I've been looking for a relatively lightweight ~$1,000 to $1250 optic in the same mag range as you specified for a while, and haven't found anything yet that I like better than the 2.5-15 Credo HX. Its MSRP might be $1,300, but it's been available from EuroOptic for around $875 for months. Like Blackdog317, I really like the lower magnification limit of 2.5 times for field use. The more I use it the more impressed I am with it. The turret's clicks are probably the least distinct compared to the PST Gen 2 4-16, NXS 3.5-15, and ATACR 4-16s, but they're certainly not mushy. I've only taken it out to 780 yards so far, on 2/3 IPSC steel, but it tracked perfectly and the glass is quite good, roughly equivalent to the NXS. Its RTZ design can be annoying if you need to go below it's set point, but once it's set on a rifle it works well.
The NXS has been around for a really long time, but its still a really good optic. The turrets are very nice, but they only offer 10 MOA per revolution. This may be considered a con to some, but the widely spaced clicks make it very easy to dial up by feel. The antiquated illumination won't be a negative aspect to you. iI's hardly considered a light weight option, but durability is unquestionable.
I haven't touched them yet, but I plan to when I come across an SHV or Razor HD LHT.
If my optic budget can reach $2,000 and a bit of extra weight (and immediate purchase isn't needed), I'll go straight to a demo ATACR.
