Well deer season here in MS will be ending soon and attention turning to turkeys. I've been keeping my eyes open at stores for turkeys shells, specifically LB XR 3" 6 shot which I have used last few years and has performed quite well. The shelves at sporting good stores and big box stores, plus online in many places, are bare. Lots of turkey hunters are going to be upset when they roll into the stores week before the season this year and there's nothing there.
I did see some hevi-shot 5,6,7 3.5" shells available today and I did pick up one box of the LB XR 5s which were available somehow but selling fast.
My question is, do many of you who shoot hevi-shot or TSS use lead shot or "cheaper" shells as numbers two and three in your gun with the high dollar shell in the chamber? Someone mentioned this to me today and I thought it was a good idea. With shells scarce this year lots of average guys going to be shooting whatever they can get their hands on. I'm debating on biting the bullet and buying some of the hevi-shot to see how it compares. LB XR has put a whooping on the birds for me in the past.
I run two TSS #9's followed by 2 hevi-shot 7's in my 870 20gauge. In my new Franchi A3 20 I'll probably do something similar.
12 gauge Nova pump is TSS followed by HV magblend.
I used to follow the first 2 shells with lead 5's but over several seasons I've picked up these other options, so I use em.
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all three the same, once in 100 ish birds I fired two shots! Got crossed up and hit one low, he was gimping off and I finished him with a nice head shot.
Your first shot will be your best shot so if you are going to back up it should be with the better shot. I just load all three the same as it does not make much sense to me to do it any differently.
Quote from: davisd9 on January 18, 2021, 09:50:56 PM
Your first shot will be your best shot so if you are going to back up it should be with the better shot. I just load all three the same as it does not make much sense to me to do it any differently.
I considered doing what the OP is asking about, but the above is what I do for the reason mentioned. I`ll load three 3", 2oz. #6 Hevi-13s in my 12 gauge 870 Super Mag. JMO, but in 12 gauge I don`t think you can shoot any better shells than Hevi-13s or Longbeard XRs. Sub gauges, different story. TSS.
It's Hevi 7's ALL the way for me. My 835 loves the 7's and is Lights Out with them, if I do my job. My suggestion to you is, if you find a shell that you have confidence in and your gun shoots well, buy enough to last. Ammo is hard to come by and there isn't a shell that is the Holy Grail IMO. They only increase in price as ammo becomes harder and harder to come by.
I've always run #4s behind whatever my gun patterned best because of turkey hunts that wind up like the picture below. This year I'll be running Hevi 13 #7 in the chamber with LB #4s behind it.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210119/ea8224483e551a482de7077d556ea60b.jpg)
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In the last 12 gauge that I used to shoot I used Federal HW7 followed by Federal thugs 5 lead shot.
The lead 5 shot load patterned a bit wider for follow ups in the brushy timber.
One thing that I ran into was the same color of shells and the fact that Federal stamping on the shells just flat wears off. In the predawn it can become hard see.
A friend and I pulled off a double, he shot first of course, I got the second tom with head bobbing get out of there shot. I immediately said did you see how that tom slammed to the ground with those HW7 loads. He laughingly said yep as he handed me my empty thug 5 hull. Worked that time but its 40 yard pattern with the thugs left something to be desired.
Good job on the yotes Chester Copperpot :icon_thumright:
To the OP I think its a good idea in your case you have the black winchester shells and different color Magblend shells.
Always the same type, that way i don't have to worry about having a mix , to get confused in the dark loading the gun etc..
One in the chamber and two in the magazine. Always use the same load for all three rounds.
I typically always load 3 of the same. My gun has never shot the same poi with different shells.
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I shoot all 3 Fed HW#7 in my SA 459. I have plenty in my safe, so no worries. One of the rare times in my life I stocked up before it was too late. Got them at good price too.
Since the main area I hunt is lead free shot only I just load it up with the expensive stuff.
Quote from: davisd9 on January 18, 2021, 09:50:56 PM
Your first shot will be your best shot so if you are going to back up it should be with the better shot. I just load all three the same as it does not make much sense to me to do it any differently.
Agree totally. Figure out what you are willing to spend for a shotgun shell, get the best load that suits your gun in that price range, and put that shell in your gun,...first round to last round. No need to overthink this stuff.
So in my opinion if you are looking for the best shell money can buy. Look at Nitro Custom shells. www.nitrocompany.com
Look up your model gun under recommendations. It will give you a choke brand and constriction, model of custom shell and the pellet count in a 10" circle at 40 yards... They have heavyshot, TSS, and coper or nickel.
I use Nitro Heavyshot, I also carry Remington Nitro #5, because they pattern well close out to 40 (not great but good). I keep the cheap shells in my vest just encase I'm in thick stuff and the shot will be super close...
No matter what you go with good luck.
Hevi13 #6 followed by LB #4.
As the timber greens up and gets thick i open my my pattern cause shots will be alot closer.
I do that. I have TSS as my chambered round and Longbeard as follow up shots.
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Yea I just carry 3 shells total.
2 in the gun and 1 in the vest.
TSS
The way I see it is if I couldn't get him in 2 shots, I'm probably not gonna get him in 3.
And if I did get him with the first and it was a poor shot, the 2nd should take care of it.
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Giving this some more thought. Starting out turkey hunting in the 70's I initially used Remington Express 2 3/4" 6 shot which patterned the best for the head and neck shot. Backup loads were 3" Remington Magnum number 2 shot due to the hard hitting bone breaking capability I thought would be good for an escaping or wounded gobbler . Costs never became an issue.
So now for me and it seems for others in some cases too that backup loads being used are cheaper loads , lead loads following TSS , Federal HW, Hevi13. With the 20 gauge I load TSS 9's in the chamber followed by HW 7's because of the costs.
Maybe not the best thing to do?
What do you guys think?
Quote from: davisd9 on January 18, 2021, 09:50:56 PM
Your first shot will be your best shot so if you are going to back up it should be with the better shot.
I use the expensive shell (TSS) first followed by the cheaper shell that can still do a lot of damage at a longer distance. I put most of my money in the first shot. I have seldom had to shoot one twice, which is probably what most folks on here have experienced.
Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on January 19, 2021, 07:43:54 AM
I've always run #4s behind whatever my gun patterned best because of turkey hunts that wind up like the picture below. This year I'll be running Hevi 13 #7 in the chamber with LB #4s behind it.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210119/ea8224483e551a482de7077d556ea60b.jpg)
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This is what I do if I don't have all 3 already chambered in 4s for that reason
TSS 9s, Hevi 6s, Federal HW 7s will kill a coyote just as dead as lead 4s at the same distance. Your first shot is your best shot so if using different ammo your second and third shell should be the superior shells.
Quote from: WildTigerTrout on January 19, 2021, 06:54:23 PM
One in the chamber and two in the magazine. Always use the same load for all three rounds.
^^^this^^^
I can't bring myself to use an inferior shell behind my first just to save a couple dollars.
I use the same shell to load my gun all the time.
Based on the thought of loading the hevishot or TSS shell followed by the longbeard doesn't sound like the right option, LB shoot such a tight group that it should be the first one shot since that should be the best shot you get and therefore if a miss happens I would rather be shooting a shell that does not shoot such a tight group for the follow up shot since the odds are, he will be running or moving fast and a wider pattern would be better. JMO
To be honest I don't think it matters an awful lot. My thought process is that the Longbeard is less forgiving for close shots. All the birds I shoot are 30 yards or less. If I miss with the first shot the bird is likely going to be moving further away from me, hence having the Longbeard as the follow up. To each their own...
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Back when I was growing up. Dad always had us shoot #6 turkey loads backed up with a couple of #4 shot. This was in the 80s and early 90s. Since then however, I just run all three the same. With what ever my gun shoots the best on the pattern board. I still haven't jumped on the TSS bandwagon yet. Longbeards XR #6 for me. But most of the time I'm shooting a Remington 1100 in 2 3/4 inch chamber. Haven't been able to find any LB in 2 3/4 in awhile now. Have a few still left but I'm not even sure they are still making them?