Leupold VX IIs will lead most of the lists you get.
The Nikons, upper end Bushnell's, Burris, Weaver, etc. will all be up there too.
It must be noted, though, that there are thousands and thousands of Bushnell $19.99 "package" scopes out there that have been killing deer for years and years, and will continue to do so. I'm not promoting them, and don't use them. Just stating the obvious. They serve their purpose, and that is to get hunters on a very tight budget out in the field, and that is an important role for the hunting sport's health.
In the mid-80s, while just starting a family and being pretty much broke most of the time, I bought a new Tasco Wolrd Class 3x9x40 and put it on my only hunting rifle at the time, an 03A3 30-06 my Dad built. That rifle/scope combo has killed more deer than I can count, and the scope still sits on that rifle. No reason to change it in my eyes. think I paid maybe 69 or 79 bucks at the time.
I've had good luck with the Simmons Aetec. I also currently own 2 Sightrons, a Nikon, a couple of Leupold VX IIIs.
Folks will quickly begin to start picking my scope selections apart, and that's OK. I think there is a certain amount of "cork sniffery" going on when it comes to scopes.
I have the lower and middle ranges of the scope world covered. Are the Leupolds the "best" scopes in my line up? I would have to say yes. They are a little bit clearer and adjustments track very, very well. Do they put my bullets any closer to the target for me? That's debatable. At almost 3X the cost of the Nikons, Sightrons, or Aetecs I have, do they put my bullets 3X closer on target or are they 3X clearer, or do they gather 3X as much light in low-light conditions? No.
