About 8 bucks a shot... worth it to kill a gobbler?

Better get them on the first shot. LOL

Never had a problem before. I doubt it is necessary in 99% of shooting situations. I'll pass.

Steel shot # 2 in 3 inch shells is all I ever use

The only situation that it makes sense to me, is for my boys. Mostly my youngest because he’s small, though my 11 year old would prefer not using the old single shot 20 any more. I bought a box of .410 shells for them. I will say the patterns they throw are unbelievable.

Why are you using steel shot? Sort of handicapping yourself for no reason.

Reinventing the wheel. No need to spend that much money on ammo to kill a turkey.

#5 Federal premiums 3 inch copper shot is as fancy as I get, for 2 shots with that TSS shot you could by a nice butterball.

$8????
Three of us got together and loaded our own for our 20ga. Think it came out less than $1 a shell. Guaranteed floppage at 0-50. With that being said, most of my shots are at 25-35. Too close and I’m afraid I’ll miss. My gun is set up with a more open pattern just in case they sneak in close.

A lot of states have a limitation on shot size-no larger than #4. I assume that Maine doesn't? Also as noted above Steel shot loses it's velocity faster than lead. I use #4 copper plated in 3 inch. The heavier than lead is a good choice for the smaller gauges that have a limited payload. Just my 2 cents.

3 inch nickel #6s. Box of 25 for about $15. Good enough for the last several I've killed.

12 gauge w #4 buck in a 2 3/4" shell. Turkey choke on my Maverick 88 pump?
That's 27 pellets in unison.

Rogers Sporting Goods, who is as reasonable as any online IMO, has Federal 3" 20 ga. TSS @ $36.99, 12 ga. 3" @ $35.99, and 12 ga. 3 1/2" @ 44.99.... for FIVE. I see where it can bring the .410 into the game, but for me the Longbeard and the 5,6,7 Blend loads are just fine. Legally we can't use any shot smaller than #6 unless it is in a duplex load with #6 or larger shot here in DE... straight 7's or 9's are no go until something changes here in DE. We also can't use any gauge less than a 20 at present... rules out the .410 TSS.
I've seen some YouTube patterns of both factory and hand loaded TSS that are almost unbelievable in both density and range.

And totally illegal in Michigan and many other places.

7 1/2 or 8 lead you guys make this way to hard. My wife and I each kill 5 a year no problem.

A lot of States require steel shot on public lands some of the shot size restrictions might be for less damage in places people shoot each other more then a bird thing maybe.

I’m working some hand load #2 tss shot to be used on coyotes.Im hoping to have a load to 60 or 70 yards for those doubles that come barreling in.with all new components I should be at about 5.80 a round.

Shot size restrictions are aimed at encouraging head shots at shorter ranges versus long range body shots with large projectiles that might hit another hunter at long range. Ask Tim Caven.

Not a big need for the TSS hunting at home. Plenty of time to hunt. But when you go on an out of state trip.....and the weather is crap, and gobblers are hard to come by.......
I will guarantee you that there is nothing currently out there that will pattern like TSS 9’s.
I had a guy razzing me about using $9 shells. He’s a big bow hunter. I asked him what he had in his arrows and broad heads. He said “point taken” lol.

My thought too.

They make a .410 deadly out to at least 50 yards. It is impressive. Not sure if it's worth the cost though.

Nope Maine don't and I limit my shots to 15 yards or under.

Pattens to good in my shotgun to not use it.

How much pattern variation can you get at 15 yards? Honestly, #2 shot at 15 yards doesn’t make sense. But thats just me.

You would be surprised the pattern differences in different shells at 15 yards.It makes sense to me.I put the bead on the turkeys neck.Touch it off and dead turkey every time.

You would be surprised. As a trapshooter I have shot many 100's of patterns at 16 yards. I'm always shooting # 8's or # 7.5's but the choke can make a big difference. I would guess at 15 yards WITH A GOOD CHOKE and any shot size the turk's head or neck would be separated from the body.

BTW: big difference is a 4" pattern or an 8" pattern.

You really need to pattern every time you switch a variable...Gun or shot

Federal Premium Mag-Shok Turkey Ammunition 12 Gauge 3" 2 oz #5 Copper Plated Shot High Velocity

This is what I use, hits dead on with my fiberoptic bead and patterns great out to 50 yards. I bought 4 boxes about 2 years ago because they were discontinuing them, probably so they can make more expensive ones.

The only problem I have with the real expensive loads is not knowing what's going to shoot good out of my gun. Could spend a few hundred dollars just trying to find a good pattern. So when I run out of these I'll probably go to high brass 6 shot and just limit my yardage.

i doubt you loaded tss for less than a dollar a shell. its $50 a pound for the shot.



tss is a nontoxic shot so should be legal in those areas

28gauge 40 yards with tss 1-7/16oz 9s



10gauge 40 yards federal premium 2-1/4oz 4s


tss is heavier than lead doesnt deform so no fliers. since it is heavier you can use a smaller shot size and each pellet still has the energy needed yet will also penetrate better due to it being smaller.

they make a 410 deadly out to as far as it can keep an acceptable pattern and not every one will make 50yds. 50yd 410 is about 1 in 10 from my numbers.

Dare i say, check mate? Disclaimer, i dont use tss. I might someday. I bought a couple 10 round boxes a couple years ago. Both pattern well in different situations for me. Given my PA only hunting and usually only one bird per year, its gonna be a while before i need ammo.

Thats the point, any shot or choke should kill a turkey dead at 15 yards. If a gun won’t kill a bird dead with any load at 15 yards, its not a turkey gun. IMO, a load of lead 7.5s would work far better than #2 steel at that close range.

Though I also know when someone tells me they “won’t shoot past xx yards”, the real number is usually close to double.

There’s more to the story with that 10 gauge pattern. Someone put in a skeet choke to make the 28 look more impressive?

With the TSS shells you will have a turkey killing pattern at 50 yards out of a cheap single shot .410. With any other ammo, I would agree 1 out of 10 at 50. This stuff is sense and hold tight patterns.

what happened with the famous heavy shot.. does no one use it now? suppose to outperform steel and shoot like led for at least waterfowl... turkey?

guys i know take long shots ALOT with waterfowl for whatever reason... anyone ever try that for turkey?

Nope.15 yards.I set my decoys at 15 yards and the turkey must be beside the decoys or closer before I shoot.

Tried hevi shot and couldn't get it to pattern at all with my gun.

no i shot both those patterns back to back. 10 gauge was a full choke. 28 gauge was a full choke.
the 10 is an h&r single and the 28 is a stevens 555

i know what tss is and can do. i am in year 6 of loading it myself. way before any company thought of loading. buying shot from hal and using his recipes. my buddy and i have tested over 20 410s so far and only 3 have had acceptable killing patterns at 50yds with tss.

tss out preforms hevi

We’ve been shooting TSS long before it was cool or even thought about on the market...and yes, you are correct it $1.87 a shell, went back and checked my notes. I’ve got enough to last my lifetime and that’s hunting multiple states each year (except this one) with an average of about 8 birds a year. And if I ever run out we still have some TSS to load some more.
TSS shines in smaller gauges. I’d never use it in a 12ga and I’d never haul a 12ga around chasing turkey ever again anyways. #9 TSS in a 20ga is a deadly load.

I'm shooting Apex Ninja 9.5s in my Winchester model 42 410 this year and it's deadly. I'd never shoot past 40 yards with it but inside of 40 it's nasty on paper and nasty on the gobblers. I also shot Apex in my 16 ga the past 2 years and it shoots very well too. Both the 16 and 410 are smooth bore full choke barrels.

Picked up a box of 12ga 3.5" TSS when Gander Mountain was going out of business, paid $8. Should have bought all of the boxes they had and I owuld have been set fr life.

Over the years I think most of the Turkeys I have shot I could have been using a 1 oz trap load instead of a Turkey load. Inside 25 yards with a tight choke and small sized shot BOOM DEAD

I had a buddy give me a TSS 7 to try. It killed just as good as my Winchester LongBeard XR 6s, so they must a be good load.

If you are hunting multiple states or only yours with limited time I'd say absolutely worth it. As with most threads to each their own and its not necessarily wrong if you choose to do something someone else thinks
is a stupid way to do it. I am not one to get caught up in the latest and greatest but I switched to a Indian Creek choke tube and TSS shot. If I can extend my kill range (which it did) I am going to do it, kill my birds and
move on to the next bird while some may be waiting for that magical distance.

Haven't heard 1 person say they don't extend range or penetrate well... definitely not a gimmick IMO... just pricey as all get out. I liked the comparison between TSS and a broadhead and arrow that was made earlier on prices.

2 3/4 hi brass lead 6's been working for over 40 yrs,
why should I change?
bigger/more isn't always better

No one said you should change. And yes, it's better. It's not even a question.

Stunning to see #4 buck mentioned in a turkey thread.

No more shocking than the fella swearing by #2 steel shot! But at 15 yds, a good BB gun should do the trick.

I am with traprjohn on this #6 high bass black Remington for me.....jk

Spot on. When im travelling hunting pressured public land gobblers. No time to full around. I gotta move product. I go big or I stay home. 3.5 out of a well used 835 ultimag

Agree with both of you all.
Big difference hunting high population or unpressured or backyard birds VS hearing one a day pressured public land turkeys far from home. I’ve hunted tough turkeys in the western U.S., but the toughest turkeys are in the Southeastern U.S. as a general rule.

Talked myself into a box of TSS... 20 gauge Browning 3" - 1 1/2oz. - 7 & 9 Duplex load... $36.99 (ouch). At least I get a "free" Thermacell if I send in $3.95 S&H. I've whizzed away $$$ before, sure I will again.... hoping for a legit 50 yd killing pattern.