Burris Black Diamond or Signature.

Nikon Monarch.

Good Luck!

Reloader

Take a Leupold or Burris in 3x9. Both are American companies and offer life time warranties to the original buyer. The others are European and getting a replacement or repair could take some time.

I once returned a scope to Burris for some repair work and they sent a new scope free of charge instead of the repaired one. I had it back in less that 10 days time. Can't complain about a company like that.

Mac

When you look at the probable TOTAL cost of the package, $500 is small potatoes. Not having the slightest idea what kinda money he's laying out, that is a guess on my part.
Actually, Western, we're saying the same thing. I think.
He could get a Wally World package deal, scope and all, and still be carrying better than he's apt to see the mongols lugging around.

Now that I have narrowed my choices down between two rifles, I'd like to hear your input on scopes. I've been looking at Kahles, Ziess, Leupold, and Burris. I'd like to keep it around $500-600 or less. Other than that I'm open to all suggestions. The rifle will probably become my go-to rifle, so I'd like a scope that will last. Your past experiences on what has worked well and what has failed would be greatly appreciated. What would you trust on your sheep/goat hunt in the mountains? Thank you for your input.

Sevens, Do yourself a favor as spend the extra money to buy a 13oz Swarovski 3-10 AV. It's a tough, optically excellent scope. Save money somewhere else.....DJ

Uh, not to be too rude, but I think if you are gonna spend, I assume, big bucks to go hunting in Mongolia, to nickel dime around on the price of your scope is false economy.
If you don't want to spring for a Leupold, then a Weaver is next in line in my opinion.
Why don't you do this: buy a vari-x III, use it on your trip and when you get back, take it off and sell it for 75-80% of your purchase price. Then you can go buy the Montgomery Wards house brand.

I use the swarovski 3x10x42 myself on all of my hunting rifles but if my budget was smaller ,I would go with the 3x9x40 ziess conquest.

My son and I have tried just about everything out there at one time or another but have both settled on Burris compact 2X7 and we'll probably stick with them. They get the job done, service is excellent and the price is right. For us anyway, hard to go wrong with that.

I have VX-III's, Vari-X III's,Elite 4000's, Elite 4200's, and a bunch of Swarovski's. If you think that the Leupold's and Bausch and Lombs are good enough to hunt with you are right. If you think that Leupolds and Bausch and Lombs are as good optically as the Swarovski's you are dead wrong. VX-III's and 4200's are good scopes but the Swaro's are great scopes.
I would rather hunt with a less expensive rifle like a Savage (which still shoots great) than a less expensive scope. For the Hunt of a lifetime I would want the best glass possible.........DJ

-An 2.5-10 Elite 4200 is actually heavier than a 30mm tube Swarovski 2.5-10x42 and much heavier than the 3-10x40 AV, check the specs before you make incorrect claims.