Are tungsten turkey loads worth the money?

[Gellar]

Was about to say exactly this-- the benefit of TSS is letting the hunter step down to a smaller gauge. I love it in my 20 but don't see a need to use it in my 12, which patterns exceptionally well with Hevi-Shot Magnum Blend and Longbeard.

Good point. I use a 12 gauge, but I am going to pull the trigger on a .410 "for my kids to use" and will bite the bullet on TSS for a .410. I also try to set up in a way that the turkeys will be within 30 yards when I can shoot at them, whether that is where the turkeys have to crest a hill to see my decoy, or in a tite thicket where they can't find the hen until they are within 25 yards. Honestly, I don't know if I've killed a turkey over 20 yards away in 5 or more years.

 

[Sheltowee]

Good point. I use a 12 gauge, but I am going to pull the trigger on a .410 "for my kids to use" and will bite the bullet on TSS for a .410. I also try to set up in a way that the turkeys will be within 30 yards when I can shoot at them, whether that is where the turkeys have to crest a hill to see my decoy, or in a tite thicket where they can't find the hen until they are within 25 yards. Honestly, I don't know if I've killed a turkey over 20 yards away in 5 or more years.

For sure, goal is always to kill them in that 20-40 yard range. Sometimes though, field birds will hang up at 50 and I like to know that I can touch them.

I've also found TSS, with higher pellet counts, give better (i.e., slightly wider) patterns at close range than the best long range lead loads. I once airballed a shot at about 7 yards shooting LongBeard, which probably had a golfball-sized pattern that close.

 

[glass eye]

I bought three boxes of 3.5 inch (5 shells per box) and two boxes of 3" for an Eider hunt in Greenland this coming March. For me these loads are for special birds and I probably wouldn't use them for turkey.

 

[WapitiBob]

I hunted Turkeys last year for the first time in 50 years. It was an absolute kick in the azz.
Ended up with my 2 birds but need to work on picking the right load.
3-1/2" 12ga with a 30" barrel.

 

[Sheltowee]

I hunted Turkeys last year for the first time in 50 years. It was an absolute kick in the azz.
Ended up with my 2 birds but need to work on picking the right load.
3-1/2" 12ga with a 30" barrel.

View attachment 391756

I don't feel the need to shoot 3 1/2s at turkeys (or anything else, for that matter). I'm not that mad at them.

 

[howl]

For sub-gauges, yes. For 12ga, no. You probably don't need anything tighter than factory full in 20ga or 12ga, though. So, if you're they type to buy $100 chokes, then the TSS will save you that cost.

I do most of my turkey killing with a .410. TSS is necessary for that most of the time.

 

[howl]

I hunted Turkeys last year for the first time in 50 years. It was an absolute kick in the azz.
Ended up with my 2 birds but need to work on picking the right load.
3-1/2" 12ga with a 30" barrel.

View attachment 391756

My .410 will outpattern that by far with TSS.

Go to 5s or 6s. A 3 1/2" load of 6s will smoke a turkey at forty yards. You're not going to hold a pattern of #4s far enough to take advantage of the pellet size anyhow.

 

[NoWiser]

I don't feel the need to shoot 3 1/2s at turkeys (or anything else, for that matter). I'm not that mad at them.

I’m not that mad at myself.

 

[Sheltowee]

I’m not that mad at myself.

Haha, that too!