You can’t afford the best of the best scopes but you don’t want a junk scope either.
This is what the mid-range market is for.
The Bushnell Engage series caters specifically to the middle ground.
Those who want more from their scope without having to spend an arm and a leg will find that the Engage 4-16x44 will satisfy their demands.
With a few perks worthy of mention, solid scope performance, and a modest price point, the Engage scope is worth scoping out.
Quick Overview...
What We Like: Engage series
What We Don’t Like: Limited travel
Best Uses: Big Game Hunting, Small Game Hunting, Varmint Hunting, Target Shooting, Scouting, Close to Mid-Range, Light to Heavy Caliber Rifles
- Magnification: 4-16x
- Objective Diameter: 44mm
- Coatings: FMC
- FOV: 28-7 ft/100 yds
- Eye Relief: 3.6”
- Adjustments: ¼ MOA
- Dimensions: 14”/20.1 oz
Our Verdict: There’s no denying that hunters and shooters like a little tactical flair to their gear. The Engage series is all about entertaining those demands. With the Deploy MOA reticle, side focus, and locking turrets, the scope is ready to be put to use. With a solid body, good optics, and accurate turrets, it has the makings of a quality scope to get sure-fire results on a bull’s-eye or animal while sticking to a budget.
Who is the Bushnell Engage 4-16X44 Best Suited to?
Really anyone who is looking for a flexible reticle with an MOA/MOA system with high power for all types of shooting applications will feel at home with the Engage scope.
It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles but that’s why the Engage series is more affordable than the Forge series. However, it does have enough perks and extras that sets it above the Prime series – and BTW, we love the Prime scope!
For a mid-range product with a mid-range price point, the Bushnell Engage keeps you within budget while also making sure you get the features you want and need.
How Does the Bushnell Engage 4-16X44 Perform?
The Engage scope has everything a no-fuss hunter and shooter wants with some flexibility to dial in for longer shots as well as an accommodation for tactical-like flair. From the reticle to the side focus and exposed, locking turrets – the Engage has tactical style all the way but is still every bit suitable for the avid hunter.
The Bushnell scope is appropriately priced given its features. It’s not the best long-range scope since it’s somewhat limited in adjustment travel, but you can get set up for longer than 400-yard shots. The versatile reticle isn’t caliber specific, so you can use it with any caliber you want. You’ll need to run some ballistic stats for accurate precision.
The scope is tough, weatherproof, and long at 14”. But it has good weight specs and size for long rifles. Great for all-purpose platforms, the Engage is ready to be put through the ringer and rake in results.
Features & Benefits
Engage Series
Bushnell may be a giant in the optics industry, but they’ve also had their fair share of duds that have kept many potential buyers at arm’s length. However, over the last five years or so, Bushnell has done an overhaul of product quality, or at least it seems to be that way since they’ve introduced many series of scopes that have redeemed the brand. One such series is the Engage. It’s a mid-range, affordable line of optics with tactical style.
The Engage 4-16x44 is one of the newest scopes to hit the shelves and is proving to be a more than decent mid-range performer for hunters and target shooters. Think of it as a competing alternative to the Vortex Diamondback series – both have great performance, low cost, and simple operation with quality at its core.
Deploy MOA Reticle
The Engage scope has Bushnell’s Deploy MOA reticle. It features hashmarks every 1 and 5 MOA for fast referencing of elevation and windage holdovers. Taking this scope out for some mid to long-range target shooting may very well be in your future.
The crosshairs are 0.18 MOA thick, so they’re thin enough for visibility without them overwhelming the target at any given distance. You have 20 MOA of windage on both sides of the windage crosshair, 30 MOA of drop on the elevation crosshair, and 5 MOA above the crosshair center.
The reticle is non-illuminated, in the second focal plane, and must be used at max power for BDC accuracy.
Locking Turrets
Whenever you have tactical, exposed turrets, a locking mechanism is no longer a luxury but a must-have feature. The Engage features tool-less locking elevation and windage turrets. The turrets themselves have 15 MOA of travel per rotation, and while it doesn’t have a zero stop, you can zero reset the turrets with what Bushnell calls a jeweler’s screwdriver. Something to note here is that the turrets are not referenced to indicate what revolution you’re on. You can make your own markings if you so desire.
The turrets click positively, not necessarily very crisply and there has been minor complaint about them not being exactly centered. To lock them in place, it’s the push/pull mechanism. Simply pull up to make adjustments and push down to lock.
Good Scope Features
Considering that this is a modestly-priced scope, it’s awesome to see additional features such as the locking turrets. But you should also notice that the Engage rifle scope has a 30 mm tube with 50 MOA of travel in elevation and windage.
While it’s not high-end enough to have Bushnell’s ED Prime glass, it does have extra perks that includes their proprietary EXO Barrier external glass treatment for scratch, oil, dust, and grime-proof protection. It also features Bushnell’s Ultra-Wide Band Coating treatment that every glass element is treated with to improve light transmission for color fidelity, brightness, and clarity.
Additionally, to have a scope with over 10x power, it must have something to account for focus and parallax. The Engage has a third turret/side focus that starts at 10 yards and is adjustable to infinity.
It’s IPX7 rated for both water and fog-proof protection, so it’s ready for the field whether you’re hunting in the snow or rain showers.
Limitations
Limited Travel
The Engage offers only 50 MOA for a 30 mm tube scope. This is somewhat limited, but you can stretch that if you have a 20 MOA base. Getting out to long-range, like 1000 yards with a .308, will require some modification but can be doable.
For such high magnification, it is deserving of putting it through the ringer for more, but it’s definitely best suited for close to mid-range distances.
Popular Questions
The Engage scope is made in China according to Bushnell specs.
The Deploy MOA reticle on the Engage rifle scope is in the second focal plane. For accurate holdovers, the scope must be at max power (16x).
This could be a legit concern for those hunting in thick brush or dense woods as the thin crosshairs could be lost against the background. With no illumination, it may be difficult to employ in these conditions.
While the Deploy MOA reticle is often used for precision work, it can be used appropriately for hunting when taking into consideration the hunting conditions and environment.
The Engage scope is covered under Bushnell’s Ironclad Warranty. It’s owner transferable, covered for a lifetime (30 years), and no proof of purchase or registration is required.
Conclusion
The Engage scope is a welcome unit to the mid-range market. It offers both hunters and marksmen the opportunity to employ a scope that is appropriate for both hunting and precision work.
The scope doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that it could have to kick up the price, but it has good perks that attract those who want a little more out of their scope without overpaying for it.
For tactical personalities that want a multi-purpose scope, the Engage will prove to be an asset.
Further Reading
