My limited experience with 20g tss.

Try different loads patterns vary not only in diameter but in pater density. But even the worst ones I shot shot
substantially better 40 yard patterns than I thought possible. 10"- 14" depending on brand/load if memory serves.

The good incredible tight dense patterns making smaller gage guns suitable at much longer range. My oldest son knocked his bird down last year pasted 50 yards with 20g and Carlson turkey choke. Stuff is incredible.

The bad.1 Its expensive. 2 You better shoot your gun like a rifle birds in close patterns will be crazy small and tight and it would be embarrassing to miss a close shot. But I understand how the guys on tv did miss 25 yard shots after shooting this stuff. So if you expect close shot aim or maybe use a tradional lead turkey load
that won't shoot as tight.

3 Tss is harder on your teeth than lead. I know I read somewhere folks said it passes through due to weight and density but im here to tell you thats not always the case. And yes I could tell the difference biting down on it vs lead its worse.

Turkey seasion is around the corner so for those thinking about tss start early and get your loads tested . The bas pro brand herters shot the tightest most even patterns I tested out of 2 different guns. If your really into turkey, want to us smaller gage guns, have longer shots, and dont mind spening 10$ a shot tss is a game changer.

Yes we still pack 3" lead #5 along for when its thick and.close. no since wasting a $10 bill when a $2 bill can get the job done. But having the option to take that long shot with confidence sure is nice and one expensive shot and filled tag is cheaper than not shooting and driving out to hunt the next day.

Tss is one nice tool to have in the tool box. I bet it may be tough on coyotes as well.

Check out Natchez shooter supply they had some 20 ga TSS dealS also Midway USA for deals. If it’s not on sale I wouldn’t pay what they are asking.

Good to know! I’ve only chased turkey with the bow and taking my 10yr old out with his 28ga this spring. Found some tss on midway for cheaper than most. Haven’t patterned with it yet.

I patterned my 410 turkey gun with federal TSS and Winchester lead shot last year and the Winchester lead shot patterned better than the TSS. I was glad it is way cheaper to shoot.

Ok my popcorn is ready!

10" circle at 40 yards from my 20 ga. shells are 11 bucks each, but when you spend 200 bucks in gas through the course of the season,, whats 22 bucks to limit out?

couple more things about TSS, they don't flop as much and the shot that go low into the breast completely penetrate the breast for the most part. they are smaller and do not flatten so they do not drag nearly as many feathers into the meat. TSS is 18% heavier than lead so a #9 TSS will out penetrate a #5 lead at the same velocity.

Did you try a choke made for tss? I got one to start with becuse it came with a Franchi affinity 3 youth gun that the shop I was at had had custom cammo dipped and added the choke for a turkey hunting promo a year or two befor and that one didnt sell and was tucked in the back corner of a rack. The 2nd choke I got for it was becuse i needed a full choke anyway for our youth model 870 and it was not terribly more expensive and the first one I got worked well. Maybe a Carlson chole made for it will give you better results?

I can't see how the pattern would not be much more dense even if the same diameter due to many more #9 pellets fiting into the hull unless something odd is going on in the choke.

Nothing wrong with affordable lead if it gets the job done. We used lead just fine the year before 2 years back and both boys taged out within 15 seconds shots were 13 and 16 yards tss would have been no benefit and actually a negative that close especially considering my youngest shot his before the gun got to his shoulder more like shooting a pistol. It was fast and thick when everything happened it was now. But last year it made the difference when the birds were cautious and shots were long.

I do think with some time and money you can find a choke tss load combo that will be a big improvement for that 410 but may not be helpful depending on the conditions.

The season is coming. Can't wait!

PF I did buy a TSS choke, and the Winchester copper plated shot still patterned better. I’m not trying to start an argument was just posting my results. My cousin shoots the same setup and his gun patterns the TSS better.

TSS makes small gauges real turkey guns. The thing I dont like about TSS, especially 12 ga, is too many folks try to shoot turkeys too far away. If you are shooting turkeys over 50 yards you aint a turkey hunter - in my opinion of course

I picked up multiple 25 round boxes of Federal Premium 2oz plated #2, #4 and #6 recently for less than $15/box. I think it was actually $10/box.

These are from the late 80’s early 90’s. They still work great in multiple shotguns. I took both of my spring gobblers with them. One at 15 yards, the other at 30 yards.

I've been a huge proponent of sub-gauge turkey guns shooting TSS. Shot nothing but TSS for probably 7 turkey seasons now.

That's going to change this year.

Due to the tariff wars TSS shot is now 90 to 100 dollars per pound. I paid 30-35 bucks a pound for years. You will see the high prices of tss ammo jump up even higher due to this.

I won't pay 100 dollars per pound for shot. I just won't do it.

Put on for 4 tags so far and can get a couple leftover tags and an over the counter tag on top of that.

get the TSS tubes and you are set, i shoot a Mossberg 500 bantam youth with a Carlsons tube, beyond wicked on turkey and you dont get your teeth kicked outta your head. When Uncle Bulletbox was still alive thats where I hunted them and 70 yards was a common distance. I never missed one at that distance nor did one not get a head full of TSS 9's.

If its what works best run with it for sure.

I have only shot a 410 once and it shot a pattern I wouldn't shot anything with at 20 yards. I think it was a rifle that could shoot 410 and maybe 45 lc or something. I figured the rifle spun the shot throwing it wider and no choke made it only a 5' snake gun. Cousin took his son shooting squirrels with a 410 he has and it knocked them out of the tree but they ran off.
I have always liked 410 sxs size and handling I have seen but not having confidence in how they preform and the higher cost and shells I never have bought one. Im sure they are great with the right loads and choke. Maybe I should look at the 28's?

What kind of patterns are you geting at what distance? My use would be mostly for rabbits squirrels and maybe quail. Squirrels if my shooting with .22 keeps declining with hand tremors and other ms crap.( i missed to many times this year with my .22 but I dont like eating shot or having them alive when they hit the ground)

Im probably better off sticking with the 12 20 and 16 gages we already have. But where is the fun in that? And a smaller lighter gun will be easier to pack when im having mobility difficulties. (Any excuse to get a new gun i dont need)

At the distance I will shoot a bird either copper plated or TSS both will work for me it’s about closing the gap that I enjoy and making the move. They cut back on the Black Hills tags now the desk jockeys think there’s less birds but the breeding patterns have changed from what I’ve seen over the years. Less birds killed on paper must equal less population to the pencil pushers so they panic rather then putting boots on the ground.

Common now for hens to be with the roost later and later in the season reducing the need for gobblers to seek out other hens from my experience dang near to the end of May these warm winters are not helping.

You would think the guys blasting away at greater distances will make it harder to call birds in over time also we will see.

You could always take a second mortgage on your house and pick up a couple boxes of Apex Ninja TSS.

As others have said the the TSS really shines in the sub gauges. My son has been able to shoot 3 spring gobblers by the age of 7 all out of a full choked Henry Single shot 410 with Apex TSS. Shots all 20 yards or less the pattern was very even and not hot. Due to pellet count there was not one standard lead load that came even close in pattern. I have spent a lot of time shooting 410 in sporting clays and pellet count is a challenge out of the 410.

I have turkey hunted for 40 years and always used a 12 gauge 3" or 3.5" when they came out. 5 years ago I switched to an 11/87 20 gauge, Jebs choke, and TSS. I still don't shoot a bird past 30 yards as getting them close my challenge. The 20 gauge allows me to carry a much lighter gun with a lot less felt recoil. I'm hoping to get my son to step up to the 20 this year.

The TSS is expensive no doubt, but I shoot 2 TSS shells a year to fill both my tags so $20 ish in shells. Catch it on sale and stock up. I figure I waste $20 a year on far worse stuff.

I started my boys with the 410 and TSS. I patterned a bunch of different lead loads, hand loads and factory, and found one that was good enough at 25 yards. The first tungsten load I shot was at 37 yards, and would definitely have killed a turkey. I've since pattered Remington, Federal, and Fiocchi and all performed reliably out to 35 yards, with a couple gun/load combos being capable further. Turns out the investment was unnecessary, as my boys haven't killed one past 19 yards, and now the nine year old is shooting 20 and 12 gauge, and the 6 year old is likely switching to the 20 gauge this spring. I'll probably never kill a turkey with anything but lead, but for the kids shooting 410 or 28, I figure it's worth it to give them a little better chance of success.

If you decide you don't like those #2s, I know a guy that would be happy to buy them off you.