With the season near, I'm thinking about ordering some shells.
Question, When is enough.. Enough?
Yes it's nice to shoot the best. The best range, pattern, nock down power. 30 bucks for a box of 5 is just crazy for me. I do understand we owe it to ourselves and the game we pursue. But, I want my Fed 7's back.
it's only going to get worse as they can't keep up with the demand now.
I load my own at $7 each.
Next best available option is the Hevi. A half a dozen boxes should last me a few years.
I agree. Even Win. Longbeards are a little too expensive for my taste. Especially since we go thru a easily a box and a half a year of them. Damn these western states that let you buy a bunch of tags....
We're our own worst enemies. They come up with it, we buy it, the demand goes through the roof......along with the price. ::)
If you can find the right combo for your gun and choke I cant imagine shooting enough each year to matter. But I guess some of you are able to harvest multiple birds a year or like to do a lot of patterning that it may affect.
I have been contemplating going with TSS this year but have yet to decide.
In the last couple years , i have bought enough Federal HW 7 .. to last the rest of my life ..
Quote from: Gooserbat on February 04, 2019, 02:05:07 PM
I load my own at $7 each.
I'm curious are you talking $7 a round or a box of five? And what are you loading (TSS, lead, heavyweight, etc)?
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Good news, they still make lead so no one is forcing anyone to shoot TSS.
Its just like anything else. Arrows, broadheads, bows, crossbows, cars, trucks, carrots, etc.
Think a deer knows the difference between a arrow shot from a $2,600 crossbow vs a $380 crossbow?
I can buy a new cummins for $44k or $57k. They have the same tow capacity. But one can warm or cool my butt.
TSS is the organic carrots of the turkey hunting world. Do you need organic carrots? No. But they may taste better. Do you need TSS? No. But those extra pellets may save your butt if you make a mistake.
I'd still shoot it if it was $20 a shell. To me $20 for the best patterning shell I can throw at a turkey is nothing.
Quote from: valerio024 on February 04, 2019, 02:26:18 PM
Quote from: Gooserbat on February 04, 2019, 02:05:07 PM
I load my own at $7 each.
I'm curious are you talking $7 a round or a box of five? And what are you loading (TSS, lead, heavyweight, etc)?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
He's talking per shell. I can load a 2.5oz shell for $8.53. Up from $8.15 three years ago.
Quote from: Gobble! on February 04, 2019, 02:28:58 PM
I'd still shoot it if it was $20 a shell. To me $20 for the best patterning shell I can throw at a turkey is nothing.
Agreed! $10 a shell is nothing compared to what I spend in fuel, turkey calls, trail cameras, clothing, turkey vests, etc, etc... Once you find a shell/choke combo that works in your gun you really don't even have to do that much patterning from then on out.....or do like I did and build an inexpensive shot trap and save your shot and reload it. I patterned 4 different combos this weekend and trapped 5 oz of shot from 6 oz of what I shot.
Quote from: Greg Massey on February 04, 2019, 02:26:02 PM
In the last couple years , i have bought enough Federal HW 7 .. to last the rest of my life ..
:icon_thumright:
Quote from: Gobble! on February 04, 2019, 02:28:58 PM
Good news, they still make lead so no one is forcing anyone to shoot TSS.
We're all good here , I wasn't trying to create controversy. We shoot what ever we want or what we can afford. I'd go back to lead without a problem. Great hunting patters in the low 30 yard range with my 20ga. However.. A little extra in tha 20 is nice to have. ;D
Quote from: RutnNStrutn on February 04, 2019, 02:17:15 PM
We're our own worst enemies. They come up with it, we buy it, the demand goes through the roof......along with the price. ::)
Agreed Brudda!
I shoot a 20 gauge so I want the best shell that I can afford, so I load my own TSS # 9's.
T Rex - I totally understand the sticker shock. Had it myself this year! lol
I've convinced myself it's somewhat justified when you break it all down. Hunting with a 20 ga. I know it will be the best. I'm not going dove hunting with it, and it will be one of the cheapest things I carry into the woods.
I recently did the math on the carbon arrow, lighted nock, rage tipped missile I launch at deer... scared myself! I asked a buddy the same, since when did we think it was OK to shoot $30 at a deer? ???
I just ordered 3 boxes of 20 gauge tss from Mack's this morning. $125 for 15 shells but the shipping was free!! Lol
$1.60 a shot is enough for me. Tss won't kill them any deader at the ranges I shoot. And I still have plenty of hevi - shot left over from years past.
So am I understanding correctly, you guys loading your own it sounds like its costing ~$7- $8.50/shell total? I was considering getting into loading it, but for just a few shells per year don't think the savings would be worth it for me.
I spend more than that on couple scouting trips with gas biscuit and coffee pricy shells are my least expense
Quote from: Gobspur on February 04, 2019, 08:36:30 PM
So am I understanding correctly, you guys loading your own it sounds like its costing ~$7- $8.50/shell total? I was considering getting into loading it, but for just a few shells per year don't think the savings would be worth it for me.
Yep it's a minimal savings. For me it's quality control and the enjoyment of loading my own shells.
After patterning your gun it's not like MOST turkey hunters are going to burn up a bunch of shells in a season anyway..
Like others have said it's for most of us a small expense compared to some of the other stuff we spend money on for hunting. Shoot whatever you can afford.
Quote from: Happy on February 04, 2019, 07:47:47 PM
$1.60 a shot is enough for me. Tss won't kill them any deader at the ranges I shoot. And I still have plenty of hevi - shot left over from years past.
This is where I stand. Lead loads, same as always. I do have a 20 set up w hevi. Prices are too pricey for me w the new stuff
Quote from: Gobble! on February 04, 2019, 02:28:58 PM
Good news, they still make lead so no one is forcing anyone to shoot TSS.
Its just like anything else. Arrows, broadheads, bows, crossbows, cars, trucks, carrots, etc.
Think a deer knows the difference between a arrow shot from a $2,600 crossbow vs a $380 crossbow?
I can buy a new cummins for $44k or $57k. They have the same tow capacity. But one can warm or cool my butt.
TSS is the organic carrots of the turkey hunting world. Do you need organic carrots? No. But they may taste better. Do you need TSS? No. But those extra pellets may save your butt if you make a mistake.
I'd still shoot it if it was $20 a shell. To me $20 for the best patterning shell I can throw at a turkey is nothing.
I agree, what you say about the cost. I fly to Florida every other year and maybe every year when retired to hunt turkeys. My Florida Public turkey Lic cost me $320.06 this year, and I hunt public not a land lease or guided. Plus plane ticket or gas and time driving, thats a $1000. dollar turkey or vacation what every you want to call it. Shooting a couple practice shells and it is suppose to be one shell per turkey, I can't bitch how much shell cost. If its what you love doing you will pay. Just think you could pay$300-1000 a year membership to just go down Hill skiing. Or $30-?? bucks a day to do ride a golf cart around chasing and clubbing a little ball around called golf, crazy. So I will spend the extra bucks for the best shell my gun shoots. Not to kill that turkey at a greater distance, but to make up for if I make a mistake.
I agree, what you say about the cost. I fly to Florida every other year and maybe every year when retired to hunt turkeys. My Florida Public turkey Lic cost me $320.06 this year, and I hunt public not a land lease or guided. Plus plane ticket or gas and time driving, thats a $1000. dollar turkey or vacation what every you want to call it. Shooting a couple practice shells and it is suppose to be one shell per turkey, I can't bitch how much shell cost. If its what you love doing you will pay. So I will spend the extra bucks for the best shell my gun shoots. Not to kill that turkey at a greater distance, but to make up for if I make a mistake.
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I'm generally a 3 state hunter in the north east and I totally get what your saying. Time,travel,fuel,licenses.. what's another 30/60 bucks a season. However... @35 I was extremely confident that there was no escape from that fed 7 load out of my 20. Don't get me wrong... Them new 9's are amazing and not legal in my home state yet. Your last comment, "Not to kill a turkey at greater distance,but to make up for the mistakes :) " and we all make em.
I'm glad we can agree on this one here at OG. :icon_thumright:
Be Well
Johnny