[lefteye]

If you only hunt in a dense pine forest, then a low fixed power scope such as a 2X or 2.5X would be OK. My preference for virtually all hunting is a variable, either a 2X-7X (on my .243) or a 2.5X-8X (on my .270, 7mm, and .300 Mag). The quality of optics, both scopes and binoculars, varies directly with the price, i.e., almost without exception, the highest price is the highest quality and the lowest price is the lowest quality. I think Leupold Vari-X III scopes are a decent value - not cheap but not the most costly. If I had your rifle I'd put a Leupold VX3 2.5X-8X on it for about $400 plus the cost of rings and bases. Leupold, like most manufacturers, offers cheaper scopes and more expensive scopes.