Bushnell makes a great range of scopes using their team’s vast knowledge and experience to provide performance at an affordable price. Users can enjoy the highest quality materials combined with the latest innovative technology.
Sitting around the middle of Bushnell’s range is the Engage which is available in different magnification levels. I’m taking a look at the most powerful being the 6-24x50mm, which is perfectly suited to astute hunters.
So, let’s see exactly what’s on offer and if this scope can maintain Bushnell’s respected reputation in my in-depth Bushnell Engage 6-24x50mm review…
A Bit About Bushnell
Bushnell has been a leader in high-performance sports optics industry for over 65-years. The aim of their team is to provide high-quality, reliable, and affordable sports optics products along with outstanding customer service.
The company was founded by David P. Bushnell in 1948 upon returning to California from his honeymoon in Japan. He had purchased two crates of binoculars and sold them via mail order, and that’s what started it all.
Affordable to middle-class Americans…
This prompted a strategy of importing optics using his patented specifications from manufacturers in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan. Bushnell was then able to provide affordable precision-made binoculars to middle-class Americans.
Eventually, by 1971 the company had expanded into the inclusion of rifle scopes and spotting scopes. The company was then sold to Bausch & Lomb, with the firm renaming itself Bushnell Performance Optics.
From humble beginnings…
Bushnell headquarters are now located in Overland Park, Kansas, USA. Over the years, Bushnell has acquired companies such as Bolle and Serengeti Eyewear, Tasco, and Michaels of Oregon as it continues to expand.
The list of products offered has also grown over the years. Bushnell now provides not only binoculars and scopes, but also microscopes, telescopes, game cameras, night vision devices, and radar guns.
First Impressions
As with all Bushnell products, I expected only the highest quality materials to be used in construction. I wasn’t disappointed either, with the 30mm tube being made from aircraft-grade aluminum.
The Engage 6-24x50mm is also weather-resistant, offering superior performance in rainy and foggy conditions. This is thanks to the IPX-7 water and dust resistance rating, so even if your scope accidentally falls in some mud, it can be washed off without affecting performance.
Can handle the great outdoors…
Any product awarded with an IPX-7 rating must be able to meet certain criteria without having performance affected. It must be able to withstand being submerged in water to a depth of 1-meter for 30-minutes.
Another great quality that any hunter will appreciate is the matte-black finish. This heavily reduces the chance of light being reflected, meaning you’re less likely to be noticed by your intended target.
Of high caliber…
Even big game hunting that requires larger calibers is no problem for the Engage. A generous eye relief of 3.6-inches (9.14-centimeters) will prevent any scope-shaped rings from forming around your eye. Even with the heaviest of recoil.
For added protection and assurance, Bushnell offers a lifetime guarantee on both materials and workmanship. In the very slim chance that there are any issues with your scope, the team will be happy to provide assistance.
Most scopes come with some form of cover or lens caps, usually in the form of a bikini style. A nice touch with the Bushnell Engage is the inclusion of a flip-open objective lens and eyepiece cover for keeping your scope protected when you are not using it.
Compatibility
Even though aircraft-grade aluminum has been used in the construction of the Bushnell Engage 6-24x50mm, it isn’t the lightest scope on the market. It weighs in at about 24-ounces (680-grams), so it’s not exactly overweight either.
The small amount of extra weight can be made up for in other areas anyway. That is why I would recommend using mounting rings rather than rails. Of course, that’s completely your preference; just be prepared for some drop if using a rail.
Medium to long-distance…
This model of the Engage will give you up to 24x magnification, making it excellent for medium to long-distance shooting. There are also some useful features when it comes to elevation, windage, and parallax that I’ll discuss shortly.
The Engage performs best at medium-range distances, but can still provide decent long-range performance. Having a second focal plane reticle does limit capabilities, though, particularly in windy or elevated locations.
Optics
As you’d expect from a company with this level of history and experience, the optics are a massive highlight. Starting with the 50mm objective lens, it provides some of the best light transmission currently available, especially from within this class of scope.
Not only is there a large lens capable of trapping plenty of light, but they also receive some unique lens coatings. One of the coatings is ultra-wideband for increasing light transmission performance even further.
May I please take your coat…
Another of the coatings used is called EXO Barrier. This is a protective coating that prevents any dust, dirt, dew, or any other material from sticking to the lens. Both of these important layers create crisp, sharp, clear, and unaffected vision.
Even though there is no illumination offered by the Engage, it does possess an awesome reticle. Called the “Deploy MOA Reticle,” it has fantastic elevation crosshairs useful for accurate short to medium-range shooting.
Thick hash marks…
Accurate target acquisition is made easier thanks to the many MOA thick hash marks. Even though the hash marks are thicker than most other reticles, the clever design doesn’t block your view of the target.
Because it is also placed within the second focal plane, there are no noticeable changes when zooming in or out. Both tracking and targeting are made simple thanks to a combination of the clear optics and a well-designed reticle.
Range and Magnification
As mentioned earlier, this scope really shines around the medium distances. The majority of hunters will utilize the 6x to 10x magnification range most often, with anything beyond being more suited to target shooting. However, it is still great having that extra reach available, especially for tracking.
On the hunt…
Attached to the correct rifle, along with a suitable ammunition caliber, short-range shooting is also possible. But why would you waste this scope’s potential? The Engage feels most at home when it is mounted on top of a hunting rifle.
Turret Adjustments
Towards the middle of the body is a nice set of elevation, windage, and parallax adjustment turrets. All three are easily adjusted using only your fingers without any tools being needed. They all also have a locking feature for keeping your settings dialed in.
Lockable turrets are yet another great hunting feature, as your settings will remain in place even if accidentally bumped. With the inclusion of an adjustable parallax, this is not only helpful for adjusting your target, but also for range estimation.
Making a move…
To be honest, there are turrets out there that are more tactile and responsive, but the Engage is certainly above average. Each click made using the turrets provides 0.125 MOA of movement, allowing for accurate and precise adjustments.
Markings on both the elevation and windage turrets are clear and easily viewed from behind the scope. Numbers are large and simple to identify along with etched hash lines, so you always know exactly which setting you have selected.
Bushnell Engage 6-24x50mm Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fantastic light transmission for scope class.
- Multi-coated lenses for both protection and anti-glare.
- Awesome Deploy MOA reticle for precise and accurate targeting.
- Lockable and finger adjustable turrets, including elevation, windage, and parallax.
- Fog, water, and dust resistant with an IPX-7 resistance rating.
- Generous eye relief of 3.6-inches (9.14-centimeters).
Cons
- Slightly heavier than other scopes in its class.
- Turrets are not as tactical in their movement as other competitors.
- Some other scopes in this range offer illumination.
- Long-range shooting is more suited to targets rather than hunting.
Looking for More Quality Scope Options from Bushnell?
Then check out my in-depth review of the Bushnell Banner 3-9×40 Rifle Scope.
Or how about our reviews of the Best 308 Rifles Scopes, Best Rimfire Scopes, the Best Mil Dot Scopes, the Best Scopes for AR15 under 100 Dollars, the Best Mini 14 Ranch Rifles, the Best Scout Scopes, the Best Air Rifle Scopes, the Best Deer Hunting Scopes, or the Best 300 Win Mag Scopes you can buy in 2023.
Conclusion
I can safely confirm that the Bushnell Engage 6-24x50mm is everything I’ve come to expect from such a proven and reputable company. While some other scopes might offer some slightly fancier features, the Engage performs best where it really counts.
Both the optics and reticle are absolutely fantastic, with superior clarity and light transmission. Having a trusted lifetime warranty also inspires confidence in mounting this scope to your favorite hunting rifle.
I’m happy to report that the Bushnell reputation remains firmly intact and look forward to their future innovations and products.
Happy and safe shooting.
