Sabre, This topic has been discussed here quite extensively so you can look back or do a search and get some great advice.  But, here's my nickles worth. You can get some pretty fair scopes for under $400 and some great scopes for $850-$1000 or you can go full bore and spend $2500-$3000 for one of the big 3 European models.  I used to have a Nikon ED 82 with a widefield 30X lens which was a fantastic scope for the money when compared to the European models.  I notice you mentioned LR shooting and that's where the 30X widefield shines.  You can watch about 5-6 targets at the same time and may see other shooters get in trouble without seeing a change and stop your shooter from firing until you figure out what just happened.
Notice, that I said used to own and here's the only rub on that scope and probably the rest of them as well.  I shot at the World Creedmoor championships last year at Lodi, and in order to make the team, you have to coach yourself without a spotter.  I could not roll into my scope fast enough after the shot to be able to see the impact because of its shorter eye relief.  If you think that you're going to shoot in a match where you need to spot for yourself, then there is only one scope that I am aware of that will work.  It's a Kowa with the extended eye relief.  I now have a new angled Kowa 77 with a 25X extended eye relief.  You could find a great deal on them about 6 months ago from a couple of different places.  Bob

I dont know what your criteria are, but spotting a .22 ca hole at 200 yds is challenging for most scope regardless of price. Before you buy a new scope, take a target with .22 cal holes in it to a place that sells scopes, put it up at about 200 yds and compare.  I suggest you try the Burris Landmark with 80mm lens. That scope sells for under $250 and you can almost always see a .22 cal hole at 200 yds. In my opinion, the best buy for the money. I have the Nikon 80mm scope which is also very good but double the price, and two friends of mine have the Landmark and I cant tell the difference. The only drawback for the Landmark was its lenght, too long for my shooting box. I hope this helps, Joe S

I have 4 spotters and used other peoples high dollar scopes as well as the big 100 MM Unertil team scopes while in the service here is my "Internet expert" advice 

Variables sell well but don't work worth a darn unless they are real good.  In the less expensive scopes go with a fixed power and a "balanced" power.  50mm not over 20x . Try you Nikon on lowest setting it will make a significant difference, but that variable set of lens is stealing light no matter how you set the scope.

High end my compact fixed power 50 mm 25 X Leopold works for me and fits in my shooting bag, Never let me down with 32 cal holes at 200 yards. Friend has the same scope in 20x and it resolves better than my 25.  Almost as good is an old Bushnell 20x 50 mm.  Recently bought a 40mm20x Bushnell off Ebay for 35 bucks. It' real good for 100 yard work. Balanced not too much eyepiece for the objective lens size. If it was a 16x would be even better.

Other end have a English draw tube scope about 25x perhaps just post WWII.  If the light is good and it's well supported it works very well. fails miserably when there is too much glare or not enough light.

Size not a factor and performance vs price none better than a Kowa with large objective lens and 27x long eye relief eyepiece.  82 is just a bet better than the older 77mm's.  If you realy want to see a good picture try a rig that has two of the Kowa's mounted side by side for binocular vision. Many silhouette shooters are using them other than the 100 mm Unertil have never seen a better picture than they provide.

The bad news is  spotting .22 holes at 200 yards is dependent on ambient conditions, the absolute best will not resolve the holes if conditions are difficult.

Last piece of advice is to get a rock solid tripod, thats worth a whole lot in resolution at long range. Often times I will tie my offhand single rod stand to the shooting house to stiffen it up. Tripods have  laid sandbags on to add weight. 

Boats

Blindeye those little Leopolds grow on you. I know there are better scopes out there but always come back to it due size and performance . Plus I have walked up and down the line trying everybody's when conditions get bad and even the best give up at times.  Difference in all the good ones is marginal. None of the bad ones are very good when light is difficult.  I would see better with a big Kowa no doubt but not a lot better.

Also agree with you on Silhouette depth of field is real important, those aluminum plate rigs that mount two scopes side by side with fine alignment adjustment are the way to go. If I could only find another Leopold like mine would get one for sure.

However I was at the smallbore Silhouette nationals one time. Leopold had a display including the new variable that replaced our fixed scopes focused on the 100 M rams.   Old guy drags a beat up Unertil 24x63 MM and said if he could find a better scope would buy it on the spot.

You can guess the outcome, the Leopold rep did not like the fact he left it set up for all to compare at all. Problem with the new leopold's is the variable. Why they build them that way I will never know. Problem with the Unertils they sell for high dollar. I backed out of an Ebay bid last year at 800 bucks. It was a nice one with all the eyepieces

Boats