KEOutdoors
Well-known member
I promised I would share a TSS report from this season. Unfortunately due to some family illness and other issues I didn't get out as much as i would have liked. However late season I did shoot several roosters with 3/4oz TSS #9. All were dead in the air instantly, shots all under 35 yards using a cylinder choke. I found one tss shot total from all the birds, while picking meat off a thigh. It was up against the bone and I am pretty sure it was the last bird I killed which was a left to right crosser that i was low/back on, i am not sure if it penetrated anything else before it went into the thigh and got stuck..
I noticed no broken legs/thighs, so I either missed bones with every shot or they deflected off. I had shattered broken wings on most birds, usually both wings.
Overall I am very impressed. The birds died like when you have an "oops" moment and typically find a swiss cheesed inedible bird... A huge poof of feathers and a soft feeling bird retrieved. However the meat was perfectly fine on every bird, just a handful of little tiny pinholes right on through the meat.
I am conflicted now. Finding the pellet and not seeing any internal broken bones leads me to want to try #8s next. But then again the 9s worked so well. I think I need to do more testing. The 9s on waterfowl are a whole different story, but i will leave that to a different forum. Maybe i will load up some #8 and alternate between the 8/9 each hunt next year.
I noticed no broken legs/thighs, so I either missed bones with every shot or they deflected off. I had shattered broken wings on most birds, usually both wings.
Overall I am very impressed. The birds died like when you have an "oops" moment and typically find a swiss cheesed inedible bird... A huge poof of feathers and a soft feeling bird retrieved. However the meat was perfectly fine on every bird, just a handful of little tiny pinholes right on through the meat.
I am conflicted now. Finding the pellet and not seeing any internal broken bones leads me to want to try #8s next. But then again the 9s worked so well. I think I need to do more testing. The 9s on waterfowl are a whole different story, but i will leave that to a different forum. Maybe i will load up some #8 and alternate between the 8/9 each hunt next year.
