (remember high rings on bolt guns, more because of the large eyepiece than the objective). Try Sportsman's Guide.
Most of my other better scopes are Burris.
I tend to coddle my scopes, so my only real malfunctions have been with large objectives on very light rifles or on 338's - in other words, very rapid recoil impulses.

I have a NIB Nikon fixed 4X scope that is a 2009 model that I got as part of a deal when selling/trading and it has all the paperwork with it. It retailed for $350.00 but I will take $250.00 for it if you are interested. My email is bigdawgwalls@yahoo.com and be sure to include both Scope and NAHC in the subject line so I don't delete it as I do when I don't recognize a name.

TY for all the suggestions. I am trying out some friends scopes and the 1st was a redfield 2x7, had great results with it. Tomorrow I will test out a bushnell.

I got a Swift mounted on a rifle I traded for....seems to be quite good at rifle range....100 to 300 is all I have tried it at. It is on a -06 and no problems. Thus , I would reccommend as a low end option.

I'll second the Konus. Purchasing one from their site provides fantastic savings, including the shipping.

The terminology "quite good" or quiet decent" or "excellent for the price" always seem to accompany request for advice on cheap scopes.....always buy the best glass you can afford! If you think there is no difference in a $250 or less scope and a $800 to $1700 scope, you need to get your eyes fixed!

Nikon "Buck...something" Master?, Commander? Life Guarantee too

I paid more than $250.00 for my Nikon Buckmaster, but it is a 50 power objective. My Konus that cost about $200.00 has better clarity than my Leupold or my Nikon!

Big sale here on Nikon scopes http://www.midsouthshooters.com and I do mean big.

Ty to everyone, I tried 4 different scopes ( redfield, bushnell, nikon, pentax ) in morning, mid day and afternoon\evening hours, in sun and shade, rain and shine. The redfield is the 1 I decided to use because at 150 yards I can put 3 round groups touching each other and it is every bit as clear as my friends scopes costing 2x as much. I wish I had an extra 1700 bucks laying around to get a better scope, but atm $250 was my limit and ending up spending under $175 for the scope leaves more $ for ammo. If I ever get rich enough I might buy 1 of them gazillion dollar rifles and half a gazillion dollar scopes though.
Thanks again to everyone for your input and ideas, I appreciate the help.

The Redfield is a great choice of for the money spent it is well worth every dime as it is as good a some brands that sell for much more. I have an original Redfield 3X9X12 with the 56MM objective end that I bought in 1997 before they were bought by Blount Inc and at that time it retailed for just under $800.00 ( it was their most expensive scope ) and it is worth much more today. I was glad that Leupold bought them and started making them again in the original Redfield factory. My next scope purchases will be a Redfield Revenge and a Leatherwood ART that will be mounted on the new rifle I am building. Again great choice and I think you will get many years service from it.

I just read a report on another forum about the Revenge line, the guy said it was a noticeable difference between the Revolution line and the Revenge line and he wouldn't buy another Revenge. Remember this is one man's opinion of his scope so your mileage may vary.

FWIW,

Dale

I have the Bushnell Elite 3200. 4x18x50.  Great scope. Love it.

This is a new company here in the states http://www.krugeroptical.com and if you have not checked lately here is the addy for the Weaver line http://www.weaveroptics.com and they sure have expanded their line since the last time I had checked them out.

Get a lifetime warranty - Buy it once !

I own two and this Bushnell Elite 3-9X50SF is an excellent scope. If purchased by 10/31/2012 there is also a $75 rebate from Bushnell.

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cf...c=exrbSrch

The http://www.hi-lux.com brand especially the Buck Country models are now considered one of the best buys under $200.00 after some having as many as 10,000 rounds fired with them mounted. Be sure and checkout this brand and model.