So, last spring I finally killed a Spring Gobbler with my 20 ga. The gun I have is a Remington 870 and it started its life as a 28'' barreled cheap Express. I actually killed my first turkey (a fall hen) and I never turkey hunted with it much after that time. Well, round about 2013, I got bitten by the gun again, and I traded barrels with a member on here (he wanted a long barrel, I wanted a short barrel) and then I started buying some different chokes. I settled on a couple of copper plated lead loads and a TRUGLO SSX .565. Then I tried a couple of the Fed HVWT #7s, and I finally killed a nice public land gobbler last spring. Well, fast forward to now, and I had a guy I work with give me a couple of TSS loads to try. I patterned one and then bought a box for myself and I decided to try the Federal TSS Hvwt #8/10. Im not a guy who gets hung up with how many pellets are in the 10 inch circle. I look for how many pellets are in the head and neck area. The TSS is hand over fist better better than the regular Fed HvWt #7s and a copper plated lead load isnt even comparable. Anyays, I stapled a turkey neck target to a piece of poster board and then put it out at 41 of my steps. My steps are a little large as I got long legs, and I actually think this was about 42-43yds. Anyways, after shooting this, Ill never go back to anything less than the TSS and Ill never pick up my 870 12 ga again. I actually sold the 12ga and for me, a 20ga is the way to go.
I know this pattern isn't what some people on here would like, but to me, its a stark difference between getting 6 or 7 in the head and neck if i was lucky to what you see in the picture. I know there is no way a turkey would survive this at 40 yards or less.
So, needless to say, I have been led to water, Ive seen the light, and Im on board the TSS train for here on out.
I hand painted the gun this past summer and put a cheapish red dot sight on it as well. Im excited to carry it this Spring.
