.....not looking to break the bank......just looking for range use at 300-500 yds.

What do you want to do with it at the range? If you are looking to spot .30 or smaller bullet holes at 300 yards, you are on the edge of asking for a LOT.

Of course, the kind of target, the light in which you are using it (glare, direction your range faces, time of day, mirage, etc.) all come into play.

As a general rule, I've seen a lot of cheapo spotting scopes used at our range during my years as Chief Range Master and would have to say that the ones which have served our members best for the least money seem to have been the Bushnell 50m/m versions of about 20-X.

HOWEVER, because here are so many variables which contribute to or detract from what folks see through optics, they are a lot like women. Different ones appeal to different people, pretty much all legitimately.

While I do not know what your financial definition of inexpensive is, I would caution you that you probably should stay away from the very lowest priced ones you run across. A little extra money up front may save a lot more money down the road a way.

Thanks AC.....actually I posted this query for my good bud.....I'll wait for his response to your question.

It takes an excellent glass to spot .22 cal. holes in black at just 200 yards.

If you shoot at a range much the spotter should be the best you can stand to buy. It will go to the range on every trip just like a rest. Few of your rifles or rifle scopes will make so many trips to the range.

Look at the Vortex range.
I use a Sandpiper(now discontinued)that makes discerning .243 holes easy at 200 yds. I can see the 1" grid lines on the target at that distance. You should be able to find a used one for $150.

look at the minox 15-30x50

There's a scope test by Sarge on "sniper country" that's quite a few years old. He did a real world test on 5 units that were under $500.

I think Sarge is a Kowa dealer.

The Bushnell Spacemaster still gets high marks.

Go to EBAY and if not there already usually one shows up soon--get A Bausch&Lomb 15x-60x made in Rochester New York--very clear and very tough. They made military binoculars during WW2 and before that survived the war--now old enough for social security and still ticking.

For the money, Burris and Kowa are very good. I have both. My Burris is for range use; the Kowa is light-weight and compact for backpack hunts. I really like Leica or Zeiss for binos (never had Swaros, but I suspect they are great too), but for scopes, I hesitate to invest what those manufacturers command given my needs and what I will put them through.

Just re-read your post. If you want a scope to pick up bullet holes at 300-500 yards; unless you have someone in the pits pulling and marking your targets, you are going to be sorely disappointed -- I don't think it exists, at least not at a cost any mere mortal could afford.

Thanks for all the input gents.

Try a Celestron C90. You will be very surprised. And delighted.