Looking for a SIMPLE minimalist 3-9, recommendations?

[rking453]

The Leupold 3 - 9 is going to come in around 12 - 13oz depending on exact version, for a set and forget, you would be hard pressed to find anything close.

I have several, last one was a VX-III 1.75 - 6 x 32mm, I think it was 10.9oz, dandy little scope.

That does sound like a great scope! One of my favorite scopes is a Leupold VX-II 1.5-5X20, mounted on a .358 Win. It is a fantastic combo for hunting thick public land brush most folks look past so they can sit over a big field.