re: Scope Suggestion

There’s some good deals on DVOR, they normally get you with shipping but there’s free shipping codes floating around that end today.

If you want to dial:
Optika6 3-18x50 $580-$640 depending on the model, this scope did well on the rokslide drop tests that downshift mentioned. It eventually failed after 3k rounds and riding down mountain roads, uncased in the bed of a truck.
Trijicon credo 2.5-15x44 $845
On the swfa website they are still discounted, the 3-9x42 with HD glass is $420, I bought some of those and shipping was like $7 or something

If you aren’t sure about dialing the optika6 2.5-15x44 is under $500 with illumination and a seemingly decent elevation turret under the cap.

I’m pretty interested in cheap scopes, I think you’re in the price range that’ll get you 100% of the function you need for hunting and shooting for fun. If you think you’ll eventually want to dial, I’d just get one with a zero stop and locking turrets, that way you can learn it and start to see if you use it for your eventual magnum purchase.

Also, don’t feel like you need 15x magnification for box stand shooting whitetails. Once you shoot some on like 4-6x you realize how much info you can gather after the shot through your scope on low powers.