I will admit I bought into the Winchester Long Beard hype and purchased some 3.5 inch #5's. I will admit that they seem to be as good as the chatter about them. However, here in Iowa we can shoot at best two spring birds and one fall bird. A total of three shells spent in a best case scenario. Now I see Winchester has pheasant load that is much like the Long Beards. $22 for 15 shells. If you are a serious upland hunter that is going to cost a ton of coin for shells. For those of us who shoot a lot of birds that is. I currently and have been shooting the Federal Wing Shock for the last 12-13 years. They are getting up in price but I can still find them for $16/box/25. Not to mention they are 200fps faster. Attached is the Cabelas link for them. What are your thoughts.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/winchester-174-rooster-xr-long-range-ammunition/1920495.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dwinchester%252Brooster%26x%3D10%26y%3D6%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%252BProducts&Ntt=winchester+rooster#BVQAWidgetID
Might make a good reduced recoil tky load.
I have only shot them through turkey chokes and they shoot tight patterns . Might be good as a late season or wild flushing birds or as a second or third shot ? Just in case of missing the first :(Or second :toothy12: wouldn't be so good on a close rise if you like to eat them! Don't know how the would act out of improved or modified ?