+1 on the FX-3 6x42mm fixed just to be part of the conversation & because that's one of the two Leupold scopes I own (the other being a fixed 3x20 Big Bore). But my shooting is mainly in the woods of Arkansas & Mississippi at less than half your 500-yard requirement with a Ruger #1 in .303 British. So take that recommendation with a grain of salt. It works great for me. YMMV
Having said that, your initial choice of a VX5HD 3-15x44 with Firedot Duplex (illuminated) seems like a pretty solid choice especially if you're getting a significant discount. Since I don't take 500-yard shots, I favor lower zoom magnifications on my rifles so I would probably choose the 2-10x42 instead (but that's just me). My 6.5x55 SE has an illuminated Schmidt & Bender 1.5-8x42 Stratos which has been great for my usage.
