Non toxic turkey loads

O

Ozzi

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Hey everyone!

I just got my hunting license, and I'm waiting patiently for turkey season to open up. I have a Mossberg 500. I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with non toxic turkey loads? I doesn't look like you can use a full choke with them, so I'd imagine the patterning would be lackluster.
 
Are you looking at tungsten type shot? This would be non toxic but also a big advantage in range, pattern and killing power. I used to use federal heavyweight (15 grams per cc) but i think they discontinued that with the new heavyweight TSS which is 18 grams per cc. Not sure that it has made its way to Canada yet. The old heavyweight worked great and i used it in turkey chokes rated for it.

What i am using now is heavy shot magnum blend. Its a blend of 5,6 and 7 shot and slightly heavier than lead at 13 grams per cc. You can find it a few places if you look online. It patterned beautiful at 40 yards last year through a hevi shot rated turkey choke. I will be hitting the range with it again this year shortly.

Some of the turkey guides i know south of the border used to use exclusively magnum blend and now have switched over to TSS.

Only issue is that it is crazy expensive!
 
legi0n said:
Federal TSS is expensive but patterns great
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I got excited about that new product, but in Ontario the smallest shot size we are allowed for turkey is #7 (was only recently approved a few years ago). I feel like its a waste buying the TSS shells if we can't step down to something like #9's. Right now I'm using the hevi mag blends (5,6,7). I used to use the winchester xtended range #6, probably still one box left in the ammo cabinet, but after they stopped making it I set up my turkey gun and patterned with hevi's.
 
I have a friend in Georgia who’s main turkey rig is a .410 using hand loaded TSS #9 shot. He’s been turkey hunting for close to 40 years and knows what he’s doing. Our regs are dopey.
 
canvasback said:
I have a friend in Georgia who’s main turkey rig is a .410 using hand loaded TSS #9 shot. He’s been turkey hunting for close to 40 years and knows what he’s doing. Our regs are dopey.
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And that is exactly what TSS shot is really for small gauges like 20, 28, 410 and turkey hunting etc
It is not required with a 12ga or 10ga if you pattern your gun with lead properly so save your money
If one cannot get lead to pattern at 40 plus yards something is wrong with the end user
But hey to each their own
Cheers
 
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If the killing potential is already there for standard lead turkey loads, why use anything else? It's more expensive, you need fancy chokes, etc. I can make 40 yard headshots no problem and it kills them dead, but also doesn't cost an arm and leg. I wish I had extra money to blast away on a bird that already costs 30 bucks a tag...

North
 
It seems to me that those grousing about the cost of something like TSS for turkey either don't turkey hunt or have not thought it through. How many shells are you using in a typical season? In Ontario, where I can take two birds, it's been a tough season if I fire 4 shells. So really, when you consider all the other costs involved, is the price of 2 -6 shells really much of a consideration? If it is, maybe you shouldn't be hunting at all. Not a cost efficient way to put meat on the table.

My buddy in Georgia uses TSS becasue it has enabled him to switch to a effective gun that weighs under 4 1/2 pounds. Small, light and maneuverable. It's actually one of the folding .410's that he has spent a little time on getting it perfect for his use. I believe it's a Rossi. And it wouldn't take long in the EE to determine that a folding Rossi could be had at such a discount to the typical turkey gun that you would never worry about the cost of TSS again.
 
Actually, I hunt quite a bit and shoot high volumes (waterfowl). That being said, If I want to i can spend it, but why? Lead turkey loads work fine for me. By using what already works at half the price or less, I can spend that money elsewhere on more ammo. But hey, I guess if you only shoot your shotgun a few times a year...

North
 
canvasback said:
It seems to me that those grousing about the cost of something like TSS for turkey either don't turkey hunt or have not thought it through. How many shells are you using in a typical season? In Ontario, where I can take two birds, it's been a tough season if I fire 4 shells. So really, when you consider all the other costs involved, is the price of 2 -6 shells really much of a consideration? If it is, maybe you shouldn't be hunting at all. Not a cost efficient way to put meat on the table.

My buddy in Georgia uses TSS becasue it has enabled him to switch to a effective gun that weighs under 4 1/2 pounds. Small, light and maneuverable. It's actually one of the folding .410's that he has spent a little time on getting it perfect for his use. I believe it's a Rossi. And it wouldn't take long in the EE to determine that a folding Rossi could be had at such a discount to the typical turkey gun that you would never worry about the cost of TSS again.
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Or they reload/ shoot shotgun more than a box a year and pattern their shotgun enough to know what theirs' is capable of doing
Takes me a lot more than 4-6 rounds just to find what choke tube to use when trying new loads so your comment is based on someone who doesn't pattern their gun
If you cannot take a turkey with a 12ga and lead I agree you should not be hunting
If I can kill with a $2.00 hammer why buy a $50.00 mall. Dead is dead to the turkey
Cheers
 
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Tss was msrp of $69.99 usd for 5 shells when i looked for it. I rotate between 8 and 10 different guns for hunting turkey and pattern at 20 30 40 and 50 yards and take an average of 5 shots at each range thru each choke for each gun. Not all them guns have chokes but some are doubles. That really jacks the cost up. Once figured out yes it isnt that bad compared to the fuel i burn to go hunting.
Ive found copper plated #6 lead works just fine for me and i reload 98% of my loads. I do enjoy playing with whats on the market and some is hype and some are worth the cost. I think tss would really shine in statesvthat allow smaller gauges but those states often offer the use of rimfire and in some cases centerfire rifles as well. When i hunt thunder birds south of the border ill be taking rimfires myself
 
I wouldn't look to hard into this, Turkeys do not wear body armour and are not that hard to kill. A good dose of #5 or #6 lead shot will knock them deader than dead. You should worry more about them seeing you than what loads to use. Just get the cheaper loads and run a standard turkey choke and go out and enjoy the hunt and spend time in the outdoors.
Good luck!!
 
FYI, I don't use TSS.....quite happy with lead. Call them in and shoot 'em dead.

I don't even mess with different chokes. Have used the same gun the last 10 years......may switch to a different one for 2020, if it's completed in time for the season.
 
North of 7 said:
Actually, I hunt quite a bit and shoot high volumes (waterfowl). That being said, If I want to i can spend it, but why? Lead turkey loads work fine for me. By using what already works at half the price or less, I can spend that money elsewhere on more ammo. But hey, I guess if you only shoot your shotgun a few times a year...

North
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I think you would agree that shooting waterfowl and the volume of shells you use to do so is quite different than shooting 2 turkey a season. But hey, if you can't figure that out.....
 
canvasback said:
FYI, I don't use TSS.....quite happy with lead. Call them in and shoot 'em dead.

I don't even mess with different chokes. Have used the same gun the last 10 years......may switch to a different one for 2020, if it's completed in time for the season.
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I love how you say in one post that people grousing over the price either don't hunt turkey or haven't thought it through. Now you are saying you don't use it. Seems like the only thing not thought through is your post. It's nice your buddy uses it wherever but lead has, and will continue to be the most effective for cost.

I'm not against developing technology, but look how it was pushed on us for waterfowl, why change what works when we have the choice?

North
 
canvasback said:
I think you would agree that shooting waterfowl and the volume of shells you use to do so is quite different than shooting 2 turkey a season. But hey, if you can't figure that out.....
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I don't look at hunting seasons as one species, hunting is hunting all species all seasons. It's called big picture. Sure one species, turkey is a drop in the bucket, but collectively it adds up. Maybe you have disposable income (even though you said you don't use it?) To shoot said shells, that's fine and dandy. Too me, lead works why change it? At up to 6x the cost these don't deliver 6x the performance. If you don't see that, than what I have to say has little impact...

North
 
brybenn said:
Tss was msrp of $69.99 usd for 5 shells when i looked for it. I rotate between 8 and 10 different guns for hunting turkey and pattern at 20 30 40 and 50 yards and take an average of 5 shots at each range thru each choke for each gun. Not all them guns have chokes but some are doubles. That really jacks the cost up. Once figured out yes it isnt that bad compared to the fuel i burn to go hunting.
Ive found copper plated #6 lead works just fine for me and i reload 98% of my loads. I do enjoy playing with whats on the market and some is hype and some are worth the cost. I think tss would really shine in statesvthat allow smaller gauges but those states often offer the use of rimfire and in some cases centerfire rifles as well. When i hunt thunder birds south of the border ill be taking rimfires myself
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8 guns x 4 ranges x 5 shots at each range =160 rds for patterning, and thats assuming one choke per gun. I must be negligent or maybe this is a bit excessive.
I started hunting turkey 3 years ago.
I have one turkey gun. It came with a choke labelled turkey. I bought 20 rounds of high velo #4 lead shot. This gun and ammo is the only thing I ever used. I used precisely 4 rounds to pattern the sights. I loctited the sights and marked the position with paint so Ill know to repattern if they move. I have killed 3 turkeys. Never took a shot a wasnt 100% confident in, and never missed a shot. Certainly saw my fair share of tailfeathers when the bird had me beat.

I have 13 rounds left. I recokon should last me 5 or 6 years. Maybe 4 if Im lucky. When its time to buy more ammo I probably wont even look at what it costs. Just find something close enough to what already works.
 
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