TSS waterfowl reloading

[Stein]

I was looking into loading my own TSS shells for ducks and it looks like if you use 100% TSS with 7/8 ounce load, the cost of the TSS alone would be  $2.40 a shell.

I did some Googling but didn't see anyone loading combo of TSS and steel, something like what Federal is doing.

For those loading, are you loading 100% TSS or some other way to keep the cost more manageable?  With the Federal rebate, it looks like just buying some to try it out is more affordable than loading.

[callturner]

I load strictly steel now. If I happen to get an old double gun I may look at something softer. 1675fps for both 10 and 12ga . 3" 12's and 3 1/2 " 10ga.  I have some 1800 fps 12ga loads that are for special hunts. The 3" active hulls are hard to find. 

[ctwiggs1]

tag

[birddogdad]

be mindful of what is advertised as TSS out there.. most of the "cheaper" stuff is a blend not pure tungsten and cc/kg is not the 18 of pure TSS... you can do this yourself and purchase blends that are much more affordable for waterfowl (sky blasting). another thought is that if you buy bulk TSS it may be cheaper but a large investment ( if you had a waterfowl club) ...

 i think ballisticproducts has data and blend for sale... i think i have found strait TSS for 41$ ish a pound best case...in 5# containers... enough to load say 17 7/8 rounds per pound... your 2.40$ each number....

not really cost effective for ducks/geese (IMO) to run strait TSS, even sphero (15cc/kg) is mid 30$ / lb.... not much better pricepoint… deadly yes but


oh, take a look at apex ammo, they may have box ammo you would like and if military, you get a discount too

[Firstbuck]

I bought the rogers deal: Federal Premium BlackCloud TSS Waterfowl Steel/Tungsten Shotshells, 12GA 3" 1 1/4oz 1450FPS 3&9. Steel 3's, Tungsten 9's, 100 shells for 200 plus the federal rebate of 75 after tax it put it around $1.30 a shell.


Shooting a Franchi Affinity 3.5 Elite using the long range extended choke it comes with. Performance has been pretty mixed for me seems like some days I'm crushing birds and other days its not really knocking them down great, the caveat being that I'm a bad shot and typically if I miss I'm above and behind. That can all be solved with a benelli B.E.S.T. SBE III, and a duck boat though right guys?

[allasktr]

Been using the Federal TSS shells this year along with steel #2s and would definitely recommend trying out a box. It's more expensive then steel but seems to be fewer cripples and fewer shots.

[BTStewart]

There's a lot of threads about steel / TSS duplex reloading over on duckhuntingchat.com. I'd recommend typing the following into google:

steel TSS duplex site:duckhuntingchat.com

Also, there's some good info here (20 gauge oriented but the concepts apply to any gauge)

https://pipesf16.wordpress.com/tsssteel-duplex-loads-and-calcs-20ga/

Not something I've done myself yet, but am also looking into.

[Stein]

Thanks for the links, read all the stuff, sounds like you can load #9s or 9.5s under #3 steel and have a great round for about $1.25 a shot give or take.  You can load it yourself or just buy the Federal stuff with the rebate.

Anyone want to split a case to try it out?  50 rounds for $62.50 plus tax for a half case.

[duckmen1]

Future I'll be loading 410. Tss is the most amazing shot on the market for sub Guage shooting at birds. Truely blown away with the lethal nockdown on birds. Only drawback is price. 5 to 8 dollars a shot with 410 factory. But reloading can save an amazing amount real quick for bird hunting. Can't wait to reload for it.