Vortex Optics Strike Eagle 1-8x24 Rifle Scope AR-BDC3 Illuminated Reticle - $399.99

This is hands down one of the best Budget LPVOs on the market. Good glass, 110ft of FOV at 100 yards, 17oz, great reticle, daylight bright illumination, and has taken all of the abuse that I have thrown at it. I have I have used it for 1000s of rounds of 5.56, close to 1000 rounds of .308, and some 7.62x39. The reticle is one of my favorites, very fast up close with the halfish horseshoe of death with a precise center dot and a simple BDC with wind holds out to 600 yards with a ranging feature for human sized targets. The BDC lines up good enough for first round impacts at 550 yards with 77graim SMK out of my 18.5" ACR and 16" AR15. Eye-box is very forgiving on 1x but does tighten up on its way to 8x, the turrets aren't great but they are set and forget so you don't have to use them very much at all. The added gen 2 throw lever is also quite nice, I applied some thread locker to it before installation and it hasn't moved since. Overall if you can find it with a mount for under $400 it's probably the best optic in that range.