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Turkey season is days away here...
Has anyone bought and loaded the (high dollar) high density TSS and been successful?
The stuff has turned 410’s into valid turkey guns, and I see the appeal with it being $40-$50 per pound. 12 gauge 3-1/2” rounds are about $18 each.
I’ve heard that it’s not necessary to use much choke constriction.
What have you loaded and learned. It’s expensive to play with, so I’ll be all ears on a shortcut to success.
I don’t understand the attraction of super dense shot or 3 1/2” magnums. 1 1/2 oz of #6 lead shot out of your favorite mod or full 12 ga will kill every turkey in GA. Or a 20 ga full choke with 1 oz 6s will do. More money than sense is all I can figure because pattern boards don’t lie.
Other people do understand the attraction of super dense shot. Those are the ones I’d like to hear from.
Thanks
I think the attraction is for folk that can’t call a turkey in close enough to hit and kil it with lead shot. But I’m with you! I just plain not spending $75.00 for 5 shells! When you think about it ya need at least 2 boxes. No hunter worth a damn is going hunting with shot he hasn’t patterned his gun with! One shot don’t pattern a shotgun! So your spending $150.00 before you even leave the house! I’m sorry I hunt for food and because I enjoy it. I could care less about trophies! For $150.00 I can put a lot of frozen turkeys in the freezer and still have enough for a six pack! I can go sit on a stump in the back yard, drink the beer, and pretend I’m turkey hunting! And have a freezer full of turkeys lol!Quote:
Originally Posted by Hogtamer
According to my shotgun manual and shotshell reloading manuals you are not supposed to use anything tighter than a Modified Choke with Steel or Hevi Shot. The pellets won't constrict like lead. It would stink to blow the end of your bbl off trying to get a few more yards. Tungsten Shot can kill out to about another 20 yards and #9 shot will do the job, so yes, a 410 will work. In-fact a friends son shot one at about 40 yards with a 410 DRT. I guess, if you are looking for every advantage out there and you have the money....
use what you want, i use tss shells and have killed my last 5 birds with 6 shells. longest shot was 47 yards(thats where he hung up), most of my birds are killed at under 40 yards.Attachment 325281 number 9 tss weights the same as number 5-6 lead. to me i want a clean kill, not fox or coyote food.
A friend who has see TSS used remarked that an advantage was that it will shoot clean through the bird when I asked him "How about breaking a tooth when you chow down on said bird?".
at least you will not get lead poison.
That price for rounds? Wow!! Our local Walmart has/had turkeys for 98 cents per pound. Just saying...
I can't speak for the TSS, but my very first shot with Hevi-Shot killed 5 mallards stone dead.
With my limited hunting time and all the related effort, I can certainly understand the reasoning behind that level of premium ammo.
How many shots does a turkey hunter take on an average year ?
if he can call reasonly well and sets up right with no movement, one shot for each bird should do it. with regular lead or tss.
I regret mentioning turkey at all with this thread.
I was wanting to draw on the experience of others who have loaded tungsten super shot.
Apparently no members here who are currently active have loaded their own?
I've never loaded it in a 410. A good friend has been using a 410 to turkeys since tungsten shot came out. He takes 2 or 3 a year with it and claims to have never lost a bird with his 410 using tungsten shot. I use it in a 12 gauge for fall turkey hunts when calling is not very effective. I do know tungsten shot is a significant range extender. I got mine at 70% off when a business closed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry54
I don't know why but, on this forum, and others I have noticed a significant rise of negative comments about almost everything. I think it might be a reflection of a general unhappiness of the last couple of years.
https://www.themeateater.com/hunt/fi...g-power-of-tss
I don't use 410, but I'd recommend #9 TSS from super18tungstenshot. If you purchase from them, email the owner, hawglips, and he will send you a few recipes once you describe your gun and gauge. From what I can gather from the internet, getting TSS recipes are not too easy to find as most shooters have to develop their own and are hesitant to share. I'm in 12 ga, and the heaviness of the loads requires a hefty dose of Lil Gun. These loads are devastating, as stated, the density contributes to extraordinary penetration.
I’ve played around with TSS quite a bit. Got a great deal on 70# for $15/lb. That’s the only reason I’m in the TSS game. Just my opinions:
- TSS really brought sub gauges back to life and few back from the dead. To some people, killing geese at 50 yards with 28 gauges and turkeys out to 40 yards with a .410 is appealing to many.
- It patterns really tight.
- Kinda a waste in 12 ga for the most part. It’s a PIA to reload for due to the density and trying to match the right components for a proper shot column.
-1 oz #8.5’s literally shreds ducks within 50 yards. Great for squatting cripples at 80+ yards. I killed about a dozen cripples from buddies using steel at 70-80 yards with a 1 oz load. Stoned them graveyard dead.
- I had to duplex my TSS with steel shot to do two things:
- open up the pattern
- save a little money and use the steel shot as a “filler” of sorts
- loading super heavy TSS in 20 ga is stupid. If you wanna shoot anything heavier than 1.5 oz, shoot a 12 ga. 1.5-2oz TSS loads in 20 ga kicks like hell.
- If you do feel you need to load heavy loads in 12 ga, a 2 3/4” hull is all you need. Trust me.
- #6 TSS 1 oz loads kills big geese at 70+ yards.
-#T and #4 TSS buckshot is extremely lethal a long ranges. We’re talking 80 yards in deer for #T’s and 100 yards for #4 buckshot.
- the best turkey load IMO is Winchester Longbeards. Most distances I’ve seen guys hunt turkey with TSS is usually within 50 yards. Don’t need a $20 shotgun shell to do that.
Once again, this is just my opinion based on my experiences.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I didn’t intend to narrow down the question to any particular gauge. I just meant I could see the appeal of using it in 410 because it’s so expensive.
I asked about chokes because I only have screw in chokes on 12 and 20. Everything smaller has fixed chokes.
The advantage I see of 12 gauge 3-1/2” is a higher pressure limit. Or more capacity for steel shot. I have no interest in steel shot. So the lead loads I’ve looked at generally have the same wads as 2-3/4 or 3” loads but an extra gas seal or some card wads to take up space.
If I were to load Tungsten in 12 gauge, I’d be more interested in 1.5 ounce payloads, vs 2.25 ounces.
I found that website this morning. The screen started jumping around at the checkout page, and I thought it was a bogus website after that.Quote:
Originally Posted by lawdog941
Ok all kidding aside. I load 12guage and 410 bore, although not with tungsten. I can tell you 410 is not the easiest shotgun to reload for. Especially if you don’t have any experience shotgun reloading. If you do jump down this rabbit hole, remember you don’t use the same wads for tungsten as you do for lead. Wads for tungsten are typically thicker/stronger than lead wads. Use a wad made for lead for tungsten and the wad gets turn up leaving your barrel exposed to the tungsten. Do this for very long and you’ll soon be replacing a barrel! With that being said I imagine stuffing that thicker wad in that 410 hull is something I don’t want to deal with. I don’t know what press your going to use but I’ve got a Mec 600 Jr. the wad likes to get stuck on the rammer/drop tube. Combine that with getting a right stack height and a proper crimp. I thought it was me but after some research and I found out that they seems to be a common problems. Loading 410 tungsten is just not something I’d do just to try out. I do wish you luck. And keep us informed.
I have loaded 20ga and 410.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry54
With the 20ga I was able to get a real tight pattern at 40 with a ic .555. Close to 400 in the 10”. It was a bit lite in the 20” tho. With a Carlson .575” it was mid 250’s with a more forgiving 20”. The closer patterns (20 yards) were bigger than the other turkey loads (longbeards). This was done with #9 shot.
The 410 is a bit more difficult. The main thing I found was that shot size makes a huge difference. My 870 factory fixed full choke shoots the 9’s best. My 301 and tuff turkey do not like 9’s. They will shoot the 9.5 and 10 shot very well tho. I am not sure if there are any recipes for the 410 that will allow for a fold crimp. The ones I have give just enough room to roll crimp.
I suggest going to gobblernation.com and taking a look around. I will see if I can get some pics up at some point.
In reality, if you only shoot birds at 30 yards and under a trap load of 7.5 is all you need.
It’s on my to do list. Just haven’t come to terms with $50 a lb shot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry54
I understand your concern. I have bought around 15lbs of TSS in intervals and had no problem. They even sent their load recipes for what I purchased. I have no issues. Good luck.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry54
Cost is relative. I shoot a lot of geese. Standard low-cost steel shot is what I use for that. I rarely don't get my daily limit of 5 birds. When I don't it's not the fault of the shot selection. No benefit to using higher cost shot for me for that application.
On the other hand, I was in AK for a waterfowl hunt. Swans were legal. Had I known that I would have taken some high density TSS. Everyone I had a chance at was 10 to 20 yards out of range for a 20 gauge with standard steel. With high density TSS I would have bagged one.
I loaded hevi-shot for a SP-10 ten gauge years ago quite a bit for geese and turkey. I loved it, loved the pattern density, the increased range and the energy it carried compared to worthless steel shot but there was issues. Tungsten likes tungsten powders much more than say blue dot. Tungsten is way harder than any barrel steel or choke, you must use shot wads designed for tungsten, mica dust and mylar wraps inside the cups to do all you can to protect the shot from ever touching the barrel. My experiences were mainly because steel shot is about as useful as a biden.
Tungsten vs lead opinions, lead when loaded with the correct amount of buffer, choke selection, barrel length and correct wads works great.
I got out of the tungsten game when the shot price spiked to $15/lb.
Ymmv
My new TSS jelly head choke is supposed to arrive tomorrow. Thinking about seeing how it patterns with lead first.
Got my tungsten shot in the mail. I’m thinking about 1/2 ounce of #4 on top of 1-1/2 ounces of #8-1/2 but a pound of each isn’t hardly enough to test and hunt with. My thoughts on the number four was it should be adequate for a coyote sneaking in.Quote:
Originally Posted by lawdog941
I could stretch it further in 410, but can’t find 3” hulls anywhere.
I have a friend who has bought components and got data from hoglips and he said he is the real deal. He also told me he has had good luck with his TSS handloads in 410 but REALLY good luck with in 20 ga. He roll crimps everything and I saw his pattern targets. At 40 yds a fly couldn't escape! One thing we have to remember when shotgunning is that all guns don't shoot pattern centers to the sights. My 870 was a dog until I had the barrel tweaked(bent). Of course a red dot or a scope can solve this.
I’ve killed birds out to 90 yards with both my 10 and 12 gauge. Using #4 shot in the 12 and 5 shot, both copper plated. I don’t take shots that far any more. My average shot for the last 6years has been 15 yards. So close ive missed a few since my pattern looks like a shotgun slug at that distance. I shot a 26 and half pound three year old two weeks ago to morrow at about 18 yards max. I’ve been using cheap $5.99 per 10 #5’s in Remington nitro magnum, and their other 5 round for the same price Remington offering, Walmart specials the last five years. I also shot one with nickel plated #6’s with black powder at 25 yards in my old 10 gauge. I’m taking out my 10 gauge browning gold Wednesday with my next extra tag I bought. Copper plated #5’s in 2 oz. ZERO need for heavy shot unless I’m trying to shoot a bird farther than I should. Done with that. Funner to outsmart them and call them into my lap. Imo don’t waste your money. Guess if I was a six year old kid or disabled and could only tolerate a recoil of a 410 I’d buy heavy shot. My buddies kids and wife all have shot birds every year for the last five years with 410’s and heavy shot. They still. Don’t shoot over 20 yards and the pattern is so tight at that distance yet that they almost take their heads off.
Here's the head of the three year old I shot almost 2 weeks ago with cheap Remington nitro express 1 7/8 oz #5's. His eye was popped and missing.
https://i.imgur.com/PCexqHo.jpg
It has 1 1/4" sharp pointy spurs and the beard had beard rot. Thought it was jake at first so I wasn't going to shoot it. Then I could see the light brown frosted tips on his short super thick beard and realized it either froze or rotted off.
I wrecked a gobblin thunder choke tube with Remington factory HD shot. Big deep gouge streaks with metal missing. That shot was wicked. I shot a nuisance coyote a few years back at 109 yards braking both rear legs and paralyzed it. I’ve shot coyotes under 20 yards and have got complete pass throughs with HD BBs.Quote:
Originally Posted by poppy42
Turkeys here are more a nuisance that something hard to hunt or shoot. A 22 short at 10 or 15 feet would work fine or a 410 with a 1/2 oz load of about any lead shot would work fine. I use 9s in my 410s for grouse but they would work fine for a turkey if I wanted to shoot one. The turkeys here will get into my chicken pen to eat the chicken feed if I leave the gate open. I let the chickens out during the day and have had to chase turkeys out a few times. They would be easy to shoot but I'd have to be careful not to shoot myself in the foot as they ran out the gate.
Sorry for the delay
I have been killing and helping to kill turkeys for a week or so
I do not use the TSS shot
But I use the older Hevi Shot
I bought a bunch of it a number of years back when Cabela's stopped selling the shot and wads to reload it
I load 1 1/2 oz of #7 Hevi shot at about 1250 FPS
I use a Remington 11/87 slug barrel that was factory set up for choke tubes
I think the barrel is 23" ( add 2" for the choke tube sticking out )
I also use a Pattern Master Turkey tube in the barrel
With this set up I have to use a red dot sight
As patterns at 20 yards are about 6" and about 24" at 60 yards
The good thing about the Hevi Shot is that at 60 yards the pellets all still do a complete pass through of the neck head
This year I killed 2 Toms , My Lady got 2 and her grand son got 1
All with my shotgun and loads
Ranges were from about 10 yards to 50 yards
All clean 1 shot kills
John
Some day when I can swallow the hefty $100 per pound current price going for any type of “heavy shot” I’ll have to try some to load in my 10 gauge. I watched 22 plinkster pattern and gel test 10 gauge TSS loads at 100 yards…dead bird at that distance.