Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Have you seen the price of TSS? Saw some 12g 3" 7-9 shot and they had a price of $69. Are you crazy or what? I'm not trying to start an argument, shoot what you like. $14 per shot is just unrealistic. Besides you have to sight in your gun, using these for the first time, which could take the whole box. No Thank You!!!

Everything is expense.  Gas, eggs, utilities ect.  The best thing we can do is choose our leaders wisely. 

I usually don't complain much about the cost of hunting equipment but with the whole family hunting tss is costing me this year. I believe this will be the last year I buy. I hope to start loading my own shells this summer. Apex is just going to hurt my wallet this year .

Quote from: slave601 on January 15, 2024, 02:16:10 PM
I usually don't complain much about the cost of hunting equipment but with the whole family hunting tss is costing me this year. I believe this will be the last year I buy. I hope to start loading my own shells this summer. Apex is just going to hurt my wallet this year .

You won't really save much money, but I do enjoy loading my own for sure.  Certain 2.75" 20ga loads save some shot and money, and are as deadly as deadly gets.  Have found there's no reason to even load 3" anymore.

FYI, Macks Prairie Wing has some of the Apex TSS loads available at good prices. Possibly leftover from last year. I bought a few more boxes since it looks like this years run has increased in price.

  20 ga 1-5/8oz, #7.5 and #9, for $40.99/box
  20 ga 1-5/8oz Ninja, #8.5, for $39.99/box
  20 ga 1-5/8oz Small Town Blend for $43.00/box
  12 ga 2-1/4oz, 3" Small Town Blend for $45.99/box

Manufacturers are smart! They know the turkey hunting community  has gone crazy over their TSS loads. They will keep jacking up the price until people stop purchasing. I will continue to purchase regular turkey loads, call them in close, and give that old gobbler a fatal headache!

Check Rogers Sporting Goods.  Some good prices on turkey stuff and ammo.  I'll stick with my Hevi 13 7's myself.

I just bought enough Apex to get me through this season. So, I'm so broke I can't afford name brand mac and cheese for a few weeks.
I am seriously considering going back to Longbeard XR.

Hevi 13 6 shot or 7 shot will blast them!

Bass Pro.. also has the Apex Ninja ....  A little cheaper...  Finding LB XR in 6's is pretty much impossible ...

I never stopped with longbeard and I don't really see a need to upgrade. I know tss is better but if it ain't broke...

Quote from: turkey stew on January 15, 2024, 05:04:25 PM
Hevi 13 6 shot or 7 shot will blast them!

I have 2 boxes of it but would like to have more to hunt with, I do not just want to shove something in the gun and head out, I want to sight in the last few shots, I start out with some lowbase stuff them move up to what I am going to shoot.

Quote from: Zobo on January 15, 2024, 06:31:21 PM
I never stopped with longbeard and I don't really see a need to upgrade. I know tss is better but if it ain't broke...

I want to stick with them but can't find the 1050's in #6's only the 1200FPS and my gun does not like them in that speed and hates #5's in any brand.

Quote from: cassga on January 15, 2024, 02:52:09 PM
FYI, Macks Prairie Wing has some of the Apex TSS loads available at good prices. Possibly leftover from last year. I bought a few more boxes since it looks like this years run has increased in price.

  20 ga 1-5/8oz, #7.5 and #9, for $40.99/box
  20 ga 1-5/8oz Ninja, #8.5, for $39.99/box
  20 ga 1-5/8oz Small Town Blend for $43.00/box
  12 ga 2-1/4oz, 3" Small Town Blend for $45.99/box

Thank you for that info.  I checked the Apex site and sure enough, they raised prices significantly over those listed there.  I was planning buying at the convention next month but your tip here saved me some money.

I have no trouble tagging out while using Long Beards. Not as good as tss but no problems here. My ol Mossberg 835 with a Carlson choke works like a charm. Even they are high to me lol. But that's what I will keep using. To each his own ....

Yea they are ridiculous but as long as we keep buying them they'll go up

Never wait until a few months before the spring season to try and find turkey ammo... IMO ... Always buy ahead is my suggestion ....

Quote from: Kytomgetter on January 15, 2024, 07:11:17 PM
Yea they are ridiculous but as long as we keep buying them they'll go up

Bingo. They know that TSS is todays hot load. They mark them well above inflation and sell plenty!

 Yes, TSS factory loads are pricey!

I suggest pricing TSS shot, hauls, powder and buffer. Once you see that combined cost you'll realize total cost of a shell. Then add in the governments cut and shipping. As individual reloaders you can get rid of the last two costs.

TSS is superior to any factory load offered for my gauge of gun that I turkey hunt with. Furthermore, TSS is far superior to any load offered for my son's gun and to add: when I have had enough, it is the only load acceptable in my 410 to use turkey hunting.

Complaining won't lower the price, buy it or don't. Apex is not the only manufacturer of TSS shells.

In my limited experience I've had luck finding cheaper Apex ammo from various retailer websites. Buying direct from Apex seemed the most expensive route. Also, there are other companies making TSS besides Apex. I believe a thread was started just today about a company I've never heard of, they seems to be a little cheaper. I don't believe there is anything special about Apex TSS performance compared to other competing companies. Shop around and save a few bucks.

Now... you're not going to beat the price for lead shells or Hevi (I think?). But, hard to blame folks for wanting TSS, it's amazing stuff.

Apex is veteran own ... That makes a difference ... Mississippi guys ....

Great info in these responses. I do shoot TSS in 20g and bought them for my wife and son a couple years ago when cheaper. But when I was at Rural King, and saw that sticker price, I about fell out my chair. I personally use LB #5 3" in my Mossberg 835 w/heavy choke. I will just stick with what has been working and save my money for some other turkey stuff I don't really need:)

I still hand load 20ga for 5$ and change each.

Should have 4lbs of shot left and lots of the other components needed.

I remember questioning wether or not I wanted to pay that for a shell years ago.


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My .410 is the only turkey gun I use TSS in. I took the plunge and have enough to last a good while. My 12 and 20 ga. I use Hevi-Shot Magnum Blends and Winchester Longbeards. In my 10 Ga. Browning I use old fashioned lead 3.5" HV Winchester Supreme 2 oz.#6.  That really mows them down! No need for TSS in that one.

Tss definitely has advantages but I can't justify the cost for hunting eastern hardwoods where shots are generally well within 40. If a bird hangs up or is just a hair out of range so be it. That's all part of the chase.

I will pay 15 dollars per Gobbler every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Quote from: WV Flopper on January 15, 2024, 09:45:04 PM
Yes, TSS factory loads are pricey!

I suggest pricing TSS shot, hauls, powder and buffer. Once you see that combined cost you'll realize total cost of a shell. Then add in the governments cut and shipping. As individual reloaders you can get rid of the last two costs.

You still pay tax and shipping on the components just the same as if you buy a finished shell.

I hope I go bankrupt shooting tss at turkeys.

Quote from: MossyOak92 on January 19, 2024, 08:54:06 PM
I hope I go bankrupt shooting tss at turkeys.

Heck yeh! ;D
I've known people who went broke and none of them were nearly as happy about it as that would make me.

Buy components Wholesale.

Broke, I need to order 2 boxes of 25 real shortly. Should have done it today but just kept pushing it off.

Since most turkeys are killed inside 25 yards, TSS should never be used in a 12 gauge.  TSS does level the playing field with the 20 and .410.  Remington TSS is around $6 per shell if needed (Rogers Sporting Goods).  Call them in close and forget the $12 to $14 shells.