I don't really count the cheapo NCstar scope I wasted money on as my first scope because I haven't even used it yet but I went scope shopping today and it didn't end up like I expected or hoped. I started low looking through different optics of different price ranges. $160, $200, $250, $300, $330 ect... Every damn piece of glass I looked through was blurry and distorted. Even though a lot of them seemed well made with good positive turrets and everything, the glass was blurry enough that I couldn't justify spending the money on it when I found that the fast focus piece didn't fix the picture. I began to get pretty frustrated. My eyes aren't the greatest I was borderline pretty much full on diabetic for a few months a few years ago and I think my eyesight took a bit of a beating from it. I started to think that maybe my eyes can't handle anything other than a fine red dot. I decided to try a scope that was quite a bit above the price range I wanted to pay, I don't exactly make a ton of money, but I tried a couple of Vortex scopes and I could actually see a clean, clear world through the thing. The two I was looking at was the Strike Eagle 1-6x24 and the Crossfire II 1-4x24. Both looked identical and without the bell. I was quite impressed although I didn't want to spend quite that much I did because it seemed like the only solution at that point for my prematurely damaged eyesight so I chose the Crossfire II 1-4x24. Now I need to buy some damn 30mm rings. I hope this thing treats me well. I hear good things about this brand so I'm confident I made a decent selection. It came to $436 after taxes. I had to let my eyes decide for me. It seems shopping for glass is a bit more difficult without really good eyesight.