Thanks,Bill!

I like the VX3's. Every scope is a compromise in some way. One may have great glass but weigh twice as much as another with glass nearly as good. Some exhibit tunnel vision,some have very thin reticles. Leupolds are a good all around compromise in a hunting scope.

Nightforce,meopta,zeiss

Nightforce is notorious for many things but brightness isn't one of them.

Under $700 and illuminated is difficult. I think you can probably get a much better scope that it NOT illuminated for the money in that price range. i.e. something with a reticle like a German #4 in the first focal plane.

I don't even really think you need an illuminated reticle personally and I don't even really like them that much. Just something else to tear up or go bad and have to send the scope for repair. Heaven forbid it went south while you were out of state hunting on an expensive trip, etc. No thanks. I tend to pass that feature right on the the closest Mall Ninja that can shoot 1k in the dark. Those guys are easy to find these days.

So if you've just got to have it... I'd probably look at Trijicon.

I have never really had an issue shooting a deer in a low light on plots without illumination and within reason. As well as within legal shooting hours. I don't think the best scope in the world will help you in the woods. You just can't get the contrast needed regardless of whether you've got a red dot lit up.

Most of the ILL reticles work just fine without the ILL.

4x160x50 Vortex Viper PST with ill. reticles are 600-700 dollars and are GREAT low light scopes!

Eurooptic has Meopta meostar r1 3x10x50 scopes on sale for $699 to your door. Can't beat that