I went through the same thing a few weeks ago when I was trying to decide on parts for a .300 Blackout. I was taking my $3k JP with a $2k optics setup out in swamps to hunt pigs, and it killed me to smack it into trees! I wanted to go cheap, but still dependable, so I went with a Noveske Rogue Hunter upper on a Seekins lower. Got a deal on both, so I should be all-in at around $1,300 for a pretty nice rig. I ordered a $399 VX-II 1.5-5 with a custom BDC reticle from Leupold that wouldn't have been my top pick, but it should serve its purpose well. So when I'm done, I will hopefully have a pretty killer pig popper that I'm not too worried about beating up for about a third the price of the JP. Not as cheap as I had hoped for, but still not too terribly expensive.