The original Zeiss Conquest 3-9X40 that was made by Meopta and sold under 2-3 different names is my all-time favorite scope. The Zeiss and Meopta branded scopes initially sold for around $500-$550. Cabela's carried them for a while as the Instinct scope, but when they discontinued them, they sold for around $250. I ended up with 4 of them. One with Zeiss badging, the other 3 with Cabela's. Those turn up occasionally and I'd highly recommend them.

The Burris FF-II is my 2nd favorite scope. A 3-9X40 is currently around $160 in most places. Normally I'd be skeptical of something that cheap, but IMO that is a better scope than any Leupold VX3 or lower and selling for $500. I have no experience with the high end Leupold's.

Both of those are around 13 or 15 oz. A little over your weight requirement, but worth the few ounces IMO.

Most people don't really want the truth.

They just want constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth.