Just put the paperwork in for my license today. While I'm waiting, I may as well search for my first. I originally had ~$2000 but the safe, carry case and paperwork reduced that to a mere $1,000 cash. I am wanting to bench rest target shoot at 25 & 50. 100 is out of my capabilities for now.
The local shop put me onto a Marlin XT22 and suggested mounting a 3-9x40 scope for that money as they had nothing used in stock. At $300 for the Marlin and another $300 for a Burris 3-9x40 Fullfield II.
I looked at a Brisbane range online and they stated a higher I should want a higher variable zoom and the next level up, in that shop, was a Burris 4.5-14x42 Fullfield E1.
That's a middle-high price range for the shop ($685) but it would suit my needs as a target shooter. There are 2 problems with that. I need a base and rings. I don't know what to get and what size rings to accommodate the scope.