Scope advice needed

I have a friend with a brand new Remington 700 Elk rifle and I'm trying to help him decide on a scope for it.

Since I bought an ACOG for my XCR, I've fallen in love with both illuminated reticules and the Bindon Aiming Concept. I've even though about putting the ACOG on my hunting rifle. The difficulty in doing that, of course, would be the mounts. Enter the hunting version of the BAC concept from Trijicon, Leopold and others.

We live in Colorado and Elk shots typically can be as close as 50yds to over 300 yds - I once witnessed a Bull Elk taken at a measured (laser rangefinder) 435 yds under very special circumstances. So were thinking something in the 2-7, 3-9, or 4-12 range with an illuminated reticle. Unfortunately, my friend is like me, with champaign tastes on a beer budget.

Here's the question, what's a good value in an illuminated reticle scope that would survive on a Remington 700 - 300 Win Mag?

i love my leupold mark 4 and it has survived my 50BMG so far but i dont think it will fall into your budget. elk season is a way off so pleanty of time to save up some cash and do it right!

A loopy 3.5-10 or a 4.5-14 would be a good choice. Although my elk rifle wears a 1.5-5...

Yeah, the list on the Mark 4 with illuminated reticle was over a grand.

If I was to replace my Vari X-III 4-12, it would be with the Mark 4.

Millett DMS would fit the bill.

Hoser +1

I can't speak for Millett. I can speak for the low end of "good" scopes, and Burris/Nikon scopes seem to be the best at that end. Friend o' mine got a Burris for coyotes, and the glass, repeatbility, and construction seems to be damn good quality for the $. A little higher end are the Luppy's or the Zeiss Conquest line.

Hard to beat the VX III's though. IMO, a Mark IV would seem to be a waste of $ in a normal hunting situation...

I will stand behind Nikon's prostaff scopes.

I am very new to rifle scopes, but after much research and with a limited budget I purchased a Bushnell 4200 Elite. Look at the specs, compare it to scopes almost twice a much and you will not be disappointed. Here is a link to their illuminated version:

http://www.swfa.com/pc-1283-185-bush...fle-scope.aspx

I did not buy the illuminated version but I am very happy with mine.

something from Burris? (locally grown) ;)

I have a few Mueller scopes and they have all been great.