I know the general rule is shoot whatever patterns best, but does the level of brush impact your decision on shot size? It makes sense to me that #4 lead would be less disrupted traveling through thin weeds and other crud than #6 or #7s, but then you get a lot less pellets. I know this doesn't really matter with TSS, but I'm not interested in messing with non-lead shot.
No bearing on my decision.
I shoot a load that patterns quite well to 40 yards. And I won't shoot through brush, so....
Easy peasy !!! :icon_thumright:
Have never considered it, a more dense pattern is always better, with the shot string you could technically plow a path to the target.
I have never took a marginal shot through brush, have shot a few through some light brush/weeds but I could still see plenty of the head and neck!
Agree with others, I don't worry about it ...
Wait for a good shot instead of thinking you're going to plow a path through brush to a turkey.
Yeah I'm not planning on taking bad shots where I can't see much bird, just been noticing some of the area I hunt has lots of scrub brush, vines, and other undergrowth. Like I could see a whole bird, but between me and him there's rarely a perfectly clean shot. So it just got my noggin joggin.
You can't really put that as a criteria because shooting through brush is always risky, you never really know how much brush will impact the pellets or not. It's always better to have a good clear shot, regardless of what your shooting. I think that is you have enough branches to impact your pellets, regardless of the size of them, your at risk of missing the shot... It mostly depends on what kind of 'brush' we're talking about. Sometimes, a few branches of 3/8eights and under will not botter and sometimes just ONE tree of 3-4 inches will make you miss it all... Even a shot where you are absolutely clear but where your shots must pass between two trees in mid distance will make you miss...
Choose your places to sit carefully, make sure you have clear lanes for the turkey to come... That's your best bet... After that,
it's very situational ;)
Shoot or don't shoot. You just size up the situation and make the decision.
Personally, I thing distance is a huge factor when dealing with brush. I have no problem sending it when the range is 10-15 yards as opposed to 30 -40 yards. Also the location of the brush is a huge factor, the closer to the target, the less it's gonna deflect before it gets to the target. I am not suggesting trying to plow through a thicket at close rage. A few twigs here and there is more what I am referencing.
I've used fox trot #8s and a 8/9 blend with good luck. In my opinion shooting through anything bigger than your finger isn't gonna go well. I don't condone shooting through brush but I've killed plenty of toms where they're in range and take a peek through a honey suckle bush.
i used a 3.5" 2.5oz TSS #8. i called it the "defoliator". when the woods green up i will take a shot through light levels of vegetation, that load would clear the path.
I should switch to my Rocky Ridge 2oz TSS #2 20 ga deer loads and can cut through a 6"sapling and still have leftovers! This is what it does at 50 yds with a TL 585. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20251119/ae583060d4596bd0057fecc4704bbd6e.jpg)
Very nice