Winchester SX3 Long Beard 20 Gauge Carlson's Longbeard XR

[Reddog1966]

Hey Folks,
  New guy here....I have been cruising through these forums for a while now.  I thought I would join the ranks and share my testing.

This morning in Ga it was about 50 degrees, overcast and misting rain.  We put a pop-up tent over the bench and started shooting.  My goal today was to sight in my red dot, get a pattern test at 20/40yds and test TSS penetration on a piece of metal at 40yds. 

Range-20 and 40yds were verified with a laser range finder
Firearm-Winchester SX3 Long Beard 20 gauge
Chokes- Carlson's Long Beard XR .568" and the Briley Factory Choke .570" according to a Briley Customer Service Rep
Optic- Burris Fastfire iii
Ammo-Federal TSS #7 and Winchester Long Beard XR #6 for metal penetration test only.
Caldwell Lead Sled

On the target pictures the choke and ammo is listed on the bottom right of the picture.

Metal Penetration test- These were shot at 40yds with the Carlson's Choke.  I picked up some metal step flash(Not aluminum) at Home Depot.  It is .010" thick.  One picture shows the front and the other shows the rear.  The left piece is the Federal TSS #7 with 100% of the pellets passing through.  The right is the Long Beard XR #6 where only 2 pellets passed through. 

For me, TSS and the Carlson's choke is the clear winner.

[Curtdawg88]

Cool! Nice to see what they say about TSS penetration is true. Thanks for sharing!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[robertreed711]

Nice!

Just curious, have you patterned the long beard XR at the same ranges?

[Sir-diealot]

Welcome to the forums, nice patterns.

[Fullfan]

Tss is no joke, the long beard shell crew will not agree though.  I bought two X3 long beards, one for me and one for my son. Have not hunted them yet but hand loaded TSS 9's does outstanding with the factory and the Truelock 585. 

[Reddog1966]

Nice!

Just curious, have you patterned the long beard XR at the same ranges?

I did test Long Beard XR #6 last year in my 20ga SX3 Waterfowl edition (26" barrel).  If I can find where I put the targets I will add some pictures.  Otherwise I will be shooting again in the next several weeks and I can do a another pattern test with it.  For me, TSS held a better pattern and had more energy than LB XR.  TSS is just expensive!  If I didn't want to or couldn't Spend the money on TSS then LB XR #6's would be my go to.

[robertreed711]

Nice!

Just curious, have you patterned the long beard XR at the same ranges?

I did test Long Beard XR #6 last year in my 20ga SX3 Waterfowl edition (26" barrel).  If I can find where I put the targets I will add some pictures.  Otherwise I will be shooting again in the next several weeks and I can do a another pattern test with it.  For me, TSS held a better pattern and had more energy than LB XR.  TSS is just expensive!  If I didn't want to or couldn't Spend the money on TSS then LB XR #6's would be my go to.

I would love to see them. I don't doubt the penetration or effectiveness of the TSS loads but I live in NY and mail ordering ammo is a nightmare and I can't find it locally.

From what I've seen, the Longbeard XR loads seem to be the best bang for the buck and I can find them in a few local places so they will likely be what I use.

[CrustyRusty]

One of the reasons I am not jumping on the tss or 20ga bandwagon is because it's so hard to find, and as you said, mail order is near impossible for us NYers. 

Nice!

Just curious, have you patterned the long beard XR at the same ranges?

I did test Long Beard XR #6 last year in my 20ga SX3 Waterfowl edition (26" barrel).  If I can find where I put the targets I will add some pictures.  Otherwise I will be shooting again in the next several weeks and I can do a another pattern test with it.  For me, TSS held a better pattern and had more energy than LB XR.  TSS is just expensive!  If I didn't want to or couldn't Spend the money on TSS then LB XR #6's would be my go to.

I would love to see them. I don't doubt the penetration or effectiveness of the TSS loads but I live in NY and mail ordering ammo is a nightmare and I can't find it locally.

From what I've seen, the Longbeard XR loads seem to be the best bang for the buck and I can find them in a few local places so they will likely be what I use.

[robertreed711]

One of the reasons I am not jumping on the tss or 20ga bandwagon is because it's so hard to find, and as you said, mail order is near impossible for us NYers. 

Nice!

Just curious, have you patterned the long beard XR at the same ranges?

I did test Long Beard XR #6 last year in my 20ga SX3 Waterfowl edition (26" barrel).  If I can find where I put the targets I will add some pictures.  Otherwise I will be shooting again in the next several weeks and I can do a another pattern test with it.  For me, TSS held a better pattern and had more energy than LB XR.  TSS is just expensive!  If I didn't want to or couldn't Spend the money on TSS then LB XR #6's would be my go to.

I would love to see them. I don't doubt the penetration or effectiveness of the TSS loads but I live in NY and mail ordering ammo is a nightmare and I can't find it locally.

From what I've seen, the Longbeard XR loads seem to be the best bang for the buck and I can find them in a few local places so they will likely be what I use.

I'm jumping on the 20 ga bandwagon, even non TSS loads perform more than well enough for me. Hopefully the TSS loads start becoming more available/affordable in the future! A TSS load in #8 shot would be real nice since it would be within the state regulations.

[CrustyRusty]

I hear ya.  I've got some money burning a hole in my pocket for a new gun and struggling with what to get. I really wanted to get the new V3 turkey pro but the initial post really got me thinking.

One of the reasons I am not jumping on the tss or 20ga bandwagon is because it's so hard to find, and as you said, mail order is near impossible for us NYers. 

Nice!

Just curious, have you patterned the long beard XR at the same ranges?

I did test Long Beard XR #6 last year in my 20ga SX3 Waterfowl edition (26" barrel).  If I can find where I put the targets I will add some pictures.  Otherwise I will be shooting again in the next several weeks and I can do a another pattern test with it.  For me, TSS held a better pattern and had more energy than LB XR.  TSS is just expensive!  If I didn't want to or couldn't Spend the money on TSS then LB XR #6's would be my go to.

I would love to see them. I don't doubt the penetration or effectiveness of the TSS loads but I live in NY and mail ordering ammo is a nightmare and I can't find it locally.

From what I've seen, the Longbeard XR loads seem to be the best bang for the buck and I can find them in a few local places so they will likely be what I use.

I'm jumping on the 20 ga bandwagon, even non TSS loads perform more than well enough for me. Hopefully the TSS loads start becoming more available/affordable in the future! A TSS load in #8 shot would be real nice since it would be within the state regulations.

[robertreed711]

I hear ya.  I've got some money burning a hole in my pocket for a new gun and struggling with what to get. I really wanted to get the new V3 turkey pro but the initial post really got me thinking.

One of the reasons I am not jumping on the tss or 20ga bandwagon is because it's so hard to find, and as you said, mail order is near impossible for us NYers. 

Nice!

Just curious, have you patterned the long beard XR at the same ranges?

I did test Long Beard XR #6 last year in my 20ga SX3 Waterfowl edition (26" barrel).  If I can find where I put the targets I will add some pictures.  Otherwise I will be shooting again in the next several weeks and I can do a another pattern test with it.  For me, TSS held a better pattern and had more energy than LB XR.  TSS is just expensive!  If I didn't want to or couldn't Spend the money on TSS then LB XR #6's would be my go to.

I would love to see them. I don't doubt the penetration or effectiveness of the TSS loads but I live in NY and mail ordering ammo is a nightmare and I can't find it locally.

From what I've seen, the Longbeard XR loads seem to be the best bang for the buck and I can find them in a few local places so they will likely be what I use.

I'm jumping on the 20 ga bandwagon, even non TSS loads perform more than well enough for me. Hopefully the TSS loads start becoming more available/affordable in the future! A TSS load in #8 shot would be real nice since it would be within the state regulations.

I'll be ordering one of these and throwing a Nikon Turkey Pro on it! I think it should be a deadly combo.

[Deast1988]

Sx3 nwtf is a great rig

That long beard model is cooking.

[Fullfan]

Sx3 nwtf is a great rig

That long beard model is cooking.

I have the x3 in 20 Long beard. Gun is a bit heavier and does not feel as good as my Sa459. Have not hunted it but it does put up good numbers with hand loaded tss. It was almost twice as much as the SA459 also.

[KyScott]

Very nice patterns buddy. Looks like that Briley choke may be just a little more forgiving on those shots. Probably would be my pick..

[robertreed711]

Nice!

Just curious, have you patterned the long beard XR at the same ranges?

I did test Long Beard XR #6 last year in my 20ga SX3 Waterfowl edition (26" barrel).  If I can find where I put the targets I will add some pictures.  Otherwise I will be shooting again in the next several weeks and I can do a another pattern test with it.  For me, TSS held a better pattern and had more energy than LB XR.  TSS is just expensive!  If I didn't want to or couldn't Spend the money on TSS then LB XR #6's would be my go to.

Still interested in seeing these if you have them.

Thanks!