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Let’s take a trip back to 1965. A loaf of bread cost 21 cents, gasoline cost about 31 cents per gallon and a new Ford Mustang would set you back $2,650. Winchester had just introduced a new Model 70 and a replacement for the Model 12, the Model 1200, the year before. At this time Winchester released what would become the most popular target shotshell of all time, the Winchester AA.
As a kid I recall when Dad brought home a case of AA shells. They sat in the backroom begging me to shoot them each time I opened the door and turned the light on. Eventually I got to shoot them. As a high schooler I showed up to my local sportsman club to shoot a couple rounds of trap with those same boxes of AA Winchester ammo in tow. That’s been 40 plus years ago.
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Winchester AA & Winners
When I was asked to review several shotguns for Athlon Outdoors, I chose Winchester AA. The shells performed flawlessly as I expected.
In the firearms industry nothing lasts forever but the Winchester AA may be the exception.
If you talk to any trap shooter they will tell you, consistency is king. The mount and stance mustbe the same each time. Good technique is key to shooting well. There’s no time to worry about your shells not performing. That is why shooters like Kim Rhode and Connor Daniel choose Winchester AA ammunition. Rhode is one of the most decorated shooting athletes of all time including six Olympic medals.
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Eighteen-year-old Daniel shot his way to his second FITASC (the International Federation of Sporting Clays} World Junior Champion in Cyprus this summer.
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Trapshooting
Professionals aren’t the only ones who prefer AAs. Winchester AA is the official ammunition of the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA), the AIM program which is the official youth program of the ATA and the Scholastic Clay Target Program. Back in 2008, during the Grand AmericanTrap shooting championship, Foster Bartholow broke 1100 straight targets, 900 of which was in a tie breaking shoot off. Finally, officials asked if the two remaining shooters would consider sharing the title of co-champion which both shooters agreed. Bartholow chose Winchester AA for this record setting performance.
More recently Foster’s brother Matt not to be outdone also shot his way into the record book. At the 2025 Grand American Trap shooting championship Matt Bartholow made history by claiming an unprecedented 5th ATA World Double Championship. Matt’s ammunition of choice? AA Winchester.
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To commemorate the 60th year since the introduction of the AA Ammunition, Winchester is offering limited edition ammunition in vintage boxes that resemble the boxes of the original AAfrom the mid-60s for both trap and sporting clays.
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New Twist On The AA
And if you think after 60 years a product cannot be improved upon, Winchester proved otherwise with the introduction of the AA Diamond Grade shell. These aren’t your Daddy’s trap loads.
The Diamond Grade shells feature the hardest shot available to ensure pellets remain round, true and on target, coupled with the AA wad which helps reduce recoil. For Sporting Clays shooters,the Diamond Grade AA features copper plated shot. This plating reduces friction as the pellets travel down the barrel and the plating also helps increase pattern density. These elite shells veer from the traditional AA shells with their nickel plated, high brass heads and black diamond grade hulls but with the same AA wad and even greater performance from Winchester.
No matter if you are in the backyard throwing clay targets with a hand thrower or competing at the next Olympics, Winchester AA ammunition will help crush the competition and the birds.
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The post Winchester AA Turns 60 appeared first on Athlon Outdoors Exclusive Firearm Updates, Reviews & News.
