In your opinion what is the best 1x4 power or 2x6 power scope for the money?

For the money and assuming recoil in the "heavy" category, the Bushnell Elite 3200 (which was formerly the Bausch & Lomb Elite 3000) 2X6 has good optics and holds up to .454 class recoil. I have several and had good luck with them.

I'd never waste my money on a 1-4X scope....I'd ALWAYS have it set on 4X.

For the 2-6X, I like the Bushnell Trophy scopes, never had a 3200 like stallion mentioned. I have a couple, one is mounted on a 45-70 barrel. After several hundred rounds it holds zero with no problem.

I too like the Bushnell Trophy 2-6x. I think they are good scopes for the money. I have several of them and never any problem with any of them. They are mounted on a 14" 17HMR, 10" 30-30, 10" 44 mag, 15" 7mm-08, and a 7.5" Super Blackhawk. However i did opt for a fixed 2x Burris on my 500 S&W, and 35 Whelen barrels.

Aux contraire. The 1.5 or 1.25 - 4 scopes are some of my favorites. I have Burris, Weaver and Tasco versions and all have performed admirably. The Tasco are no longer made but were underated and cursed by the cheap Tasco name but are fine glass regardless of the money. The Burris and Weaver are fairly similar to each other with the Weaver being least costly. I hunt mostly in the woods and at 1x or so the target comes instantly into view when I bring the gun up with both eyes open, on 4x it is not so much. I also have bigger variables, but don't dis the low powers ;-)

In variable scopes for handguns, my preference is the Bushnell 3200 2x6. I have had excellent experience with them. However, I also have a Trophy on a 30-30 AI that has given me no problems. I do believe that the glass is clearer and the image is sharper with the 3200s.

I haven't used the 1-4x on handguns but I did have a VXII on my 458 Lott. They are a "special purpose" scope for me. The gun was obviously set up to stop the biggest, meanest critters alive in their tracks and for me I found on the lower settings it was just as fast as open sights with the addition of more clarity and the ability to crank up to 4x for shots out to 100-150yds which is about as far as I wanted to push the big 500gr bullets. That being said for a handgun if your looking for value I'd go with a fixed 2x or 4x. The 2x will give you faster target aquisition and is especially nice if your still hunting heavy forest but the 4x will allow you to reach out and touch something a little further. Other things to consider is what are you installing it on, a 2-6 is overkill for a 44mag but great for a 454. The brand issue is a trickier question, basicly my line of thought is the best value is the best scope you can afford, while the trophy and 3200 are good scopes they are not a Burris and a Burris is not a Leupold. I'm a firm believer in buying the best optics you can afford because like most things you get what you pay for.

I would buy the T/C 1.24 x 4 recoil proof scope.

i have used the burris posi lock on a 15in 30-06 encore for sometime now. i really like that scope. i also have a t/c recoil proof on my 460 and luv it. then i have a bushell trophy on my 480 ruger. i was trying to decide what to put on my new ruger super blackhawk hunter. then i came across a burris posilock for 200 bucks made my mind up pretty quick.