If your're willing to give up the side focus, you could go into a Weaver Grand Slam 6x20x40 for $335 plus shipping. It's a little more, but this is a VERY good scope. I had $400 to spend, and was thinking Leupold. I called SWFA, and they convinced me that the GS was a better value, so I got one. I have not regretted it since, and put that scope on my most accurate rifle, a Savage 12BVSS in .22-250. EVERYONE who owns a Leupy at my range who's looked through my GS has been very impressed. To be honest, I think this scope looks better than any Vari X 3 I've ever seen.
Anyway, I'm a broken record with the Grand Slam, but it's a phenomenam buy, as far as I'm concerned.
It's as clear as it can be at 6x and 20x...it's got a quick focus knob, which is great for us old geezers with glasses. Very precise clicks on the windage/elevation adjustments, and no perceptibale changes in POI through the magnification band. ( I didn't do them all, but I did do 6 9 12 and 20.)
I've got a Buckmaster 4.5x14x40...I don't notice any problems at 14x, but that's not usually an issue in scopes 'til you get to a higher magnification, in my experience.
Call the folks at SWFA and ask them about the Grand Slam...that should calm any fears you have about the scope.