I have a frankengun that I have just built, 20" heavy barrel free floated colt upper with1x9 rifling, mated to a Anderson lower with a mil spec parts group, a2 stock, and a timey trigger.
I just put this together last weekend, and mounted a $35.00 Simons 3x9x40 scope on it to see if the rifle would shoot.
at 100 yds with this setup, it was shooting .75 inch groups off a lead sled, using 55 grain white box, Winchester ammo, and while I did not shoot it at that 200 yd range I have no doubt that it is clay pigeon accurate at 200.
that was the original data just testing the gun , I am sure that with different bullet weights, I can tighten the group, and while the simmons is on the gun now it will not stay there, it is a replacement scope that I had in my safe, after having one go bad on a CZ 17hmr
I will be mounting a Leopold 3x9 VX1 as the standing scope for this gun, I have used a VX1 on my Remington 700 BDl 25-06 that has been on the rifle for over 40 years been on numerous hunts and shot a truckload of rounds, and is still dead on after 40+ years of winter and summer hunting experience, these good scopes can still be had in the 200 dollar range
I went through the us army sniper training course in the panama canal zone back in the mid 70s, and while it was not as intense as what the current snipers go thru at ft. Benning it was very informative at the time and lessons learned there are still valuable today as far as how to determine distance, and wind, and knowing your rifle, and its ammo
so I am one of these guys who don't want all the mil dots and fancy features of the newest scopes, I want to know the range to target the wind and my gun/ammo combination.
I am not a glass snob and I have long range target rifles that have scopes BSA, tasco world class, and bushnell banners,all are good scopes for rifles that are fair weather shooters,
find the glass you like and can afford, the vx1 is simple tough and dependable and in you target price range