Serious question...trying to learn.

If TSS can make a 410 into a legit Turkey killer then it must make the old standby 12 into a thing of legend.

Why the run toward small bore shotguns? Is it simply size and weight of the firearm or is there some point of diminishing return with the larger bores that make it not worth the cost? It all seems super expensive to me regardless.

Pretty much what you said. The appeal is mostly reduced size and lower weight of sub gauges. For some, it’s the cachet of using a less common bore. I’m sure a few will say recoil reduction but you can handload light payloads for 12ga to substantially reduce their thump (esp. since they tend to weigh a pound or 2 more) and have legendary performance.

In my opinion it’s totally overkill to load it in a 12 gauge and yes I enjoy the lighter gun in the 20 gauge

A lot of people load tss for 12 and even 10 gauges. 2.5 oz of #7 tss will kill turkeys at rifle ranges. Some folks want that option, but personally, my 5.5 lb 20 gauge will kill them farther than I really want to shoot them

I have no interest in killing a turkey at 50+ yards. I'm not saying I wouldn't in some cases, but to me, the fun is calling them in without them knowing you're there. I went with a 20 and TSS so I could tote a smaller/lighter gun without giving up "performance"

All TSS loads in 20/12 at "normal" ranges is not needed. The only reason to shoot TSS is for the increased distance capability.

Great point. Any turkey load will kill at 25-30 yards

I've been doing some reading on Old Gobbler and the 20ga Longbeard 6's seem to be pretty solid, even out to 40yds, but especially 30 and in. There is one place I hunt that has big pastures and it is nice to know I could theoretically knock one down at 45-50yds with the Apex's if he wouldn't cooperate.

If you hunt pasture areas you’ll end up misjudging distances when shooting from wood lines. You need all the forgiveness you can get.

One reason I shoot TSS is a larger pattern, that is still dense enough to kill at all distances.

I’ll say it before someone else does “if you’ll learn to call you shouldnt need tss” 😂

I LOVE hunting turkeys in mature hardwoods. My reality is most of the birds I can hunt are field birds. I handicap myself by leaving the decoys at home most days. Hunting field birds without decoys can lead to epic cases of big eye. Have stepped off some stupid distances that I had guessed to be within 40 yards. Before someone suggests a range finder, I do carry one. In the heat of the moment, it is rarely used. So I use the biggest loads I can get.

That’s me. My load in my 20 now will put up a 3’x3’ wall at 40yds that results in a dead turkey anywhere in that area. But it will still kill one at 65 if I chose to.

You get it.