I received a marlin .270 with a scope on it for a graduation present last year, needless to say the scope sucks. I've had issues sighting it in and I can barley see what im shooting at 150yrds... anyways, I might use the gun 1-2 times a year at the dear lease, and might take it to the range a couple times a year. What's a decent budget minded scope? I really don't want to spend more than a couple hundred bucks

 

For budget I like bsa, I recommend looking around for a used leupold vxl though. By far my favorite mid grade scope but new they're going to cost you a bit more than you're looking to spend(~600). Quality optics can be the difference between getting a deer and not at dawn or dusk. The 4.5-14x56 is what I've got on my 300wsm.
Leupold VX-L Rilfescopes BEST Leupold Rilfe scopes VX-L 50 & 56 MM SCOPE SALE VXL

 

Ive got a bsa deerhunter 3-9x50 on my stevens 223 and it has never let me down. It was only $75 and has taken a ton of abuse.

Also have a bushnell banner 4-12x40 and it has served me very well for 7 years on my AR.

Go with a 30mm tube if you can. Every little bit helps.
Im thinking really hard about goin with a Vortex PST on my next AR build. They start out at about 750 but are suppose to be worth it.

 

What do you guys think about a Nikon Prostaff scope?

 

I've got a bausch and lamb on my 270 that is awesome(for the price) and supposedly nikon bought them out a while back so maybe they're of the same quality. That's about as much as I know about them.

 

Vortex or a lower end Leupold. I like Sightrons, they are a basic, but very high quality scope. But around the 600-1200 range depending on the model.

 

I know a few guys that have the prostaff's but mostly for short range hunting. So no real test of the scope.
I ended up putting a Tasco V/T 2.5-10x44 or 50mm. Cant rem which, on my 270
It works perfect since i dont shoot it past 600yds anymore.
It was cheap too, 52$ from natchezss.com

 

Carry a good flashlight if your worried about low light problems. It solves that problem

 

Cody-my dad has a vx-l on his 30-06. I love that scope, but its a little too rich for my blood. Lol
Nonnie- I will look more into the tasco scopes... the seem reasonably priced for what I will be using it for

 

Vortex seems to make a pretty nice piece as well...