You stated your max budget, now figure out the features to go along with it. Then pick the scope that has those features within your price range.
Now for an opinion, skip it if you don't want mine as it has little advice on a scope and goes against the grain:
Personally I may have told you to put a little money towards sending your Leupold in to have turrets put on it and spend the rest on taking a reputable long range class. A good shooting .270 is more than capable of 450-600 yards. Learn to shoot what you have and once your capabilities exceed the limitations of your equipment, you upgrade equipment. Also, If you do not have a good rangefinder I suggest you get one.
This is all dependent on your stated intent of increasing your range/confidence on deer on your property. If competition is gonna be your new venture then I may recant my statement...maybe. And unless your particular discipline of competition requires a .308, you didn't need it. Nothing wrong with a .308, we shoot them to 800 for weeks straight and well past that regularly. I would never, however, advise someone to spend money on anything to teach them to miss. You can do that with any rifle.
Now for an opinion, skip it if you don't want mine as it has little advice on a scope and goes against the grain:
Personally I may have told you to put a little money towards sending your Leupold in to have turrets put on it and spend the rest on taking a reputable long range class. A good shooting .270 is more than capable of 450-600 yards. Learn to shoot what you have and once your capabilities exceed the limitations of your equipment, you upgrade equipment. Also, If you do not have a good rangefinder I suggest you get one.
This is all dependent on your stated intent of increasing your range/confidence on deer on your property. If competition is gonna be your new venture then I may recant my statement...maybe. And unless your particular discipline of competition requires a .308, you didn't need it. Nothing wrong with a .308, we shoot them to 800 for weeks straight and well past that regularly. I would never, however, advise someone to spend money on anything to teach them to miss. You can do that with any rifle.