TSS #9 shot….

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benelli-banger

Well-known member
Had coffee Friday am with some older gentleman that I know…have hunted with 2 of them, and the 3rd has been a help to me regarding gun questions, issues, problems, etc, before getting to a gunsmith, though he’s probably as good as most of them for many issues, especially with double guns…retired pharmacist, extraordinarily anal-retentive about things…reloads most of his shells. Anyway, we chatted about lots of things, including TSS shot…he said #9 penetrates deeper into plywood than #4 lead at 50 yards. About 8-9 days ago I stopped and chatted with an older gentleman who was hunting nearby on some CREP…very impressed with his determination, it was the real cold spell. Anyway, he peruses this forum, but doesn’t chat…he recalled some of the debates re: 28 gauge efficacy for wild pheasant hunting…he had forwarded some of those threads to a hunting buddy of his who shoots 28 gauge for pheasants, 3/4 oz #9 TSS…said the guy stones roosters out to 65 yards. I know #9 TSS is being used for turkeys, I believe…the guys on Friday said 28’s and even .410’s are commonly used with that load for turkeys. Looks like the turkey loads are $10+ per shell, but I’ve seen $2-3 as a common price point for upland game reloads. Curious. I’ve stood out in the field dozens of times looking for downed birds, usually shot with 12 gauge or 16 gauge, as that’s what I’ve used mostly for 30+ years, and I’ve often said I’d pay $20 to find this bird! If TSS #9 could be procured for $2-3, I’d try ‘em…there’d be about 270 pellets in 3/4 oz…vs about 170, I believe, for #5 lead, 1 oz load…about 60% more pellets, despite just 3/4 oz load vs 1 oz load…interesting…🧐 I’ve now found a few threads here re: TSS loads, very interesting…sounds like it patterns pretty tight…probably not a panacea, but interesting….i’d try it for the heck of it..maybe worth having for the 2nd barrel, or the 2nd/3rd shot in an auto…perhaps a good option for late-season public land birds that are skittish…
 
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I'm also interested in the TSS. I'm looking for a 2.75'' 20-gauge load. Mostly for turkeys but not out of the question to shoot a few at some pheasants. So far not easy to find.
 
I reload most of my ammo. And at the price of reloading components for 28 ga 3/4 oz you are not saving but a few pennies per round over buying loaded upland tss from apex. And that is not counting the time it takes to reload.
 
I bought some .410 tss loads last summer . Fiocchis. 7 dollars a shell. Part of the reason I picked the fios is from what I saw on the tube they opened up more than 10$ loads. The brownings and the herters if I recall right also open up. I never ending u carrying the .410 but I did pattern it. I started with light mod and that’s way to tight. I ordered a skeet and imo is still too tight but was done throwing money at it. If I was starting over I would start at cylinder.
My cousin did kill one with . 410 tss. We were hunting together I was done and at the school house drinking beer. He was driving back. Came back to get me and the dog. Short range bird the feather pile said he wrecked it but it had moved a little bit. The dog picked it up 35 yds from where he shot it.
 
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May be just that…fun to contemplate, however…it’s free…if they didn’t (evidently) pattern so tight at normal pheasant ranges, it might be a better fit. If I hunted public WPA’s/cattails a lot, late season, maybe? I did shoot #4 lead last week a few of my days, and vowed I’d probably shift to 4’s sooner in the upcoming season…
 
Several years back Rogers Sporting Goods was closing out 3" 12 gauge Remingtons. I picked up several boxes for my wife. I think she has killed a half dozen turkeys with them. Only one at long range (55 yds). She said none of them even twitched. When patterning we placed the target on a railroad tie. Most of the #9 shot buried all the way in at 40 yards.
 
I did see some TSS 10 packs at the aforementioned outfits that sell them retail…they’re out of stock, but I’ll buy a 10 pack for shits and grins if possible late summer…use in top barrel…a bit later season…
 
I have a more open choked Uggie S x S 28 gauge…maybe she’ll kill a pheasant or two? I love that gun. I enjoyed my red label 28 this fall, it has tubes…interesting. I’ve shot ruffs and sharpies and Huns with those guns…and now pheasants with the red label. Big picture, keeping 5 TSS’s in a breast pocket and using in very specific situations like cattails may be a logical use for them. We’ll see…
 
When I saw some tss shells at a high velocity I really scratched my head. Why send pellets that are so dense at such a high speed as they'll retain energy much better than an inferior metal like steel? Then someone told me the purpose is to open up the pattern, which makes sense.

One thing that would make me nervous about tss, would be using it in a large group situation with blockers/posters etc.
 
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