Reticle... pick one you can live with and learn from.

I love'em MIL on MIL stuff... it's fun learning to range things and all that sh*t.
First Focal is always a plus.
Power on your scope... I don't think you could ever have to much or even enough, but you could end up having to little or not enough.
Precision on a budget... no such thing. Before you know it.. you'll be blowing through that budget in a blink on an eye... yes... you will cry once... only once