Winchester Adds 20-Gauge Offering to Long Beard XR Lineup

by
posted on December 19, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
long_beard_20_gauge.jpg

Winchester Ammunition has announced that, at long last, it will be offering its popular Long Beard XR turkey loads in 20-gauge. Featuring the company's patented Shot-Lok technology, Long Beard XR delivers more power and tighter loads, and will now be readily available to hunters who favor smaller gauge shotguns.

The new 20-gauge Long Beard XR will come in a 3-inch shell loaded with either No. 5 or No. 6 shot. It will come 10 rounds to a box.

Not familiar with Shot-Lok? The gist is that it utilizes a proprietary resin, which eliminates air space between the lead pellets. As such, they don't smash into one another as the powder ignites, preserving integrity and largely eliminating fliers. It does wonder for preserving tight patterns at longer ranges.

“Long Beard XR has changed the game for turkey hunters across the United States, and now those hunters who use the smaller, lighter 20-gauge can enjoy the same extended range benefits,” said Matt Campbell, Winchester Ammunition vice president of marketing and sales.

Shot-Lok resin, which was award the 2016 American Hunter Golden Bullseye Award for Ammunition Product of the Year, first hit the market in Winchester's original 12-gauge Long Beard XR offering. It was later applied to upland loads and predator shells in the form of Rooster XR and Varmint X, respectively.

Long Beard XR-specific aftermarket choke tubes are already on the way, for the record, courtesy Carlson's Choke Tubes.

For more information, go to Winchester.com.

Latest

Ammo Family Lead Photo
Ammo Family Lead Photo

Cartridge Legacies: The .308 Winchester Family Tree

I suppose it is fair to say that if you want to find the true legacy of a cartridge, you could look to its offspring and the successes and/or failures of the family. Let’s look at the .308 Winchester’s family tree, at the instant successes, and those children which have lagged behind over the years.

New for 2026: Primary Arms Optics PLx Compact 1.5-12x36

Primary Arms Optics has released its PLx Compact 1.5-12x36mm FFP RDB, the latest addition to its PLx Compact lineup. The optic pairs Japanese ED glass with a 1.5-12x magnification range and Red Dot Bright diffractive reticle technology, all on a 30mm chassis that measures 9.75 inches long and weighs 19.67 ounces.

Hardware Review: Springfield Model 2020 Boundary

Looking for an accurate bolt action that can tackle just about any sort of terrain? Look no further than the Model 2020 Boundary, from Springfield. Check out David Herman's Hardware Review of the gun here.

New for 2026: MDT HNT Fixed Buttstock and LSS Gen3 Hunting Forend

MDT has released two carbon-fiber components for hunters running XTN-interface chassis systems: the HNT Fixed Buttstock and the LSS GEN3 Hunting Forend.

Gear Roundup: Tech Savvy Hunting

Looking for the latest in high-tech shooting and hunting gear? Look no further, for some of the most cutting-edge equipment sure to make your next range or field session a breeze.

Updated for 2026: Taurus Judge

It's hard to believe it's been 20 years since Taurus launched its now legendary Judge revolver, which quickly became ubiquitous at hunting camps nationwide. Now, two decades later, the legend returns with upgraded looks and updated features.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.