I have recently purchased a Sako AV in 338 Win. The rifles main purpose will be for African Plains Game but will also use it for basically all my other hunting in NA and elsewhere where a 375 or 500 would be overkill. I am looking for a scope that will be the best fit. I was looking pretty closely at the Zeiss Conquest series but have reconsidered since reading about problems with them on this board. This rifle will be my Leopard rifle as well so want something with a good sized objective for low light but not so large as to require high mounts. I was thinking 40mm or close to it. An illuminated reticle would be nice but not a deal breaker. I would want a variable with a low mag of around 2 and a high mag of around 10 as I would like it to be usable in the thick scrub as well as more open shots up to 350 yards or so. I will rarely take shots this far but want to have the range just in case. My budget would be approximately 1000.

The Leupold LPS caught my eye but they are pretty heavy at 17.2oz and have been told the optics aren't on the level of the premium Euro optics. I do like the fact that it comes in 2.5-10 variable but this one has a 45mm objective which may require high mounts. I have been told that Kahles are very good but have no experience with them. The price of Dr Optic are very attractive but also don't have experience with them.

If price were not a concern I would really like to get the Swaro PV-N 2.5-10X42 as they are pretty much exactly what I am looking for, but at roughly 1800 buck they are almost twice what I would like to spend. I guess the first time I cannot take a shot or botch a shot as a result of not having top quality optics that extra 800 will seem pretty cheap but it is still a hard pill to swallow.

Should I just save for the Swaro's or is there an option out there that will serve my needs just as well? Thanks in advance.