Turkey Shot Shell Dilemma

[ducks4days]

I guess I see different than most here. I see TSS as the beginning of the end.

Why do we need to kill a bird at 60 yards? Now I am no turkey guru, in fact most would call me the worst turkey hunter on the planet. I have hunted them full length of this state,Colville to Asotin. I have been turkey hunting 10 years or more. Called them in to with in feet. Sit so still hens have stepped over my legs feeding.

Never killed one. Yep never killed a turkey. Now I have had offers for private land. But that’s not my style. Not interested in barn chickens.

One my buddies killed three, another buddies group kill about 20 a year road hunting them.
Again not my style.

I drive from western WA 8 hours to hunt them for one week out of my wall tent. I enjoy every minute of it. I don’t understand the person who has to kill one to justify the gas  and money spent.
Is the rest of the experience worth nothing? Hearing them gobble, calling them in, finding them on public land all worth nothing, spending time with friends and grandson all worth nothing.
Sorry I just don’t get it. It’s not like they are excellent table fare.

Too many people put to much emphasis on the kill instead of everything else you get to enjoy. I like 410, I understand TSS for it. But in the end you are just adding more cost.

Really if it came for a vote I would vote to not allow it. Yeah I use a choke and a gps to get around. At some point everyone can’t kill a bird, and at some point we need to find our way back to enjoying the experience instead of needing the kill advantage.

If you came for the meat , you came for the wrong reason.

 

OK I'll put my foot in my mouth. This is poetry.

[KP-Skagit]

This debate is no different than long range shooting for big game. Spend some more money, devote some more time and get greater range. If you are a 12 guager and switch to TSS I imagine it's just a matter of time you buy a new gun set up specifically for it.

To each their own. For me, big game, turkeys, ducks, the fun is getting close.

[Remington Outdoors]

Ive always wanted to try out the tss loads!! from what ive heard it has no problem out at those long ranges out past 50 yards when the birds aren't coming in close enough

[Dan-o]

I hunted turkeys with 12 gauge 2 3/4" loads.......
And then I just had to get 3" shells.......
(Now I'm stuck with my unshot 2 3/4" turkey loads gathering dust)
And then I just had to get 3 1/2" shells.......
(Now I'm stuck with my unshot 3" turkey loads gathering dust)
If I buy TSS, I'll be stuck with a couple boxes of unshot 3 1/2" turkey loads.
And I'm still contemplating buying some of that ludicrously expensive ammo.

The stupidest part is that I typically shoot my turkeys between 10-25 yards, where those 2 3/4" loads kill them as dead as everything else.....

[iRem]

Oh friends, don't get me wrong, I truly enjoy the hunt. Locating birds is just as amazing as locating bulls in the early season. I enjoy the hunt with family, friends, doing the planning and e-scouting, the preparation either shooting the bow or patterning the shotgun, packing, the travel and everything in between...from beginning to end regardless the outcome.

I don't necessarily need to shoot 3 1/2" but because I have it, it shot it. I may just have to pattern the TSS shells and see how they shoot. 

[builtfordtough]

TSS hands down all the way.  I switched over a few yrs ago.  I love them and will never go back.  Yes they are expensive.  But isn't everything else?  We had a timber tiger get in my buddies wheel well making a nest while turkey hunting.  Flushed it out and shot it out of the tree 50' up.  I may or may not of missed the first shot.  That was a $20 🐿 😆

[h2ofowlr]

I guess I could buy them if I had a need for them. So far I haven't.  I enjoy the calling, the stalking and setup.  I like getting the birds in close, that is my personal challenge, but I am also an archery hunter, so it's my style.  I haven't missed or lost a turkey in 25 years of chasing them.  Working on fine tuning the calling and working them in close has been the fun vs. smoking a turkey at 60+ yards.  If you need to kill a bird, I can understand ussing the TSS loads.  I'm not going to knock someone that is trying to see if they can kill them at long range, again not my style.  If you hunt turkey with a bow, TSS also doesn't matter much.    I know a few that only turkey hunt with recurve bows. 

[birddogdad]

I guess I see different than most here. I see TSS as the beginning of the end.

Why do we need to kill a bird at 60 yards? Now I am no turkey guru, in fact most would call me the worst turkey hunter on the planet. I have hunted them full length of this state,Colville to Asotin. I have been turkey hunting 10 years or more. Called them in to with in feet. Sit so still hens have stepped over my legs feeding.

Never killed one. Yep never killed a turkey. Now I have had offers for private land. But that’s not my style. Not interested in barn chickens.

One my buddies killed three, another buddies group kill about 20 a year road hunting them.
Again not my style.

I drive from western WA 8 hours to hunt them for one week out of my wall tent. I enjoy every minute of it. I don’t understand the person who has to kill one to justify the gas  and money spent.
Is the rest of the experience worth nothing? Hearing them gobble, calling them in, finding them on public land all worth nothing, spending time with friends and grandson all worth nothing.
Sorry I just don’t get it. It’s not like they are excellent table fare.

Too many people put to much emphasis on the kill instead of everything else you get to enjoy. I like 410, I understand TSS for it. But in the end you are just adding more cost.

Really if it came for a vote I would vote to not allow it. Yeah I use a choke and a gps to get around. At some point everyone can’t kill a bird, and at some point we need to find our way back to enjoying the experience instead of needing the kill advantage.

If you came for the meat , you came for the wrong reason.

 

OK I'll put my foot in my mouth. This is poetry.

Kind of where i was trying to go with my post above, yes you can shoot further with TSS but not what its about, the options it has opened up for me were worth pursuit.. the modern high density nay-sayers could say the same to duck/goose hunters and steel vs heavy shot. The same distance theme argued with long range rifle shooters alot too. "Just wait until they are closer and run the cheap steel it works fine." is a perfectly acceptable position but why be so rigid to the old ways? enough about the distance red herring

 My direction in response to OP was in gear options you can use with tss keeping the same effective range with a much smaller shotgun, less carry weight, pattern density, . responses toward range drowns out benefits of TSS density... the OP was asking about TSS, answer - heck yes its crazy good and has superior benefits, yes it is spendy but its all choice like you said here, its a tool and should not overshadow the experience of just being there. No different than Red dots, bino's, or a range finder which have opened a bunch of options especially for new young hunters and old farts (like me). Taking a grandchild out with a 410 vs making them shoot high brass 12ga loads is really a nice option for their experience and with TSS is as effective at 35 yards as that 12ga cannon now. "20 is the new 12" is the shotshell manufacturers theme with this stuff, heck i hate shooting those 12ga eyeball shakers . Distance to kill should not really be anywhere in the consideration... my stevens single shot 410 with turkey tss is my favorite new toy... cheap, effective, ethical and a heck of a lot of fun to shoot! one final thought with TSS, its part of a gun system, TSS chokes are now made specifically for this stuff too.

[hunter399]

I don't turkey hunt.

Kid does,
His favorite is the federal grand slam turkey loads,12gauge 3in.
He also has used ...
Winchester turkey loads
Remington nitro turkey loads.

Since I purchase most of them for him.
Remington are usually the cheapest and work just as good as the rest.

Tss is still too rich for me,20,12 gauge probably gonna do fine with regular loads.
Smaller gauge than 20,12 ,TSS is most likely best option.

If you would of told me ten + years ago that people would be using 410 for turkey,I'd say your crazy. That TSS is a game changer for sure. At the same time,if your already using a 12,I don't really see the point unless you want a more range or something.
Juice isn't worth the squeeze in a 12.
But I've never used them ,maybe I don't know @#$&.
Who knows.

[hughjorgan]

I guess I see different than most here. I see TSS as the beginning of the end.

Why do we need to kill a bird at 60 yards? Now I am no turkey guru, in fact most would call me the worst turkey hunter on the planet. I have hunted them full length of this state,Colville to Asotin. I have been turkey hunting 10 years or more. Called them in to with in feet. Sit so still hens have stepped over my legs feeding.

Never killed one. Yep never killed a turkey. Now I have had offers for private land. But that’s not my style. Not interested in barn chickens.

One my buddies killed three, another buddies group kill about 20 a year road hunting them.
Again not my style.

I drive from western WA 8 hours to hunt them for one week out of my wall tent. I enjoy every minute of it. I don’t understand the person who has to kill one to justify the gas  and money spent.
Is the rest of the experience worth nothing? Hearing them gobble, calling them in, finding them on public land all worth nothing, spending time with friends and grandson all worth nothing.
Sorry I just don’t get it. It’s not like they are excellent table fare.

Too many people put to much emphasis on the kill instead of everything else you get to enjoy. I like 410, I understand TSS for it. But in the end you are just adding more cost.

Really if it came for a vote I would vote to not allow it. Yeah I use a choke and a gps to get around. At some point everyone can’t kill a bird, and at some point we need to find our way back to enjoying the experience instead of needing the kill advantage.

If you came for the meat , you came for the wrong reason.

 

OK I'll put my foot in my mouth. This is poetry.

Kind of where i was trying to go with my post above, yes you can shoot further with TSS but not what its about, the options it has opened up for me were worth pursuit.. the modern high density nay-sayers could say the same to duck/goose hunters and steel vs heavy shot. The same distance theme argued with long range rifle shooters alot too. "Just wait until they are closer and run the cheap steel it works fine." is a perfectly acceptable position but why be so rigid to the old ways? enough about the distance red herring

 My direction in response to OP was in gear options you can use with tss keeping the same effective range with a much smaller shotgun, less carry weight, pattern density, . responses toward range drowns out benefits of TSS density... the OP was asking about TSS, answer - heck yes its crazy good and has superior benefits, yes it is spendy but its all choice like you said here, its a tool and should not overshadow the experience of just being there. No different than Red dots, bino's, or a range finder which have opened a bunch of options especially for new young hunters and old farts (like me). Taking a grandchild out with a 410 vs making them shoot high brass 12ga loads is really a nice option for their experience and with TSS is as effective at 35 yards as that 12ga cannon now. "20 is the new 12" is the shotshell manufacturers theme with this stuff, heck i hate shooting those 12ga eyeball shakers . Distance to kill should not really be anywhere in the consideration... my stevens single shot 410 with turkey tss is my favorite new toy... cheap, effective, ethical and a heck of a lot of fun to shoot! one final thought with TSS, its part of a gun system, TSS chokes are now made specifically for this stuff too.

Exactly what my thoughts on tss are; you can use a lighter setup and still get the same performance you had with the 12 gauge. If you want to use it in a 12g you’re getting superior performance at normal turkey ranges. I’d much rather have a shell that patterns 350 pellets in a 10” circle at 40 yards then what the performance of lead will get you. TSS will provide that performance which in my mind means quicker, cleaner kills. Isn’t that what we all strive for?

[boneaddict]

I know that those Tungsten Irons from around Y2k   work pretty slick on those dang starling groups that think they are safe and out of reach from my other 12 and 20s.   I'd image the new stuff works pretty good too.  Like Dan-o   I found myself with a bunch of unshot ammo that has been repurposed for ridding the skies of the dark clouded menace.     Those 3.5 Tungsten irons pack a wallop.   

[jrebel]

I have thought about trying it....but just can't justify the cost.  I have killed big toms to 50 yards with my old Remington 870 with a turkey choke and Remington Nitro Turkey loads.  Cheap and kill.  Funny thing....with any other hunting, cost for superior ammo is not an issue.  Don't know why it is when it comes to turkey....probably because precision is not necessary for turkey, just a good pattern. 

[wannabhntr]

Check out Salt Creek Ammo

[Karl Blanchard]

Big TSS fan. We use it in the .410 and the 20. Have some for the 12 as well but honestly never carry it anymore as the lethality of the smaller guns is so good.

The cost argument doesn't hold water imo. Few rounds to pattern but after that you're only shooting 1-3 a year. If I can afford the $100 for gas and everything else that goes along with a turkey trip, I can afford $5-10 for a few shells that undoubtedly ensures a quick clean kill and a bird in the vest

[baldopepper]

Seems to me a hunter ought to shoot whatever he's comfortable with and is legal.  No doubt the tss is great,brother has shot several with his .410 loaded with it.  If you like it, shoot it.  If you're happy with your regular loads, use them. Kinda like debating what's the best way to hunt em.  Run and gun, set up a blind, ambush , etc. Stick with what works for you and you most enjoy.  Might add, if you don't hit em doesn't matter what load you use. Make sure you pattern your gun and are confident using it