Savvy hunters are looking to stock up on ammo before the 2026 bird season opens, and on that note, we see that Kent Cartridges has a new hard-hitting pheasant load on the market, as well as a reintroduced version of a Faststeel favorite. They also have a new rebate program to help with the costs of waterfowl hunting.
Kent Ultimate Pheasant: Hard Killing Altitude Load
Kent Ultimate Pheasant Shells come in either 20 gauge or 12 gauge, both in 3-inch shells filled with a mixture of #4 and #6 shot. It is believed to offer the best of both worlds: better patterns but also long-range firepower. That last point is important, because Kent says the Ultimate Pheasant load is designed specifically to target cock pheasants.
The 12 gauge load has 1 ¼ ounce shot with a velocity of 1400 fps and the 20 gauge load has 1 ¼ ounce shot traveling at 1300 fps. Keep an eye on Kent’s website for a list of the Ultimate Pheasant Line Here But the pricing has not been decided yet.
Kent Faststeel Classic Limited Edition: A Familiar Face
Kent Cartridges made their name on the reliable performance of their Fasteel lineup, and they’re bringing back one of their classic loads in that series for 2026.
Loaded with 1 9/16 ounces of #1 steel shot, Kent says, “This limited offering delivers the same pattern consistency, hard-hitting steel payload and dependable ignition hunters have trusted for years.” It even comes with a familiar-looking brown hull and tall brass head. Kent says these shells are good for late-season mallards, or geese on decoys, and given their specifications, it seems to be a good all-round, versatile choice. They’re not cheap, $399 for a case of 250.
The discount is back!
To help with that price tag, Kent also brought back a rebate program for 2026. This year, it is Steal some savings that last until the end of December. Check out the offers below:
steel some savings discount
| product | discount per box | minimum discount | maximum discount |
Kent’s Fastille+ and Fastille 2.0 have twice the recoil as other shells, which may result in them being more attractive to some shooters.
Zack K.
Zac Kurylyk hunts and fishes to support his family in the Northeast. His work has been in Outdoors Canada and other adventure and outdoor publications.
