Apologies if this doesn't exactly fit this subreddit, but I figured y'all in here would probably have the most knowledge vs other subs when it comes to glass.
I have a PTR-91 that currently has a crappy $200 4-14x scope mounted. I'm looking to replace it with something in either the 2-12 or 2-10 magnification range, as I think a lower bottom-end magnification would suite the rifle better in the role I'd like to use it in, which is almost a DMR-style rifle looking to make hits on torso sized targets out to ideally 500 or so, a little farther if possible. It's about a 2 MOA gun so I'm not expecting to be printing the worlds best groups out at any sort of distance, but 500 seems reasonably doable. I am considering putting an LPVO on it, but the drop from its current scope's max magnification of 14x down to an LPVO's 8x (or 10x at best) seems like it would be a not insignificant downgrade. I have also heard from people who shoot far more than me that the view thru an LPVO at higher magnification is significantly worse than the view thru a similarly priced optic with a higher base magnification.
Since I'm looking at getting a new optic for the rifle, I figured I'd try to solve another issue, which is that when you have a long scope mounted on an HK style roller delayed gun like the PTR-91, the scope can get in the way of the cocking lever when you try to lock the bolt to the rear or release the bolt when it's locked to the rear. Right now, the scope is too long (at 13.5 inches long), and it barely allows me to lock the bolt to the rear. Also, to unlock it I have to reach under the scope's objective bell with my support side thumb to press the lever down and let the bolt close, which is a pain.
So I've begun the search for a new optic, preferably something in the 2-10/12 magnification range, with as short of a scope body as possible, preferably around the 500-700$ range, preferably FFP.
Currently I've found:
Athlon Helos BTR Gen II 2-12x42 (11.8 inches long. This scope seems like it checks all the boxes, and if it was an inch or so shorter it would be a no brainer. Reticle is good, locking turrets, FFP, good price point. I'm just worried taking off only 1.7 inches from my current scope wouldn't give me enough clearance to operate the cocking lever easily.)
Discovery Optics HD 2-12x24 (8.5 inches long, which is great, but for 200$ there's no way this isn't an airsoft scope right? I'm worried it will be fragile, and even if the rifle isn't dropped I'm worried the .308 recoil would kill it. If someone has a positive experience with this scope on a gun chambered in a full power rifle cartridge let me know, but I'd rather not buy something and break it the first time I take it to the range.)
Sig Tango DMR 2-12x42 (10.8 inches long, which I think would put it firmly out of the way of the cocking lever, but I can't swing $1000 on a scope right now, especially for a rifle that I ultimately only own for fun. If this was $600 or so this would be a strong contender I think. Some reviews online of other Sig scopes have expressed some distrust in Sig optics but I am nowhere near experienced enough with them to have my own opinion either way.)
If I can't find something else I'm going to get the Athlon, but if someone knows of a scope that I haven't been able to find that has comparable features and price point to the Athlon but with the size (<11in long) of the Sig or Discovery optic, that would be perfect!