As an avid whitetail hunter...I can tell you I would rather have good glass on a marginal gun vs the opposite. 1.5moa will kill deer just at dead as my custom rigs but doesn't help if you can't get on them.

The better coatings really help you pick up the target when pointing towards a setting / rising sun. Marginal glass will give you nothing but washout. I've taken the shot or handed my gun over because their old redfield / tasco / bushnell was not able to pick up the critter.

I personally like a little more magnification (the nf 5.5-25x50 is very nice) for stand hunting so I can zoom in and look for details on the antlers and to help judge age, etc. You will quickly learn to turn the power back down once you miss the yote or pig that trots across at close tange.

The 2-10 is a great compromise for all around as is a 4-14. I will admit south tx deer hunting is a bit different than the rest of the country & get a variety of shooting.

~My long range doe gun is a 7.21 Firebird w/ an 8-32NF sighted in at 400yds

~Main gun is a 280AI with a 6.5-20 leupy.

~Rattling gun is 257 Roberts with a 2.5-8 Leupy