Best for the price - OpticsPlanet Exclusive Vortex Viper PST 2.5-10x44mm Rifle Scope, 30mm Tube, Second Focal Plane (SFP)

After reviewing countless scopes I have found the Vortex Viper PST Gen 1 2.5-10x to be the best scope for the money by Far for me for a short to mid-range scope getting away from the LPVO scope category. The glass is sharp and clear with a little loss of clarity at 10x. The reticle is fast and easy to use and the illumination knob with off between levels is great. One click and your on at the desired pre-set brightness. I found the 4 setting to be plenty bright in low light. The Gen 2 Vipers are about 1/2 lb heavier and are Bricks. The Vortex Viper Gen 1 is between a Leupold and Vortex Viper Gen 2 in weight. You can't beat a Leupold for being lite weight but you pay for it.

I compared the Vortex Viper Gen 1 2.5-10x to the Athlon Helos 2-12x and found the Helos 2x-4x to be almost unusable in daylight and at 10-12x there is some loss of clarity, the illumination is unusable in daylight and it weighs a Ton.

The only changes I would like to have on the Gen 1 Viper would be to have the illumination dial on the side instead of the rear and to have a 2x instead of the 2.5x but there is very little difference between 2x and 2.5x and I don't have any difficulty getting on target at 10yds with the 2.5x. Some people complain about the shims but they are completely optional, are easy to place and a nice feature for an elevation turn stop.

Every scope under $1,500 has some compromise and I haven't found any scope under that to be ideal. The ones I would have no complaints about cost $1,500 to $3,000 and up.

Is this scope perfect ? No. But to get a short to mid-range scope that is better you would need to pay at least twice as much. Recommend ? Yes. I'm considering getting another one.

The Gen 2 Vipers have some nice upgrades but the hefty weight is a deal breaker and I prefer the Gen 1 for that reason and you don't need FFP for 300yds and closer. If FFP is a must for you and you shoot long distance I'd get the 3-15x Viper instead.

***Hopefully Vortex will learn and make the Gen 3 lighter whenever it finally comes out.