Under a $1000 budget, and you don't have a military affiliation to get a discount, I'd probably get a Nightforce SHV, or the Meopta. I have a Meopta ZD 6-24 and it is a Rockstar.
If you have a military affiliation, I'd buy a Leupold Mark 6 5-25 and stretch a bit.
If not, I'd recommend the 6-24 Meopta ZD, if you can find one in mil/mil or moa/moa variants. I have one of the transexual ones and while I am happy with it, that factor is a pain in the ass when I want to use the reticle.
At the $1000 dollar price point, I'd steer clear of Leupold and Vortex. Another $500-1000 and they are up there with anything but the Alphas (Swarovski, high end Minox, Schmidt Bender, Zeiss, Hendsolt).