Rifle Scopes help with optics

[vszero]

my budget is 2000-2500 for the optics, and i am not sure what to buy, i never had a quality glass before all were 200 bucks and less.
i am thinking about Vortex PST 6-24x50 FFP or swfa or nightforce f1 or nxs or bushnell hdmr
should i skip the 1k range and go with nxs or nxs f1

 

[Goin'Hot]

What will it be used for?

 

[Crosshair]

I would only spend that much if you are positive of what you want in features and you know exactly what you'll be using the rifle for. That price puts you squarely in the range of some of the best scopes made. Any scope in that ballpark will be excellent, it comes down to what you really need it to do the most. There are certainly some really really good ones in the $1000-$1500 range that will likely do everything you want and save you some money. Some common benchmark values are:

(these prices are ballpark)
Weaver GS 3-10x $300
SWFA SS 3-9x $600
Weaver 3-15x $700
Viper PST 6-24x $950
SWFA SS 5-20x $1200
Bushnell HDMR 3.5-21x $1400
Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x $1600
Vortex Razor 5-20x $1900
Nightforce ATACR $2400

Lots of other great options too, just depends on which main features you want to focus on.

 

[VJJPunisher]

used premier, shmidt, or F1. then sell it to me

 

[vszero]

What will it be used for?

it will be used for hunting and target shooting up to 900m

 

[Crosshair]

it will be used for hunting and target shooting up to 900m

I never recommend a scope that will be used for hunting to be above 4x on the low end, 5x is pushing it, IMO. 9x-10x is enough for up to 900m depending on target size. So, a good 2.5-10x, 3-9x, 3-15x, 4-12x, or 4-16x is where I'd be looking. I would stress to you, if you are willing to spend some cash and get a scope you'll want to keep for a long time, get one that has matching adjustments with the reticle, i.e., Mil/mil, moa/moa. If you are kind of new to ranging and dialing adjustments, its kind of nice to learn in mils, before you get used to thinking in moa, in my opinion. I would also recommend Front focal plane, very handy to have your reticle read correctly at all powers.
If you want to go ahead and spend the $2000-$2500, you will be very happy with any of them. Some of the best pieces of glass currently made that I know of in that range are:
Kahles 3-12x50 Competition K 312 II 34mm Riflescope
Leupold 3-18x44 Mark 6 34mm Riflescope
IOR 3.5-18x50 Tactical 35mm Rifle Scope
Premier Heritage 3-15x50 Light Tactical Riflescope
Steiner 4-16x50 Military Tactical 34mm Rifle Scope
Vortex 5-20x50 Razor HD 35mm Rifle Scope
U.S. Optics 3.2-17x44mm LR17mil 30mm Rifle Scope
Nightforce NXS 3.5-15x50 F1 Rifle Scope - First Focal Plane Reticle MLR or MIL-DOT C355, C356, C357, C358, C359, C360, C361
March Rifle Scopes Tactical 3-24 x 42 FFP

Out of these, the lightest weight are the March, Premier LT, and Leupold. The others can get pretty heavy, but are all very rugged.