I've heard good things about Pentax and Vortex. I think they are around that $150 dollar range. Some of the lower end Simmons scopes are better than their cost.
I figure with a .223 the most damaging thing to your scope will probably be incidental drops or dings from bouncing it off stuff.
I wouldn't over look the Bushnell Banners is you can see through them well they seem to work well enough for hunting. I wouldn't suggest them for a long range competition or something.
