Re: Cheap, quality long range scope
Vortex or upper end Bushnell are likely going to meet your needs and price range, depending what application you have in mind. Range doesn't necessarily determine price, but if you're going to be dialing elevation and windage you are going to need a scope with repeatable and durable turrets and that is going to cost more.
You don't need a $1500 to be "adequate" for most applications. I'm running an older $1000 Nikon Tactical on my big game rifle; it's been through multiple elk hunts and never railed me. It gets a decent amount of turrent dialing. My local deer hunting scope, which gets even heavier usage, is a Bushnell 3200 (?) Tactical I got for ~$600. It's a perfectly fine scope and sees quite a bit of turret adjustment.
I'm sure the pricey scopes are quality pieces but most people get along fine without them. The law of diminishing returns starts to kick in big time around the $1K mark.