Getting the most out of a shotgun requires a perfect marriage of the firearm itself, its fit to the shooter, a substantial practice regimen and, of course, a shotshell/choke combo that optimizes the pattern delivered on target. So, no shotgun purchase is complete without adding shotshells and chokes tailor made for the customer’s hunting needs — a dynamic duo that squeezes every bit of efficiency and accuracy from that scattergun. Same goes for sporting clays and competition shooting. And it’s up to you, the hunting retailer, to see that every customer gets a proper education on how these important components will help them gain maximum potential from their new firearm purchase — or when they are looking for an ammo upgrade for Old Reliable. Whether it’s for hunting waterfowl or upland birds, busting clays in the backyard or shooting sporting clays at the local gun range, it’s important to stock those items that complete the shotgun purchase — and that means in addition to quality guns, keeping a wide selection of shotshells and chokes on hand to fit a variety of uses. Not only will your customers exit your shop or click off your website armed to the teeth, but your business will benefit by squeezing extra dollars from the sale. Here’s an assortment of shotshells that will get your scattergun patrons started down the path to putting more birds in the bag and ringing up higher scores in skeet, trap or sporting clays.
Apex Waterfowl TSS/S3 Steel Blend
Apex Ammunition’s Tungsten Super Shot (TSS), TSS/S3 Steel Blend ($54.99/Box of 25) delivers tight-patterning, hard-hitting, non-toxic performance. It combines ¼-ounce of 18.1 g/cc TSS shot with S3 Steel, which helps saturate the pattern and puts more pellets on target — knocking ducks and geese dead on impact at short, mid and long ranges. These devastating “duplex” loads combine Nos. 9 or 7.5 Tungsten Super Shot with various shot sizes of Apex’s S3 zinc-plated steel shot. Apex S3 Steel features perfectly uniform pellets for optimum patterning in a steel load, and when combined with ultra-high-density TSS, helps deliver a harder hitting payload and improved terminal performance to reduce crippling. Available in 12- and 20-gauge. www.apexmunition.com
Baschieri & Pellagri USA Dual Steel
B&P Dual Steel 12-Gauge Shotshell Loads ($24.99/Box of 25) utilize a combination of two overlapping layers of pellets of different sizes to provide optimal performance. This use of steel and plated steel allows users to obtain consistent shot patterns and devastating terminal results, even at long distances. Equipped with a Green Core wad, this load is specially designed to protect the barrel and guarantees high performance in varying climatic conditions. Dual Steel is available in 3-inch, 12-gauge No. 2 and No. 3 shot, in 1 1/8- and 1¼-ounce payloads with a muzzle velocity of 1,425 fps.
Browning BXD Upland
BXD Upland Extra Distance Shotshell Ammunition from Browning ($31.99/3-inch 12-gauge/Box of 25) launches premium-plated shot at high velocities to achieve premium in-the-field performance. Nickel-plating helps keep shot round, resulting in high velocity retention and energy transfer as well as tighter downrange patterns and deep penetration and effective kills. BXD Upland is available in 20-, 16- and 12-gauge options. The high-velocity 3-inch No. 5 12-gauge offering leaves the barrel at 1,350 fps, which reduces lead and allows for maximum downrange energy. www.browningammo.com
Federal Prairie Storm Bismuth Blend
Hunters who need a non-lead upland shotshell option that doesn’t sacrifice performance can fill their hunting vest with Federal Ammunition’s new Prairie Storm Bismuth Blend ($41.99-$47.99/Box of 25). These loads build off Prairie Storm’s proven formula of the FliteControl Flex wad and Premium steel shot, with the added performance boost of Hevi-Bismuth pellets alloyed and cast in Sweet Home, Oregon. Making up 30% of the payload, the 9.6 g/cc Hevi-Bismuth pellets are nearly as dense as lead, retaining more energy and velocity at longer ranges. The new product line is initially available in six 12- and 20-gauge 2 3/4- and 3-inch load options. www.federalpremium.com
Hevi-Shot Hevi-Bismuth
Hevi-Bismuth from Hevi-Shot ($62.99-$115.99/Box of 25) is safe for classic shotguns but is also a powerful hunting load for use in any modern shotgun, with a gauge and charge weight for every wing shooter using .410-bore to 10-gauge shotshells. These loads are 22% denser than steel, which allows shooters to drop down a shot size for the same lethality as steel, and they feature 100% non-toxic bismuth pellets at 9.64 g/cc density — soft shot that makes them safe for all shotguns. Hevi-Bismuth hits hard like lead with more downrange energy for clean kills and less wounding. www.hevishot.com
Remington Premier Bismuth
An all-season load for waterfowl and upland bird hunts, Remington non-toxic Premier Bismuth Shotshells ($62.99-$76.99/Box of 25) are loaded with deadly Hevi-Bismuth — 9.64 g/cc density — delivering more retained energy than steel — 22% denser and 44% more downrange energy. Alloyed and cased in the USA, Premier Bismuth is loaded with top-tier Remington components and is just as lethal in the marsh hunting waterfowl as it is chasing corn field pheasants, and it’s safe to shoot in vintage shotguns. Available in 12-, 16-, 20- and 28-gauge and .410 bore. www.remington.com
Rio Outdoors Royal Pheasant
Upland hunting is dynamic and unpredictable, and opportunities for the perfect shot unfold fast. What is needed is effective ammo with tight, consistent patterning and unyielding stopping power. Rio Outdoors engineered its Royal Pheasant Shotshells ($26.99/28-gauge/Box of 25) specifically for upland game based on over 125 years of experience and research. The copper-plated shot resists deformation, allowing for better range and penetration, thus getting the most out of every shot. Single-base powders deliver an unequaled level of consistency and reliability regardless of the weather. Royal Pheasant is available in a variety of payloads and velocities in 12-, 20- and 28-gauge. www.rioammo.com
Winchester Bismuth 28-Gauge
Winchester Ammunition has announced the expansion of its 28-gauge line of shotshells for upland and waterfowl hunting with a Bismuth 3-inch No. 5 1-ounce offering ($62.99/Bismuth; $35.99/Super Pheasant; $26.99/XPert Pheasant/Box of 25). The growing demand for sub-gauge hunting loads is an exciting prospect because it provides a softer-recoil option for those hunters who might have avoided hunting and sport shooting due to the higher recoil of 12- and 20-gauge shotguns. Winchester is committed to offering innovative shotshell products for every hunting and sport shooting situation. New 28-gauge shotshells from Winchester, with increased payloads, are also offered in Winchester Xpert Steel and Super Pheasant lines. www.winchester.com
