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!

 

[LopeHunter]

In theory you can kill a gobbler with a Crossman pellet gun. Muzzle velocity of 700 fps. One pellet per shot fired.

Is the greater test of our skill is the art of getting the turkey closer before shoot? Is it okay to opt for lesser muzzle velocity and smaller volume of pellets as long as you are confident you will have an expected 100% kill at a particular distance?

If was legal, would you opt for the pellet gun to hunt a turkey?

Is it ethical to reach past the 12 gauge in my gun safe to grab the .410 for turkey season? Is is reasonable to make the decision to hunt with 76% of the muzzle velocity and 77% of the pellets per shot fired?

We allow archery hunting, after all, which has lower muzzle velocity and greater loss of velocity and a greater trajectory than a .410.

We do not require a 10-gauge as the minimum shotgun for turkey hunting.

Is there a goal for what percentage of us have a wounded turkey lost and would the shotgun choice correlate to wounded vs recovered bird?

 

[howl]

In theory you can kill a gobbler with a Crossman pellet gun. Muzzle velocity of 700 fps. One pellet per shot fired.

Is the greater test of our skill is the art of getting the turkey closer before shoot? Is it okay to opt for lesser muzzle velocity and smaller volume of pellets as long as you are confident you will have an expected 100% kill at a particular distance?

If was legal, would you opt for the pellet gun to hunt a turkey?

Is it ethical to reach past the 12 gauge in my gun safe to grab the .410 for turkey season? Is is reasonable to make the decision to hunt with 76% of the muzzle velocity and 77% of the pellets per shot fired?

We allow archery hunting, after all, which has lower muzzle velocity and greater loss of velocity and a greater trajectory than a .410.

We do not require a 10-gauge as the minimum shotgun for turkey hunting.

Is there a goal for what percentage of us have a wounded turkey lost and would the shotgun choice correlate to wounded vs recovered bird?

Set up a 20ga with TSS. You'll come to the same conclusion as everyone else.

 

[Hem]

Not to be contrary, but I've killed a chit ton of birds with conventional, most in close. The Stevens 20 gauge with a red dot , Indian Creek choke, and TSS was mostly about trying something new, but also having opportunity on late season boss gobblers that sometimes dance around just out of conventional range. I like everything about it with 9 birds harvested in 3 years. It smacks them good with less stray pellets.
I shot one at 5 yds last year, gulp...

 

[F250]

I switched to TSS a couple years ago for my 12 ga. Very happy with the results and glad I did.

 

[X13]

For you folks that have experience, are the tungsten loads really worth it?

Yes, it’s magical

Also, do I really need a turkey choke instead of my regular full choke?

Depends, but probably no

 

[jpc01101]

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.

I bought my “kid” a .410 this year and he smoked one at 30 yds with TSS then I decided to use it the next week and killed one at 45. TSS is wicked stuff, absolutely worth the cash.

 

[R.K.]

My problem with personally using it is it goes against what makes turkey hunting fun- fooling them and getting them in close.

My problem with others using it is the increased range- plenty of negligent discharges every year where folks get peppered by hunters not properly identifying the target and what lies beyond. Very few of these turn truly tragic, but the TSS boasts improved penetration at extended ranges, which gives a greater chance for things to go wrong.

 

[N2TRKYS]

TSS is only worth it, if you want to shoot turkeys at long range. If you never shoot turkeys past 20 yards, then you’re wasting your time and money on TSS.

There ain’t enough of a difference in weight between 410s, 20 ga, and 12 gauges when setup the same way to make a difference.