On plenty of internet boards, I STILL see so-called turkey hunters trashing the TSS trend with complete ignorance. I can understand some fear of long range ‘abuse’, but that’s an ethics issue that’s been around as long as 10ga/12ga 3.5” shells.

Many of them are the same folks that’d tell you a 243 is to small to be ethical for deer, that they can call all turkeys to within 10 steps, and you need #4 lead to keep birds from running off (if you don’t hit CNS), and THEN tell other folks it’s unethical to shoot small TSS at birds……while whining about the cost of shells.

So far, I just chalk it up to terminal stupidity for the most part. However, if y’all can explain it, go ahead.

….but please don’t give me the ‘I don’t need it’ BS. We don’t ‘need’ half the stuff we use to kill other critters, either….we use the stuff that takes away as many variables as possible to cleanly kill and recover game, and while a muzzleloader works fine for deer, most would agree a center fire rifle can be far more efficient from both sides of the equation. If you really DO NOT ‘need’ TSS, just because your corn pile is close to your blind, got it…..but many other hunters need to hunt in thick and open, and call them just as close…..but then let them move out to 70 yards, so the can brag about their TSS range….got it.

A pattern with better hit % is just that….whether it’s 10 steps or 35 steps…..and TSS shooters use lead, too. Lol

Carrying a smaller lighter shotgun to me is the biggest benefit

Killing a Turkey at 40 yards with a 410, when 15-20 years ago a 12 ga 3 inch could barely do it.

I like the stuff!

You can debate things like price or availability, but not the fact that it’s the #1 best option for killing turkeys

When I started shouting TSS crippling losses were almost 0.
The first Remington 3.5 inch #6s would barely kill one at 40 yards, had to tackle a few of them.

This

I believe the overall consensus you speak of comes from folks that have used lead for years without issues. Then tss comes along and greatly increases the killing efficiency of just about any shotgun. Pair that with a time period of declining turkeys and you have created an argument. Somebody will always find something to speak negatively on. I shoot TSS myself.

Internet boards are chock full of stupid people.

Sure….I hunt subgauges, almost exclusively, with TSS these days. However, I’ve killed plenty in 12/16/20, with lead, before TSS. Nobody who has a clue is arguing you have to have TSS to kill a turkey these days….but plenty without a clue, think lead is just as good, and TSS pellets are too small to compete with big lead pellets. Never mind that ANY pellet that doesn’t hit CNS is a ‘flyer’, and a bird will leave, whether it’s a #4 lead or a #10 TSS.

I load hevishot and I shoot tss too...I’ve found that both of these work well for me
IMO whatever gives you the cleanest kill is what you need to use
Why would anyone have a problem with a clean kill ?
I will say there are things I won’t do (fanning is one of them)but the things I consider a NoGo for me doesn’t apply to everyone else
Much of the innovative tools that have come out in say the last 30 years have for the most part helped the turkey hunter have a better experience in the woods and get cleaner kills
Again IMO the worst thing for a turkey hunter to experience is a wounded bird getting away from him

I'm not a fan of the TSS trend (or the fancy choke movement). Mostly just because it is so much better than lead at killing stuff. I'd rather have fewer successful hunters and a maximum range of 45 yards.

I don't shoot TSS, never have. May at some point in the future. I can see a real place for it in using lighter smaller guage guns.

I switched to Nitro Ammo Cos 4-5-7 loads right after they came out and still use them in my 12 ga Benelli. I see no need to change as the 4-5-7s will kill every turkey you shoot at 45-50 yards dead as hell. I have no desire to kill birds at 70 yards. 90% of mine at shot at 20-30 yards, a few at 40 yards.

When guiding folks a lot of the time I load a 4-5-7 in the barrel, with four 3"#2s backing up. I have killed a couple of three wounded, escaping birds at 60-80 yards with the 2s.

I ain't fanning no birds, just because I hate being shot in the face, same for crawling em, I hate snake bites to the face. I ain't limbing one cause I was raised that way. Don't use a blind or decoy unless bowhunting em. Have held my self to a three bird season limit for last 25 years.

Just me, I don't care what the rest of ya'll do.

As has already been mentioned, I can tolerate half days in the woods and long hikes much better with a lighter gun. The last 25 or so turkeys I’ve killed have come from a 20 or .410. I’ve crippled one bird with TSS without a recovery and that was entirely my fault. He was farther than I realized. Actually way farther. To me it’s about the assurance of recovering what I shoot at. I had quite a few birds crippled prior to TSS in the 35-45 yard range. Those days are over. Heck my .410 will kill the piss out of them at 40-45. I still like to get them closer. Most of mine have been between 20-30 yards. If I get a field bird hung up at 50 and won’t budge, the TSS puts him in the freezer. I still try not to get too carried away with longer shots and keep it reasonable. Those little tiny pellets penetrate better and fly straighter than lead shot. I have no idea why people wouldn’t choose a more ethical option but that’s just me.

I think of it like this. With lead a “miss” was usually a crippled bird that ran off to die. With tss you either kill or miss. There’s no what if. The few misses I’ve since shooting tss I always looked for a dead bird and had that sinking gut feeling. But he was back next few days. With lead I’m betting 75% ran off to die in ditch or brush pile

I've shot lead, copper plated, tss, etc. Here's a big disadvantage for tss. You bite into one of them sumbitches and it don't give at all!

But on the other hand,With tighter patterns I get way fewer pellets in the meat

I agree with all ya'll say about TSS. My thoughts are that I have not had a miss or cripple loss in 20+ years with Nitros. I see no NEED to change to TSS and my Nitros cost a hell of a lot less than TSS shells. I've not had a bird flop all over with Nitros either, they just fall over dead.

I have absolutely nothing against using TSS, just haven't seen the need for ME to change.

I really liked the Nitros too but with the higher pressures they would more often than not cause my gun to jam. Nitro even sent me another box to try and they did the same thing. And before you say its the gun , it has never jammed with any other shell. Also Ive never had a gun/shell combo that shoots as good as my M2 with TSS

My Benelli M1Super 90 has never had a jam with Nitros. Ever.

I had a M1 Super90 for several years. I sold it for cheap cause it jammed with everything I put in it from dove to waterfowl loads. I may had gotten a dud but I’ll never own another benelli again after that gun. It jammed all the time. 🤣

I think the people against it don’t want effective ranges to get crazy out of hand. Just trying to get in their head. It’s like the Ravin crossbow affect - you get a crossbow shooting better groups at 125 than a shotgun with slugs, then certain states can’t allow them to be used during archery season. The technology becomes a detriment to itself.

X2

The only reason to change would be that you can get equal killing power from a lighter gun in smaller gauge. Nitros are a huge step above lead and certainly all a seasoned hunter would need.

It took me a couple of years of hunting with a 12 gauge with tss to realize it was overkill. I will shoot my little 20 until I retire from turkey hunting.

actually I have a light custom made 20 ga Baretta, stone cold killer at 40+ with Nitros. I tote it some, mostly the Benelli 12.

I think the autos actually handle the higher pressure better than pumps or single shots. The gun I have that won't eject them is a encore. And it has never done it with any other shell. Also have a buddy that told me his pump would freeze up with them

I will still take my super black Eagle 2 some and love it - but will tote the new 20 more cause it so light

I switched to 410 because it was lightweight and offered me same range as 12 with lead.It groups well past 50 but try to keep shots under 40.

I try not to give any of my $ to Remington, after the way they’ve done stuff over the last 30 years. It’s like buying Chinese, and not knowing it.

I can hand any small/young shooter the same sub-gauge with TSS, that I hunt with, and let them kill a bird with no worries about either outcome. Can’t do that with a 2oz, 12ga load……and have them want to do it again. LOL

I feel I ‘need’ a semi auto or even 2nd shot for turkeys, far less than I ‘need’ anything bigger than a 20ga with TSS. Multiple coyotes is the only time a semi might help me while turkey hunting.