“shot lok technology”

When American Hunter announced its 2016 Golden Bullseye honorees late last year, it did indeed name products in 10 categories that met or exceeded those standards. One of the standouts—and a seasonably relevant one, too—was the 2016 Ammo of the Year: Winchester’s Shot-Lok.

Meet our 2016 Ammunition Product of the Year, Winchester's Shot-Lok technology.

When Winchester first released its popular Varmint X line of ammunition, the engineers were going for something fast and flat with minimal recoil. What wasn't offered in the original Varmint X line, though, was ammunition for those who prefer to deploy their favorite scattergun against feral hogs, coyotes and other predators. That's changing in 2016, as Winchester has officially announced a new 12-gauge shotshell addition to the Varmint X line.

Winchester has announced its new Xtended Range Bismuth shotshells—and it's not just a waterfowl load. It works perfectly as a turkey load, and even as an upland bird load in those areas where the use of lead shot is prohibited.

Winchester's popular Long Beard XR is finally available in a 20 gauge—and it exceeds expectations.

The American Hunter staff hunts. Plain and simple. And like all hunters, we put faith in the gear we use to get into the mountains, to hike all day and to venture into freezing waters and push through driving rain. We expect our gear to do what it was made to do, to hold up to the beating we give it, time and time again. This collection is a reflection of that. First up: the upland hunter.