I would buy a Leupold VX5 3x15x44mm CDS scope. If I hadn't read about the issues with them.
Sounds like your mind is made up, but I have had 3 of these for years and they work great. They have put lots of meat in the freezer and horns on the wall.
Also have 2 of the Vortex Razor LHT 3-15x42 scopes which came out some time after, and I personally think the feature sets of these two models make them the most versatile choices for the hunting I do.
YMMV.
