The reason I looked at that scope is because across a few different sites (opticsplanet, amazon, midway) it had a number of good reviews. The few bad reviews got a lemon, which the factory replaced). It's also a little more compact than the ave. rifle scope with a decent sized objective. I'll have to look over Midway at Redfields. Maybe pick one up for my .17, was originally looking at Vx-II's for that but if Redfields are similar maybe I can save a few bucks.
I did do some research though. OpticsPlanet has the most reviews, so far it's at a 4.6/5 from a little over 40 reviews. Got a "Best Product Rating" award on the site (for w.e. that's worth). I do believe you can get some very usable products for under the flashy price tag of the high-end brands but I also dont expect it to be the exact same thing. I may get something more pricey later, depending how this works, kinda figuring out what works on this type of rifle.
It's your gun, and you can put whatever you like on it. But i've been shooting for a long time, and i've never had a Leapers scope last. I've tried many, many cheap scopes and red dots. Most had "good reviews" on line. The problem is that you put on that cheap glass, fire a few rounds, and you're thrilled that your $50 scope is so good. You might even put a few reviews online.. Then, 6 months later, it won't hold zero, and the reticle is rotating in the tube. Do you go back and remove or edit all of those reviews?
I'm not a gear snob, but i'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for". I have a Leupold VX1 on one rifle, and have had it on there for years. I've beat the crap out of that scope through years of hunting and shooting, and it's still working fine. The downside is how much it cost. IIRC, it was mid $300s, which isn't Swarovski money, but isn't cheap. I got turned on to Redfield about a year ago while talking to a dealer I trust. Like I said before, same glass, same warranty, and same factory as Leupold, but about $150 less. I have a Redfield 2-7x on another rifle, and i'm blown away by how good it is. It was $189 with an unlimited lifetime warranty, and made in the US.
Every time I go to the range, I see guys that have $1000 ar's, and a $50 NCStar scope. %90 of the time, they aren't shooting, they're ******* around with a scope that won't hold zero, or rings that won't stay tight, or stripped screws, or QD mounts that drift, etc. I always wonder, would these people buy a Ferrari, and put spinner hub caps on it? Spending a ton of money doesn't guarantee good results, but buying cheap will usually result in the opposite.
If you like, i'll meet you at a range, and you can try out my glass..