12 ga. Remington 870 turkey
3"
.640 choke

Federal TSS 7s&9s mixed

Thought that tight choke might send 'em flying crazy, but I'm impressed. Way! Way... better than Longbeard XR 5s..

Yeah...I'm a bit to the right in pattern density...

50 yds was measured with Nikon rangefinder.

No turkey escaping that pattern!!

DOA

so at 20 yards you can cover the pattern with a dime or so? lol

Swamp wolf, is that the Hastings 640 tube? That's what I have in my 870 and it HATES the Longbeard loads. It likes the Winchester 3" 2oz #5s. Great pattern within 40, but I never patterned the gun at 50

Doubt it'll be that tight at 20. Probably cover it completely with a basketball at 20. And cover it with a baseball at 10.

Many decades of turkey hunting behind me and there have been many more gobblers at 25 to 30 yds and beyond than there has been at 15 and under.

That's the Carlson's TSS .640

This choke only put 17 #5s (LBXR) in that same area at 50 yds. But, pattern density was again slightly right. Even if centered it would likely only have put about double that amount....which would obviously be sufficient.

But I sure like that TSS load with the high pellet count per round and potentially better penetration at slightly longer distances (when needed.)

Excellent pattern but where did you take art class so I can enroll

I shoot the Hasting .640 and the TSS loads and I am very pleased with the pattern they shoot. But the price of the TSS I am not pleased with. I guess you get what you pay for.

Great Pattern SW . I looked at a box of Tss Federal 3.5 the other day and thought I wanted them but for 85 dollars a box for 5 shells. You ever tried the Primos Jelly head choke? I have two of them in different guns and they both shoot well.

Bought the Carlson TSS choke but shoot lead mostly I bought a bunch of Browning/Kent loads before the last shortage when they could not give then away.

That fairly impressive with those Federals. Tried some in 20ga and they load them too hot, my pattern was blown apart. Curious where your POA was.

These southern turkeys look just like that.....lol

I haven't experimented with other chokes. The 870 came with the factory x-full turkey choke (.687).... (25 years ago.)



I dont fix much that ain't broke, but I like these results...so far.

Point of aim was center of the neck on that artistic work of art gobbler...

BTW,
The TSS kicked much harder than the LBXRs.

How many oz of shot?

I paid $49.95 for 5 rounds, but shipping ran it up to $76. Target Sports USA.

$15/per shot....very painful

DaveP,
2 oz of shot

1150 MV

Thx
Messing with TSS in a BP shotguns.

Even then, $$$

I don’t envy 12ga turkey loads, lol. I’ve been asked to set up sight in some turkey guns and the first thing I ask is 12 or 20. 20ga I’ll do…12ga I pass, lol.

Jbyrd63,
Which part of my quoted statement "which would obviously be sufficient " don't you comprehend? Please also read my last sentence in the quote ....

BTW,
Did you pay for my ammo. Nope...and I didnt buy that high dollar bass boat you tore up on a big lake at night running too fast. Wouldn't a used jon boat have floated you just as well to catch some fish...sheesh !!!

Opinions are like buttholes....everybody has one.....some are worthless......

You waste your $$ on a high priced fishing boat and I'll waste my $$ on a shotgun round...

ya might try a red dot sight to get the POI where it should be, annd give you more precise aiming on close shots, with the super shot loads they are popular here.

I've had this Truglo aperture sight on for many years. Helps to ensure that head is down on the stock in the heat of the moment. I can adjust windage and elevation...not incrementally, but it's doable...for a shotgun pattern.

I wonder if you could load one of these with TSS? My great uncle had a 12 gauge rabbit eared shotgun with only one trigger that took cartridges. Only one I ever saw.

https://www.davide-pedersoli.com/en...tion-side-by-side-single-trigger-cyl-mod

Ridge Runner have you had any problems with the Federals hanging in your Franchi? I did out of mine and after some checking they are a little longer. Tried Apex and Rouge both of those work well. Also found that on an average they pattern a little better.

Swamp why do people criticize what someone spends on ammunition I shoot 3 inch Winchester long beard xr they are good for me , what people need to try is only being able to hear a gobble with walkers game ears and then have directional issues being one ear is a lot worse. Total respect for you Swamp Wolf I enjoy your posts 1982 was a good graduation class… Jon

They make a rear rifle type slug sight made in Italy made for boar hunting that clamps onto the rear sight rib I have been using, it fits Berettas and Benelli with ribs. I modified mine to fit my Remington Ultra Max rib that is slightly wider it lines up perfectly and clamps down solid then lays flat. $40 on Amazon it won’t obstruct your view on a moving bird best sight I’ve tried and I tried several.

LPA sight

Very cool. I'm excited for this season as well. Just jumped on the TSS bandwagon myself. 15 rds of 20 ga Herter's(cabelas) TSS #9 turkey loads, using my Cabelas credit card points only cost me $18 shipped to my door.

I too had horrible results in the Longbeard XR even using the longbeard choke tube from Carlson's. Just not a good pattern anywhere beyond about 30 yds. I will test one shot at 20 yds and one at maybe 40-45. Then let her rip.

Turkey is DRT. Nice pattern.

Not to knock what ppl use for ammo, since the turkey population is declining I see it with two main reasons. The bige reason I see is nest raiders, not many trappers out there now taking coon and possum. And the second in witch it's catching up to the first is TSS!!! The shot just make it to easy and I do t want hear your excuses about how it don't. You took the hunter and replaced with a trigger puller, when u move your range out to 75 yards that's a 150 yard radius. Put a 200$ decoy out sit in your nlind on a known travel area and kill
Like fall hunting in pa it was not cool to shoot a hen need a Tom. And looked like they just stepped out of a camel's catalog

I use the #9s in a 20gauge and it is the most deadly thing I’ve ever fired in a shot shell. Was just showing a fried how it pattens and penetrates at 50 yards. He was impressed. He commented that he believes that the first time that there is a hunting accident with it that it will be outlawed as was the Black Talon bullet. It was called the cop killer bullet. He said the first person that takes a direct with with the TSS shot and it will be made illegal. Said he is surprised that the hood rats haven’t discovered it yet. Any thoughts?

With Black Talon ammo it got a name change to be PC they still sold it they just removed the cop killer stigma by changing the name. My fear the idiots will try to shoot beyond the usable range and turkeys will be about impossible to call in.

Dog u are correct about calling them in. The calling them is is the fun part of the game!! Now with these new shells you don't have to know how to call or have some woodman in u

I have a setup like that also. Too many times I found myself looking over the barrel instead of down my sights.

My exact setup on my 12 ga. 1187 21" barreled Super Magnum Slipnot. I have a 1X4 Leupold on my 20 ga. 870 Express. Both have Primos Tightwad chokes... 3" #6 Longbeards in the 12, Browning TSS #7's in the 20.

For me this ^^^^^ is not what this is about.

I'm not trying to elimate woodsmanship or calling proficiency.....preach on!

Hmmm...high-powered rifles ain't been "outlawed" for hunting yet and the damage they do to a human body is nasty, especially when a bone is hit.

As a GW for 27 years I was lead investigator on many shooter- victim incidents.

Pa, outlawed rifles for fall turkeys 2 or 3 years ago. I love the TSS shot. Friend was buying all he could. Claims when the first hunting accident happens with it it will go away. His reasoning is the amount of pellets and how they penetrate. He feels it’s too much of a good thing

Whoa hoss never said it was about you I said others will push the limits the same jokers that did it with lead before was the point. I fully understand what a great patterns value is. I’m neither strictly pro lead or anti TSS use what fills your patterns the best but know your limits with what folks are using is all.

I’m out

Swamp has be on the defense since he retired lol. Relax partner, stress kills

I agree with your nest predator statement but the biggest and imo only reason that really matters is the fact at the nwtf convention in Nashville all the booths with the newest and greatest gear were all crowded with people but the nrcs and habitat booths were empty.

Are you using a sling or a spear on your deer hunts? Because your thought say you should never go over a spear you know if your a good hunter and don't want to decimate the deer heards!

No...not on the defense. Definitely ain’t stressed. But, I have my opinions like everyone else.

Since I started this thread about the TSS choke and pattern I have been advised that I didn't need that ammo/choke (I agree, but I dont have an expensive bass boat.) Also advised that just a few pellets is good enough (like they're gonna hit in the exact same pattern/spot every shot...lol.) That the ammo is too expensive (and it is very expensive 4 sure). That using/promoting it is causing the turkey population to decrease. That TSS will be outlawed. That TSS is not ethical and borderline cheating; eliminating any need for turkey hunting skills.

Some of this is laughable!


Even ol' LawDog has told me to whoa! And I didn't even quote him.

Lots of people waste more money on stupider things.

I'm guilty of that too...

If you want to bring down the cost you can hand load 20 gauge tss 1 5/8 ounce for about 6 bucks each or less. you only need a roll crimper and powder scale.

Gonna let a neophyte kid TSS one in the morning with my gun (if it all works out).

TSS in the gauges smaller that 12 are the greatest thing since nickel beers and pre sliced bread. 50 yards easy. Friends are just thinking that when and if they are used on purpose or accidentally on a person what will become of them. They are so perfect and deadly

You flared up on my comments so I took them down
This whole TSS thread is yes I agree with you it works.
BUT I'm not going to run out and get a 50 cal barret to hunt white tail. EVEN tho it would increase my range . Be deadlier at a farther distance. But well placed 6mm kills that deer just as dead

Says a guy with a big bass boat, fish finder and top of the line equipment to catch a mushy bass lmao. To each their own.

I dang sure hope they don’t outlaw them, lol. I buy 8 boxes every year whether I need it or not. And for the record, this has been out a long time already. Apex loads are as good or better than we rolled. Before TSS was HTL loads, think Heavy Shot. Their Hevi13 #7’s produced patterns that lead couldn’t duplicate. Now it’s TSS and the patterns just can’t be duplicated with turkey killing loads.

As far as distance and shooting, guess you could make that comparison to deer hunting as well. Everyone should shoot a 30/30 and not shoot more than 125yds. No need for a 300Mag and shooting 300+ yards. Guess I can hit the fishermen too. Get rid of that Spiderwire or Power Pro and go back to monofilament and risk losing that fish. No need for 10-12# mono either, stick with 6-8# for that flipping heavy weed mats.

And for the record, I don’t know if anyone that shoots TSS that shoots any farther than they did with lead. Just seems they have less misses and no wounded birds. Both my sons birds last year had what appeared to be #4or5 lead shot in them.

Wolf no disrespect to u or hoe u hunt. It just my observation the last couple of years that there are ppl who turkey hunt now just because the tss has made it easy for them
Use what u want it's your call but I don't like it yes it kills and so has lead for many years. I'm 53 and killed over 100 long beards all over the country if one hung up at 50 60 yards I would just adjust for the next time I hunt that bird is what I mean by woodsman up this way its mostly bushwacking them my personal limit is about 25 to 30 yards gun will kill farther but I like it close id say most birds were shot 15 or under .

You haven’t paid much attention…take away decoys and your hunter numbers would drop by 50%. Take away reaping as well. Folks have more decoys than calls. TSS has nothing to do with it, lol.

Well, here goes...
We can hunt with a rifle..O/U...12 GA. 223...best of oth worlds...
Flame suit on...LOL


Donnie

I have a Tikka 222 under 12 gauge that I can’t hunt turkeys in the fall with now

Here ya go…this may be the first year I get skunked, lol.
This is at 30yds with 2.75” #4 turkey loads (lead) in my gifted Belgium 1956 Browning Light 12. Looks like that would be the absolute beyond a doubt max distance. Probably be more like 20yds when it happens. Not going to wound/lose a turkey for sake of killing one with this gun. Last year out of 4-5 turkeys, the farthest was 23yds. Hoping for a repeat this year. Gotta set up making them come hunting for you, lol. With my 20ga I prefer 25-30, but sometimes you don’t want the show to end.

And no, I can’t draw near as well as my SE turkey hunter.

WannaBe,
Those Worth Co turkeys look similar to my Echols Co turkeys...lol.

Waddle, snood, and all.....

Kinda looks like Mr. Burns off The Simpsons!!! Lol

When I was 19 I did this turkey in Laos from 1,000 yards out, with TSS, in high wind. Maybe 1, or, maybe 2 people in the world could of made that shot. It's the only thing I was ever any good at.

No disrespect here either...just some turkey hunters agreeing & disagreeing. I'm like you....I've always adjusted on hung up birds out of range. I will continue to do so. But it's good to know what my gun/ammo will do at normal distances. I've always considered 50 yds too long of a poke and will be very hesitant to try that, even now. Everything will have to line up perfectly for me to send it that far.

Now That’s Funny!!!

Lol. After looking at some of the drawings here. It’s a good thing we are really good looking and top notch trappers. Maybe we should get Sharon to draw us up some.

Good idea Matt…just copy and print. I actually thought mine looked pretty good, but art was never my specialty.

STUPIDER ?

Is that actually a real word ?

w

I'm just too cheap to purchase turkey targets.

Same one I use Swamp Wolf. I was lifting my head and shooting over them before I installed these.

Bet you feel stupider now.

Thanks. I don't think everyone appreciates my humor.

I’m sure that was just a joke ADC, but got to ask now that you mentioned a country we “weren’t” in, were you in SOG?

It's a movie quote, Lethal Weapon.

Here is a trick that I use. I too am a poor artist and cheep.
Take one of these.

Cut the head and neck out. Trace it onto a good piece of cardboard or a political sign. Cut it out. Now with a 1.00 can of spray paint. You can spray you a target on anything you want.

Well, to be honest, I think mine and Swamps wasn’t too far off.

Good advice Matt, I like that idea. I don’t shoot targets much. Just shoot my gun every year prior to season just to make sure. Or if I’m planning on using something besides my turkey gun.

I’ve always made a fist and bent my wrist as far as it would go and traced from my elbow up around my fist and back down. Add a beak and voila!! Looked close enough to a turkey head and neck to me.

So hate to enter another TSS debate it here I am. Giving the naysayers points some thought. If you don’t want to use them so be it, however if cost is your main or only factor I’ll say this. How many guys didn’t kill their bird because it hung up just out of range it could have killed it with having another 10-20 yards in their ability? How much more money in gas, food, lodging did you spend?

Sorry bass but that's a dumb argument for TSS. And for the record I've been considering buying some just to see what all the hub-bub is about. Swamp Wolf's patterns are really impressive.



I have let lots of spring gobblers walk because they hung up just outside my 40-yard limit. I don't think I'd shoot at one past that self-imposed limit even if I knew I could cleanly kill well beyond that. I'm pretty sure I could now with my current set-up. I just don't.

Money? If it was about money I would stop hunting them. I buy a second PA turkey tag every year for $22.00. I hardly ever fill it. The value in that second tag is being able to continue hunting spring gobblers after I kill my first one for the season. Just like the value of letting one walk is in being able to hunt it the next day or the rest of the week that I take off each year to hunt them.

Your point of buying TSS to save money and shorten your hunting season is silly.

Well then the post wasn’t for you? Many people said they are way too expensive so I said what I said towards them!