First Look: Winchester Rooster XR

by
posted on December 11, 2014

The pheasant ammunition market is currently dominated by high-velocity payloads. The faster, the deadlier, consumers seem convinced. And yet this philosophy ignores a certain truth: When lead pellets are accelerated to the extreme—1450 fps at the muzzle and beyond—at least a portion of the pellets at the base of the shot column are likely to be crushed, resulting in fliers and poor overall patterns.

However, Winchester's intriguing Rooster XR 12-gauge shotshell all but eliminates that tendency, thanks to arguably the most innovative shot-protecting invention since the cushioned wad. Here are five reasons it's a real breakthrough.

1. "Shot-Lok" Resin
If you cut open a Rooster XR shotshell, you'll find that the pellets appear to be suspended in a piece of hard candy. The "candy" is a proprietary resin, which eliminates air space between pellets. Thus the pellets do not smash into one another as the powder ignites, preserving pellet integrity and largely eliminating fliers.

2. Comfortable Recoil
Rooster XR's velocity of 1300 fps is a refreshing alternative to today's teeth-rattling, ultra-high-velocity pheasant loads. It's plenty fast to drop birds (more on that in item No. 3) and quite comfortable to shoot.

3. Phenomenal Long-Range Patterns
Given that Rooster XR payloads exit the barrel with nearly nonexistent pellet deformation, the pellets fly true and patterns remain tight and uniform well beyond 30 yards. Employing a modified choke, I tested several 2¾-inch, 1¼ ounces of No. 5 Rooster XR shotshells at distances ranging from 20-50 yards. In short, they resulted in likely the most evenly distributed, flier-free patterns I've ever seen.

Such pattern density promotes clean kills, and certainly I found this to be the case while shooting Rooster XR during a hunt with R&R Pheasant Hunting in Seneca, S.D. Many birds were dropped stone dead at the brink of my ethical distance line.

4. World-Record Performance
It's worth noting that the same resin technology is incorporated into Winchester's well-received Long Beard XR. In November, it set a NWTF Still Target Competition Record, placing 54 pellets in a 3-inch circle.

5. Responsive to Choke
That is not to suggest Rooster XR necessarily patterns tightly unless so choked. I speculated to the contrary, as I assumed the resin might perform like a slug—causing the pellets to exit the barrel as one whole, ultra-tight unit. However, the force of powder ignition fractures the resin, creating a rather traditional buffer substance. Thus the pellets are subject to conventional rules of choke constriction.

Shells are available in 3-inch, 1½ ounce or 2¾-inch, 1¼ ounce payloads of Nos. 4, 5 or 6 shot. Suggested retail price is $20-$25 per 15-round box.

Latest

LEDE Marlin Dark
LEDE Marlin Dark

Hardware Review: Marlin Model 1895 Dark

If you think lever-action rifles should only have walnut stocks and a blued-metal finish, then the new Marlin Dark series with its polymer buttstock and aluminum AR-esque handguard probably won’t be your thing. That’s a shame, because this recent offering in Marlin’s line of modernized, capable lever-action rifles has a lot going for it in terms of performance, functionality and fun.

ATN Shipping TICO LTV Thermal Clip-On

This thermal clip-on device is a huge night-time gear multiplier for hunters and observers, transforming any daytime scope into a thermal sight.

MidwayUSA Named Official Sponsor of the 2025 NRA Annual Meetings

Glock, Inc. is the Presenting Sponsor of the Freedom Experience on Saturday, April 26th

First Look: Montana Rifle Company Marshall Hunting Rifle

Montana Rifle Company (MRC) has announced its Marshall Hunting Rifle—a rifle the company bills as being 10,000 rounds in the making.

Spring Gobbler Gear Roundup

Mike Roux lays out his winter's turkey gear discoveries, just in time for spring gobbler season.

National 4-H Shooting Sports Signs on as Official +ONE Partner

The National 4-H Shooting Sports program has joined the +ONE Movement, a national mentorship initiative led by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) that encourages peer-to-peer mentorship in the hunting and shooting sports.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.