“winchester ammo”

Editorial Director John Zent and Development Manager Tom Rickwalder were in Canadian, Texas, with Winchester Ammo last month for a "R&D" outing, testing a new load that's still in the development process. Early indications are that the developmental load—due for release in January, 2015—will be great shakes for deer hunters. Mt. Hide Outfitters did a fine job putting the hunters on deer on this north Texas ranch.

As we've mentioned a few times before, 2016 marks the 150th Anniversary for the cumulative Winchester brands. As you might expect, commemorative product releases are coming—some have already dropped, like the 150th Anniversary Model 73 we saw at SHOT Show 2016. Next up on the list is Winchester Ammo's recently announced custom-built, collectible cartridge-firearm boards. There will be five in all.

To celebrate Winchester's 150th anniversary, we've assembled 10 facts about the company's long history that may surprise you.

In this, its 150th year in business, the history of Winchester firearms is well known. After all, “The gun that won the west” was a Winchester, the Model 1873. The Winchester Model 70 is known as the “Rifleman’s Rifle” and the Model 1894 is perhaps the most successful sporting rifle in history. The company also shook up the scattergun market with classic shotguns like the Model 1897, Model 21 and Model 12. The raw truth, however, is that none of these guns could have made their mark in history without ammo to shoot out of them. It’s kind of the red-headed stepchild in terms of glory and glamor, but Winchester has been in the ammo business as long as they have been in the gun business.

As we sit on what amounts to the doorstep of the 2015 spring turkey season, large portions of the country either covered in snow, in the path of an oncoming storm, or both. Among a great many other things, harsh winter weather doesn't make it easy for a hunter to pattern their turkey load of choice.

Quiet, lethal and suppressor-friendly, there’s a lot to love about Hornady’s new Subsonic .30-30 load. It’s great for game species of every size at close ranges and features a Sub-X bullet that delivers reliable expansion and solid bullet construction.

The Winchester brand has had no shortage of new surprises for its consumers—like the new Varmint X shotshell—but, as SHOT Show 2016 kicks into high gear, the company will also begin a year-long celebration. Oliver F. Winchester introduced his now legendary brand to the world in 1866—and so, in 2016, Winchester celebrates 150 years of success.

Hornady has added the classic .348 Winchester to its popular LEVERevolution line, using the 200-grain FTX bullet. With its proprietary Flex-Tip meplat, the FTX bullet is perfectly safe to use in the tubular magazine of the Model 71—and many other lever guns—yet offers the downrange benefit of a spitzer bullet.

New for 2017, Winchester has enhanced their ammunition line by including the fantastic Nosler AccuBond Long Range bullet in the Expedition Big Game series.