Winchester Unveils Long Beard XR Turkey Load

by
posted on September 19, 2013
** 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. **

Winchester Ammunition has announced the arrival of a potentially revolutionary new turkey load, with the unveiling of Long Beard XR.

Designed to provide increased lethality at longer ranges than other turkey loads, Long Beard XR is driven by the company's new Shot-Lok Technology. An innovative new design, Shot-Lok produces twice the pellets in a 10" circle out to 60 yards compared to traditional lead loads—giving Long Beard XR the knockdown power of popular heavier-than-lead loads at a fraction of the cost.

A hardened resin that completely encapsulates the lead pellets, Shot-Lok eliminates air space around the pellet load, preventing movement and nearly eliminating pellet deformation. As the shot is charged, the resin fractures, forming a micro-buffer as the shot pattern leaves the gun barrel. The end result is pellets that remain round and fly straighter and tighter, providing for a more consistent payload and plenty of knockdown power—at longer ranges than most turkey hunters will be used to.

"Long Beard XR is the most innovative turkey load ever developed in the history of Winchester and our engineers continue to raise the bar every year with new products across many categories,” said Brett Flaugher, vice president of sales, marketing and strategy for Winchester Ammunition. “We are very excited to get this product in the hands of the millions of turkey hunters across North America … they will immediately recognize a difference in performance.”

Advantages of New Shot-Lok Technology:
• Protects shot during in-bore acceleration
• Shot launches from barrel near perfectly round for extremely tight long-range patterns
• Twice the number of pellets in a 10” circle out to 60 yards
• 10 percent greater penetration over standard lead loads beyond 50 yards
• Devastating terminal on-target performances

Long Beard XR will be available in the following specifications:

For more information Long Beard XR, or any other Winchester product, go to Winchester.com.

Latest

SHOT LEDE
SHOT LEDE

Wildest Hunting Finds of SHOT 2026

This year's SHOT Show was a reminder that creativity and innovation within the hunting world are alive and well. Here are ten items that caused us to take a double-take whilst walking the show floor.

Hot from SHOT: Best Whitetail Gear for 2026

With the new year comes a wave of newly released hunting gear aimed at giving hunters the edge afield. From cozier tree stands, easy-to-pack bags, feed, blinds, and more, manufacturers have sought every imaginable way to help hunters become more successful on their hunts. Read on as we take a closer look at what caught our eye.

AH Hunts: Late Season Alberta Geese Pt. 2

With some birds on the ground, Jon and Brad take a second to discuss the size of late-season Alberta honkers, before diving into the guns that brought them down. Check out part 2 of Senior Executive Editor Jon Draper and American Hunter contributor Brad Fenson's late-season Alberta honker hunt here.

Hardware Review: Hornady Backcountry Defense

A casual hike, a quick trip to grab firewood or a morning spent chasing trout all carry the potential of encountering a furry threat that might want to remind you that you are no longer at the top of the hierarchy.

Ruger Announces American Rifle Generation II Scout Models

Ruger ups the ante in 2026, delivering a newly crafted Scout rifle under its increasingly popular American Gen II line.

New for 2026: Hawke Optics Vantage IR 1-4x20mm in Mossy Oak Bottomland

Purpose-built to give turkey hunters fast target acquisition, precise shot placement and a camo pattern that blends seamlessly into the Spring woods, Hawke's latest LVPO is designed to impress.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.