I am looking to get an optic for my Bushmaster 20" A2. I am working at getting a flat top rifle but probably won't be able to for several months. I have got pretty decent with irons but I want to try optic work too. I want a scope optic though, not a red dot sight.

So I need to get some sort of either 1.) mount to put a scope onto. Or 2.) a scope with a mount built in. I am going to use the scope for everything from plinking to maybe some varmint hunting. I need a good scope/scope mount but I would like to keep it under $75.

I was looking at the cheap NcStar optics that mount directly to the carry handle but I don't know what kind of quality they are. If they are decent quality then I think they would be great for my use. The only thing I didn't like was that the one I saw was a fixed 4X power. I don't know if I would need anything over 4X though.

I was also thinking about getting a scope mount to put on the carry handle and then go to a local sporting goods store and pick up a cheap hunting rifle scope or just take one off of one of my hunting rifles that I don't use much. I don't know how well that setup would work with an AR though.

Please let me know what you think. Thanks in advance.