who knows about Alpen Optics scopes?

I've got an opportunity to purchase, at a great discount, one item from their catalog. I'm in need of a good rifle scope to mount on my Tikka T3 in .270WSM, on which I have now a low-end Tasco 3x9. Yes, a $25 scope on a $700 (when I purchased it) gun. I had the first scope (Simmons) fail me and I had to replace it at the last moment, so I went with the Tasco. It didn't give me problems last season, but I really want a Nikon or equivalent on it.

Here's the dilemma. I don't know anything about Alpen, other than they supposedly make excellent spotting scopes and binoculars. I could definitely use a spotting scope for the range and scouting, though I hadn't put one on my wish list. It seems their riflescopes are an after-thought. Has anyone on here ever heard of Alpen riflescopes? Ever mount one and hunt with it?

Are their spotting scopes worth passing on a $420, 4-16x50 riflescope for $175? I know suggested retail is always overblown, but I have to purchase it through them to get the discount, so that's the price. As far as I know, it could be the perfect scope for my rifle.  Or, I could get their 18-36x60 spotter kit for around $110 to save alot of time and walking at the range, and hold out 'til next year to get a Nikon on the gun. That way, I could still blame the scope if I miss.

Any knowledge is appreciated.

Those would be great choices if I had a 60% off coupon for those, like I do for Alpen Optics.

I hunt for meat that I have a tag for.  I bought the rifle in that caliber so I could hunt pretty much any big game animal in North America, with the exceptions of Polar and Grizzley bears. 

Basically what I want to know is am I going to be satisfied with a top of the line Alpen riflescope?  They are fairly well known for the spotters, but I can't get any feedback on the shooters.  At this point, I'm leaning toward buying the spotter kit, and crossing my fingers that the Tasco doesn't fail me until I can afford to replace it with the Nikon I really want.

Would you buy a Pacer or AMC Gremlin with a 60% off coupon?

I asked a few friends that shoot a lot and they never herd of it.

I looked on ebay and most Alpen scopes sold for $22-$50

Here are the 4-16X50 for $275
http://sporting-goods.search.ebay.com/Alpen-4-16_Rifle-Scopes_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfromZR10QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ1QQsacatZ31714QQsacqyZQQsacqyopZgeQQsaprchiZQQsaprcloZQQsatitleZAlpenQ204Q2d16Q2a

Thanks guys.

Check:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/subcategory/subcategory-index.jsp.7_A&_DAV=&returnPage=&rid=&returnQueryString=&navAction=push&navCount=0&parentId=&id=cat602252&cmCat=MainCatcat21404-cat602257

http://www.opticsplanet.net/riflescopes.html

http://www.natchezss.com/

All have great sales.