I'm looking for something in the seemingly empty chasm between an NcStar doorstopper and an ACOG worth more than the car I drive. I'm looking for something good for varmint hunting, but the terrain around me dictates that I won't be taking any shots longer than 200-300 yards. Here's what I'm looking for:

Around 4x Magnification
Holds Zero on standard 5.56 loads
Compact/Lightweight (if I was going to put a full-size scope on the thing, I'd have just picked up a Leupold Rifleman and been done with it)
Budget is around 200-300 bucks

I'm nearly totally colorblind, so red-dots and reflex sights really don't work for me. I need something with a reticle of some sort.

Burris TAC 30.

Link

Burris TAC30 1-4, Leatherwood CMR 1-4, Leupold Mark AR 1.5-4, Nikon M223 1-4. The Burris and Leatherwood have a reticle that is visible sans illumination. The Nikon and Leupold are non-illuminated scopes.

329 dollars will get you a 1-4 Leupold Mark AR from SWFA, with a mount.

Are you including a mount in the $200-300?

No, just the optics. I have several mounts already, and there are other options out there as well. It's good to be a machinist :-D

Either get a Tac30 for $300 minus midway discount code, or get a Leatherwood CMR, which is $300.00 (minus $25.00 mail in coupon) with a ssalt mount package at swfa (sell the mount on the EE and it'll come out even cheaper).  I went with the CMR because I liked the reticle better, but I've handled the Tac30, and it seems to be built pretty well too.  From everyone I've heard, the Tac30's reticle is brighter, however the design does not go well with flip caps (which I find convenient).