Just purchased a howa 1500 to start shooting out to 500 yards. Looking at glass for it, think I've narrowed down to these two vortex models. Anyone have experience with either and have a recommendation?

Strike Eagle 4-24x50 with ebr4-moa

Or

PST Gen II 3-15x44 with EBR-7c MOA

I don't think you'd go wrong with either of those, but I'd think about going MRAD on the reticles instead of MOA.  MRAD tends to be more versatile once you learn how to use it.

I like the idea of a low magnification to start at in the 3-4x range. Upper magnification for me is negotiable depending on the scopes clarity and usefulness at higher magnifications. I'm new to this game so I'm always open to ideas. The 5-25x56 mrad is looking like a good deal especially with the first responder discount.

If it helps with suggestions this will be on a 6.5 creedmor, still deciding if I'll need a 0 or 20moa pic rail

20moa base it is. EGW and Talley seem to have good reputations, pair one with a set of vortex rings and I should be good to start shooting?

And that last part makes sense, have the extra magnification, no reason not to.

And I'll ask this question now, ring height suggestion?

If you mean the discount via govx be aware that you might have an excessively long wait for your order.  
The price you get will be, at most, marginally better than good online deals.  
I got a PST online for less than the govx mil discount price because I got a version with a discontinued reticle.  

I spoke with somebody at vortex about the wait issue, they said it's out of their hands because govx is effectively an independent contractor that many companies use to manage their discount programs.  They said they were working on their own system to get away from govx, but that was well over a year ago.  

Leupold and CZ are the only mil discounts I use now - they manage both of them themselves and have no delays in filling orders.  Their discount prices are also amazing since there is no overhead added to their prices by govx.  

As for the scope choice, I love my gen 2 PST and would recommend it in a heartbeat.  

Unfortunately budget had to come down due to other things. So throwing a PA 4-14x44 on it for now to at least get shooting. Hopefully soon she can get some real glass.

Thank you for all the suggestions

I stopped at Scheels yesterday and looked through a Diamondback tactical. I ended up buying a demo version from eurooptic. $340 shipped. For my uses, which I’m guessing will never see beyond 600 yards, I think it will work just one.