doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com please set me straight on Winchester Xtended

Can these be shot in older doubles such as an SKB without messing up the barrels. I've heard yes, I've heard no. Also, assuming they are safe in an SKB, would that make them acceptable for a classic gun such as a Fox/Parker etc. FWIW, as I recall from years ago, they are harder then lead, but not as hard as steel or Hevi-shot. So where does one draw the line??

PS. I'm not talking a truck load here, I'm thinking for possibly turkey hunting where you might shoot two or three in a season.

I'd stick with lead or bismuth.

Tut, the Winchester website indicates that its high density shot, used in the Xtended line, is "softer than most shotgun barrels and chokes". With that guidance, I'd say you'd be OK with an SKB, although maybe nothing tighter than mod because it likely patterns like steel. The problem with a Fox or Parker would be the same issue as with most any modern ammo in a "classic" double: even if the shot is soft enough for the barrels, could there be an issue of excess pressure? With a classic double, I'd go with something like TM from Gamebore, in loads designed for short-chambered guns, or RST's Nice Shot loads.

Thanks Larry. The one gun in question is a redone Parker VH 30" on a Number 2 frame that tips the scales at almost 8 lbs. When the gun was redone the Smith (A fellow in Ga who is well known on the Parker site) used 2 3/4" mag Winchester loads (1 5/8 oz) as proof loads (actually sent the empty's to me). The chambers are 2 3/4" already. Anyway, I told him I was a turkey hunter and asked if I could shoot an occasional turkey load through the gun and he said yep, a few wouldn't hurt anything. Armed with that knowledge, I've probably shot 5 turkey loads through it since then.

Since I had a box of older Winchester Xtended shells (2 3/4" size 6) from my duck hunting forays, I decided to shoot a shot through the Parker at a measured 35 yards and had 130 hits within a 10" circle. Pretty amazing. I took that parker with me last year in Nebraska as a back up gun to a Benelli SBE (quite a tricked out gun). Unfortunately in the heat of battle with a Nebraska Tom, I got too close to the scope mounted on the SBE and got bit hard (blood, glasses broke etc).

Because I was now quite afraid of the SBE I dug out the backup Parker VH and proceeded to shoot the following at a measure 11 paces and frankly thought it was pretty exciting.





Now, I've killed a few turkey's and I think out west if I was paying for a guided hunt, I'd probably stick with the SBE (I moved the scope much further forward), but for around Va. where I really know the territory, and I'm not limited to a 3 day hunt and spending money etc. I'd like to carry the Parker a lot, because frankly it floats my boat.

I know I can use the lay of the land here to make the Parker work pretty well and I think a 35 yard shot is pretty obtainable. The Parker is choked mod/full btw.

PS. My other option is to go full bore native and just dig out some old paper lead loads and see what the old Parker will do. Interestingly, I've got a full box of Paper lead loads from Remington, that are honest to goodness 1 1/2 oz of number 4's which I would certainly use, but I don't want to break up a full box just to shoot a couple at turks.

PS. Decision's decisions. Thanks for the advice.

I emailed winchester and remington about this stuff a few years ago--my Remington extended choke tube said "for lead shot only", so I asked both of them whether I could shoot it through a lead-shot gun. Winchester said it was significantly harder than lead, but softer than steel or hevishot. Remington said no, I could not shoot anything but lead through my lead-only tube. Since it's a $200 shotgun and an extended choke tube, I figured 2 shells per year through it wouldn't hurt, and I haven't looked back. I also experienced significantly longer range than lead with this stuff, but have not compared to the other hevi-type stuff.
I probably would not shoot it through a parker though--it is hard stuff, and I don't know that any Parker qualifies as "most guns" to a modern ammo company.

Edit--if you can stick to a 35 yard shot, then why bother with the expensive designer turkey ammo and risk damaging your nice old gun?

Good point. I guess the old range estimation issue comes in. I'm frankly not that good in figuring out what's 30 and frankly what's 40 when I've got a hot bird fired up trying to assault my position. It just happens and I'd like to allow for operator error. You are indeed correct in that if I could/would only shoot at 35 yards I could probably kill a gobbler with lots of different loads.

Tut, it might be interesting to pattern that gun with some lead loads. You can certainly work up 1 1/4 oz loads at reasonable pressures.

I'm gonna take it out next week and shoot some of my older lighter lead 1 1/4 oz loads and see what she will do. I'll post a report afterwords.

My Parker turkey load is 1-1/4 oz. #5s @ around 1200 fps. Pressure is only around 6800 psi. I feel comfortable with them out to 35 yds, but no more. I enjoy the challenge of calling in close with no decoys, so it's part of the fun for me.

I'm guessing(?) you were shooting 3-1/2" mags in the SBE? That gun is murder with 3-1/2" 2oz. lead loads. Guaranteed to knock your glasses off your head, even with no scope. It is just brutal. The pattern tests I did with it proved to me that the 3-1/2" shell holds no advantage for a turkey hunter. Patterns are no more dense than a 3" shell, but they do spread out wider. I suppose the shot column is just too long to stay together any better than a 3" load. I got about the same number of hits in the head on the target. I can see where the 3-1/2" shell could be an advantage for a duck hunter, especially with steel shot, but for turkeys the only thing it will do is punish you more (and not the turkey). The 3" shell is much more tolerable in the SBE, and still gives max performance.

Yep, I was shooting the Winchester Xtended in 3.5" in size 6. First shot I rolled the Tom at 45 yards (he spooked at my B-mobile when he got that close in). Thinking he was down for the count, I leisurely got off the ground and then bingo he was gone and running. My second hurried shot resulted in broken glasses and a monster bleeding cut where I had quickly thrown up the gun and not paid any attention to the scope. Anyway, the turkey escaped and I spent the next 20 minutes on my hand and knee's looking for the len's of my glasses. That particular round is a 120 hit in a 10" circle at 40 yard out of the SBE. But, in this case, the gobbler must have been turned at enough of an angle that I just didn't put enough in the head to put him down. FWIW, I think 3.5" for ducks/geese is overkill as the shot string it too long. However, for turkey's I think whatever shoots best shoots best. Out of the ton's of ammo I've tried out of the SBE, the Xtended shoots best. That said, I've never spent the funds on Nitro's before. Here's a pic of the SBE in her turkey clothes.