I bought a Barska 4x32 for $29 with mounts for my .22. Seems to be kinda nice. I think you can get away with a cheap scope if it is a fixed power, not as much to go wrong. And if truth be known a fixed 4 or 6 power for a rifle that is to be used under 300 yd. fixed is plenty good. I leave my Leopold 2x8 on 5 power. All shots under 200yd or less.
But what do we all buy, the gadgets, I am sure that pretty soon there will be a computer aided scope that will do everything for you, Is that needed? like those video game hunts.
Hell, I shot a deer on a drive that was on me so fast that when I brought up the rifle all I could see was brown, (5x) just used rifle like a shotgun and it went down, grazed the heart. For drives I now use open sights on My M1, got a double last year (legal here) both under 20yd.