By Randy Wakeman

Winchester, the only remaining major American owned and operated major shotshell manufacturer left in the United States, announced their large line of 18 gram / cc density “Tungsten Super Shot” waterfowl loads in September of 2024. Most tungsten super shot loads have been directed at the turkey hunting market, but the Winchester Last Call line is offered to mainstream waterfowlers. When steel runs out of gas at 30 – 35 yards is where Tungsten Super Shot loads begin to shine.

Winchester ballistician Ed Lowry noted long ago that “There are some very able shotshell development engineers in the industry. But steel's density limitation is such that no one of them will ever be able to develop an effective long range steel shot waterfowl load." In September, 1993, Ed Lowry contributed an article entitled "Bismuth, The Ballistic Potential" to the American Rifleman.

Again, Ed Lowry discussed what was learned from the two extensive mortality studies at Patuxent and Nilo Farms: "Both programs also disclosed that if two pellets deposited the same amount of lethal energy, the smaller one's energy is more lethally effective." Lowry continues, explaining that "the much touted theory of No. 2s "compensating" for steel's low density, and thereby matching lead No. 4s, is rudely rejected by an elementary law of ballistic behavior." Lowry also mentioned, "Steel's density cannot be increased, its pellets cannot be made rounder, and its scouring hardness cannot be made much softer. This tells us that steel shot is now as good as it will ever be. Thus, the doctrine that steel is ballistically equivalent to lead is emphatically contradicted by the laws of physics and the measurements at Nilo."

There are several things notable about the Winchester Last Call line. It covers 12, 20, 28 gauge and .410 bore. The pricing is very attractive for TSS loads, running in the five dollar area for 12 gauge, four dollars or so for the 20 gauge loads including Bidenflation. When some folks spend thousands on their decoy spreads, out of state hunts, or even $30 a bird for preserve hunts, scrimping on ammo makes little sense. The Last Call loads are not low-recoil loads, for the 1-1/4 oz. 12 gauge loads are 1500 fps, the 1 oz. 20 gauge loads are 1425 fps. The recoil pulse in my 20 gauges (28.9 fpe) is about the same as my standard lead pheasant load: 1-1/4 oz. #5 at 1185 fps (30.2 fpe, 6-1/4 lb. gun).

55 mph is 80.67 fps. The Winchester Last Call 12 gauge #7 load will change your lead at 40 yards, compared to a common 1400 fps load of #2 steel by .02 second vs. a 55 mph target flying across the line of fire: that is 1.6134 feet, or 19.3608 inches. This is the first load I've tested that dramatically shortens your lead. This is significant, even with slower targets and raking shots. As the range increases, the lead difference becomes more pronounced.

TSS offers less wind drift, drop, and higher strike velocities than possible with lower density shot. Winchester TSS #7 has a radically higher strike velocity at 40 yards compared to other loads: smacking your bird with over 21% higher velocity at 40 yards compared to a common #2 steel load. You'll note that the Last Call pellet count is massively higher as well: around 228 pellets vs. 155 pellets for steel #2. The Last Call loads are said to be extremely water resistant and are buffered as well. You won't need much in the way of choke constriction with Last Call loads: around .010 inch is generally about it for most wingshooting applications to 55 yards. Naturally, as with any load, time at the patterning board at the ranges you intend to shoot will dial it in for you.