In fact, optics are one of the best examples of "you get what you pay for" and "TANSTAAFL" (there ain't no such thing as a free lunch).

First, there really are NO "good" solutions for mounting a magnified scope on an AR carryhandle except for the ACOGs.  If you really want to mount a magnified optic, you'll really do yourself a favor if you switch to a flattop upper.

And as for scopes: most of us have bought cheap scopes before, and most of those scopes are now taking up space in a landfill somewhere, and we now only buy quality scopes, because we learned the hard way that any money you spend on a cheap scope and mounts is really just adding to the price that you'll pay for the replacement scope and mounts that you'll eventually understand that you need.

You may think you're happy with a cheap scope, but one day your groups will start going crazy, because the reticule is loose in the scope, or you'll take a shot and the scope will instantly be clouded over, because the seals came loose.

None of us likes to spend huge sums of money for a single optic, and if there were good scopes available for $100, we'd all have them.  We don't, because there aren't.

-Troy