What is "not break the bank" mean to you? It would be more helpful to provide a budget.
I just spent a little time this morning behind my new VX-5hd and honestly it was not that bad. The elevation turret is substantially better than the CDS dial that comes on the vx 3's but I did not really care for the wind plex reticle as I prefer to have thinner cross hairs, the windage dial could be improved for sure but over all not al that bad. I would not call it my ideal long range scope but it is functional.
I've been looking at the VX 5HD, you like the zero lock function? How much adjustment do you get in elevation total? It looks like it's only two turns?