Leupold is good and reliable and I have no complaints except for price point. For the same dollar figure there are better quality optics out there. For example in the mid range price line of $300 -$500, you will get better optics with the Bushnell Elite line, Zeiss Conquest or even the newer kid on the block, Minox ZA series. But if I had a price limit of $500 to spend on a scope, it would be the Zeiss Conquest, hands down. Under $300 would be a Bushnell Elite and if skys the limit, a Swaro or Kahles.
The one good thing is that the quality of hunting optics has come a long way and one does not have to sell the farm to put a good reliable scope on their weapon of choice.
One tip for the beginner though, is do not put all your money into that rifle. It doesn't matter how good of a tack driver that rifle is, if you can't see what you are aiming at or your shot never hits the same place twice, you will have a very frustrating hunting season.
Spend what you can afford on your scope and don't forget that also means buying good quality mounts. If you have $600 to spend on a package, try to balance it out. Don't spend $500 on the gun and $100 on the scope and mounts. You will be setting yourself up for disappointment. A 50/50 rule works pretty good and will balance out your rig quite nicely.
Remember, you can always tweak your rifle to shoot better with load development, trigger adjustment, bedding, etc, but there is nothing you can do to tweak a scope that won't hold its zero, fogs up or is hazy at sunset.