WINCHESTER EXTRA DUO FAISAN CARTRIDGES: A Double whammy

Yes, Winchester ammunition is a tad expensive for us Brits, but it always performs well and brings up a few surprises, too. Take the new Winchester Extra DUO Faisan 12-gauge cartridges, for example. These not only pack a whopping 36-grams of pellets, but Winchester has tried to address the age-old issue of which shot size is best, meaning these cartridges contain two pellet sizes – No. 5 and No. 7! That’s not new but this fibre-wadded load speeds along at 405 m/s, and with that dual-sized pellet column, this load from Winchester is designed to cover all species and ranges in one. The cartridges are priced at £1018 per 1000 rounds, but it’s a very special load, so let’s see how it performs.

Spec
The new Extra Duo range has been developed to deliver double the performance down range, as the cartridge is loaded with two separate layers of differing diameter shot sizes for a more effective and hard-hitting shot pattern.
The 70mm clear casing is loaded in two distinct stages. The larger No.5 pellets, which are polished lead (white), sit on top of the smaller No.7 pellets, which are black. The 36-gram loading is split equally, so 18-grams each, and all of them sit on top of a greased fibre wad that sits on an obturator to ensure a perfect seal. So, when the cartridge is fired, the faster, larger No. 5 pellets hit the target first, transferring maximum energy, and then are immediately followed by the smaller No.7 pellets that fill in any gaps and thus optimise the shot pattern with the maximum number of impacts. Win-win, and if you choose your chokes correctly, this scenario is great at close or longer range. Obviously, this load is not lead-free, so enjoy it whilst you can.
The velocity is high at 405m/s (1330 fps) and the large 20mm head keeps hold not only of the pressure but ensures smooth loading and extraction from this stout loading. All the salient load details are printed in green on the clear casing and the six-star crimp is very uniform and looks watertight too. You only get ten rounds per carton, but these rounds pack such a punch any misses are down to you.

Results
I tried these in a Beretta 1301 Comp, which is a semi-automatic, gas-operated shotgun. I also fitted an A-Tec sound moderator, which is excellent. I wanted to test reliability, check out the patterns, and see what recoil and noise were produced.
The A-Tec mod has an extended Opti Choke fitted to its end, so you can correctly fit it to the existing Beretta barrel, and it comes in ½ choke sizing. I also had a ¼ Opti HP choke handy so that I could shoot a pattern with it fitted, too.
Using the ½ choke at 30 yards, my usual distance, the first thing I noticed, despite the stout 36-gram loading, was how ’pleasant’ the shooting sensation was. The Beretta was very quick and light recoiling and the A-Tec also contributed to the lack of recoil. It really muted the muzzle blast to a hollow ‘Thok’ sound. You do have to aim a tad lower when the A-Tec is fitted, it’s just one of those quirks of fitting a sound moderator to the gun, although its dropped design allows the existing beads to align on the target correctly.
As expected, we had an absolutely superb pattern, which was not only densely peppered with shot but also very evenly distributed. It was quite difficult to discern between the two pellet sizes, which was a shame, as I was going to mark each individual hole to see the distribution of shot sizes. Overall, there were a total of 293 pellet strikes on the board, with 132 inner hits to the 15” circle and 161 pellets all around the 30” circumference. There was a slight upward bias but what a lovely pattern!
With the ¼ choke fitted, the pattern was more open, as expected. However, there were minimal gaps, so the DUO shot size
clearly works well. We counted a total of 181 pellets on the board, with 57 inner hits and 124 pellets spread around the periphery. A bit more open than I was expecting but still very good.
Personally, and I know these cartridges are aimed at game shooters, I would use them for corvids at a distance on ½ choke and squirrels in the trees, as they provide a really good overall pattern for fast-moving vermin. I would switch to ¼ choke for walked-up game in the woodland, where a more open choke is preferable to give a better spread and to minimize meat damage at close range. The use of the different shot sizes not only perfects the pattern but also gives a Duo effect on kinetic energy transfer within your quarry to maximise effectiveness.

Conclusion
If you shoot lots of rounds in a day, then these are not for you, but for the discerning shooter who values pure performance, these cartridges are just the ticket. I was very impressed by the performance and results and will be tackling some pesky squirrels very soon, even though Faisan is French for Pheasant!