I just picked up a leupold vx3i lrp 4.5-14x50 FFP TMR of the exchange for basically the same role but mounted on a Remington 700 with a 18" 7-08 barrel. It's still in the hands of usps but I should have it shortly.
Weight is 20.3 oz. I love my wife's mk4 and this is supposedly nearly identical glass with the same reticle. The open center is awesome for shooting small stuff, (think small critters poking their heads out at 250 yds). Used these go for about half your budget. I highly recommend the leupold alumina flip up caps, they're my favorite caps. Sunshades are also really nice on hunting rigs because you hunt in the hours where the sun is lower and it really can kick some glare in my experience.