Winchester Adds TSS to Star-Studded Waterfowl Lineup
Last Call Promises to Round Out a Stellar Roster of Waterfowl Loads
Already known for its all-star team of waterfowl loads, Winchester added an exciting newcomer for this fall. Last Call is a TSS load that offers unbelievable performance where success is a requirement, not a hope. “We launched Last Call in early September and are really excited about this new choice for waterfowlers,” said Jimmy Wilson, Product Manager for Winchester Ammunition. “It’s the perfect complement to the other loads that serious hunters have embraced for years.”
For those not familiar with TSS, the acronym stands for “Tungsten Super Shot”, a tungsten alloy that is over 50% more dense than lead. “This allows us to load smaller pellets (shot size), which retain energy and velocity better than larger shot at longer ranges and, because of the smaller shot you can load more pellets into the same hull,” Wilson said. “This results in more effective and humane kills at longer ranges than any load we’ve offered to date.”
Of course, the incredible performance of tungsten comes at a price, and Winchester continues to offer loads for hunters on a budget. “Our opening price point offering continues to be the Winchester Xpert loads, which are offered in a variety of options and feature a cast steel shot,” Wilson said. “ The pellets pattern very well and downrange energy nearly matches our premium loads. For the serious hunter who shoots a lot, and is serious about killing ducks, but doesn’t want to spend a ton of money, it’s tough to beat the Xpert lineup.“
Veteran waterfowlers no doubt recognize Winchester’s popular Drylok line of precision-ground, plated-steel shot. “Because of the rounder shot, you get fewer flyers and the loads pattern slightly better than the Xpert loads,” Wilson notes. “The rounder pellets also result in more energy and increased downrange killing power. But the features that really stand out with Drylok is the corrosion resistant plated-steel shot and sealed wad and primer. The double-seal wad system and the lacquered primer work together to create a shotshell that’s virtually waterproof. We actually received a video from a customer who dropped his shotgun in the water and wasn’t able to retrieve it until weeks later. The gun was loaded with Drylok shells and when he cleared the barrel and pulled the trigger, the gun fired. Pretty amazing.”
Next up in the Winchester lineup is the popular Blind Side 2, which combines the water resistant qualities of Drylok with enhanced downrange performance, according to Wilson. “Blind Side 2 features hex-shaped pellets that start out shaped like Drylok shot, but then are flattened on the sides, which results in a ‘stacked’ configuration in the wad,” he said. “When stacked, the pellets take up less space in the shell, which allows room for more powder to gain higher velocity and energy. The high velocity hex shot offers greater terminal performance than standard round shot because the flat-sides deposit energy more like a deforming lead pellet would deposit energy. Combine this improved terminal performance with the same water-resistant design and components of the Drylok shells, and you have a very premium waterfowl load. Finally, because Blind Side2 now uses the Drylok shot wad, it’s compatible with every choke tube on the market.”
The final star in the Winchester waterfowl lineup is the popular Bismuth load, which now comes in a 15-round box, new for 2024. “Bismuth is 20% more dense than steel, which allows us to load a greater number of smaller pellets and achieve the same velocities as we see in larger shot sizes,” Wilson said. “The added benefit of Bismuth is we achieve better downrange energy than we get with larger steel shot. Another premium feature of Winchester’s 12 gauge and 20 gauge Bismuth loads is buffering, which results in increased pattern density, according to Wilson. “Bismuth is actually a brittle material and buffering helps prevent the pellets in the bottom of the shot column from fracturing. The pattern improves because nearly all pellets remain intact and flying downrange to your target. Buffering does most of the work in pattern performance, but we take it one step further by using precision round bismuth shot to ensure these loads deliver the best performance.”
With waterfowl season in full swing, hunters–from the most serious guides and veterans to true beginners and weekend warriors–can find the perfect shells for their needs in the Winchester lineup.
To find a dealer in your area, visit the dealer locator on Winchester.com.
