TSS ammo...is it worth it?

[BeeMaa]

Quality TSS loads are devastating on birds, period. I have a friend who shoots Foxtrot TSS shells in 3” 410. He shoots a mix of 9.5&10 shot, and gets 297 pellets in a 3” 410 shell. Each time he comes out to Idaho to waterfowl hunt with me, I lend him a TriStar 410 automatic I have and those little shells simply devastate the mallards and greater Canada geese aka ‘Honkers’. I’ve personally watched him kill about 50 mallards and 20 Honkers with the 410 and they’re the deadest birds that fall. We’ve had to throw away more than a few goose breasts after they took 20-30 TSS pellets which Went clear through the Honker. Too much bloodshot meat to bother with. It’s also extremely effective on turkeys.

I’d love to see a 12 gauge load of 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 ounce of 4buck at around 1,400 fps. That load would be incredibly effective I believe for following up a wounded leopard.

Closest I've found (without reloading) is 2 oz of T shot at 1250 fps. That would be 48 pellets per shell.

Salt Creek Custom Ammo

 

[HankBuck]

If anyone has a 12 bore TSS load for coyote, I'd be interested in some real world experience. Distances would be around 50 yards, with 60 or 70 being a long one.

Thinking that a 2 oz load would get it done. #2 or BB at 1200-1300 fps in a 3" shell would be good medicine.

@BeeMaa - I’ve called in and killed Coyotes with 12 ga 2 3/4” lead #2s out to 45 yrds (one weighed 37 lbs. - took 2 shots and one 34 lbs. w/1 shot at 40 yrds) I would expect TSS to work out to 60+ yrds and only need #6s — to take full advantage of a dense pattern…BUT since I’ve never used TSS on anything - I’m guessing based on what I’ve read and what YOU have written about it.
So, I would completely agree that TSS would be a big advantage over lead, or even Hevi shot - Coyotes are much larger and heavier boned then geese, turkey’s or Fox. 12 ga loads of lead #4 Buck or BBs can be effective but after 40 yrds little pattern remains and penetration lessens. Since I’ve only had a few opportunities to shoot Coyotes with a shotgun my opinion is based on limited results (which have been mixed) — killed two 40-45 yrds; hit & lost two 30-40 yrds., and missed one 64 yrds). Both of my hit & lost were running and even though one “rolled” at 35 - 40 yrds —- he kept going - bad shot on my part and my pattern likely caught him in the rump. It’s difficult (for Me) to call in coyote in the Northeast (vs. out West) so I usually use a rifle….don’t want to blow the limited opportunities I get. Calling in tight cover with visibility under 50-75 yrds would be the only time I would use a shotgun —- so then it’s worth it to use the BEST shot available, I’ve used Hevi shot but would now try a TSS in #4s or #6s if they make them.
On the other end of the spectrum - Once, when pheasant hunting in Kansas a Coyote ran out of a hedge row and my friend killed it with one shot of lead #6s —- but it was close (20-25 yrds)…nothing beats “Good Luck”.

 

[Chimp]

I have shot Federal, Apex, Nitro, Rogue and Boss.

Until they come out with something superior for my gun, the 2 oz Boss will be my choice.

 

[BeeMaa]

I have shot Federal, Apex, Nitro, Rogue and Boss.

Until they come out with something superior for my gun, the 2 oz Boss will be my choice.

I’d appreciate a little more information.

Specifically, what game you are hunting and what load from Boss you are using.

 

[DLSJR]

Closest I've found (without reloading) is 2 oz of T shot at 1250 fps. That would be 48 pellets per shell.

Salt Creek Custom Ammo

TSS in T shot would be interesting. However, I believe a somewhat lighter load at higher velocity would likely yield greater results. A 1 1/4 oz load is 537 grains and 1 1/2 oz is 656 grains. If you push those loads to around 1,500 fps I believe it’d yield very impressive results with TSS in T or 4 Buck. T shot is .20 caliber while 4 buck is .24 caliber. Imagine 25-30 TSS pellets hitting a leopard at 1,500 fps. I believe they’d be very effective.

 

[503]

I want a solid tungsten slug.

 

[BeeMaa]

I want a solid tungsten slug.

Your rifling wouldn’t last too long, until you source a barrel made of depleted uranium.

 

[BeeMaa]

TSS in T shot would be interesting. However, I believe a somewhat lighter load at higher velocity would likely yield greater results. A 1 1/4 oz load is 537 grains and 1 1/2 oz is 656 grains. If you push those loads to around 1,500 fps I believe it’d yield very impressive results with TSS in T or 4 Buck. T shot is .20 caliber while 4 buck is .24 caliber. Imagine 25-30 TSS pellets hitting a leopard at 1,500 fps. I believe they’d be very effective.

Not sure how necessary T or 4-BUCK would be for coyote, especially considering that people are getting it done with lead #2 or BB shot. I suppose a little bit of "extra" dead isn't a bad thing, but I think #2 or #4 TSS should be good medicine.

 

[DLSJR]

Not sure how necessary T or 4-BUCK would be for coyote, especially considering that people are getting it done with lead #2 or BB shot. I suppose a little bit of "extra" dead isn't a bad thing, but I think #2 or #4 TSS should be good medicine.

I was thinking specifically about Leopards. I have a good friend who is a Game Warden and he occasionally shoots coyotes on depredation. He told me that Hevi Shot’s ‘Dead Coyote’ load, which is Hevi Shot in T shot size, will cleanly kill a coyote out to 80 yards if you hit it good. He knows whereof he speaks.

 

[BeeMaa]

T shot for leopard makes total sense, 4-BUCK could make even more.

I'll take a look at the Hevi Shot for coyote. Appreciate the help.

 

[BeeMaa]

I have a good friend who is a Game Warden and he occasionally shoots coyotes on depredation. He told me that Hevi Shot’s ‘Dead Coyote’ load, which is Hevi Shot in T shot size, will cleanly kill a coyote out to 80 yards if you hit it good. He knows whereof he speaks.

HEVI-Shot Dead Coyote 3.5" (12 g/cc) is 40 pellets per ounce of T shot, and they are available with up to 1 5/8 oz loads at 1300 fps and 65 pellets. Cost is $60/10 shells. BTW this is also offered in a 3" shell with 1 1/2 oz loads for slightly cheaper.

Apex Predator TSS 3" (18 g/cc) is 54 pellets per ounce of #2 shot and are available in 2 oz loads at 1200 fps and 108 pellets per shot with a cost of $55/5 shells.

Both seem like they will do the job, but I'd have more confidence with the smaller TSS giving less wind resistance and more density for downrange performance. I have some thinking to do.

Appreciate the assistance and have no doubt your friend is well experienced.

 

[jbirdwell]

I’ll be in Oklahoma next month for a hunt and I’m going to test 3 loads for my 28 gauge. The first load will be a 7/8 0z load of TSS 18 g/cc #9 shot. The second load will be 1/2 oz TSS #9 shot and 5/8 oz of Boss Copper Plated Bismuth #5 shot. Lastly I have some 1 oz load of #5 Boss bismuth. I hoping the duplex load will come in as the best as it drops my cost per round down to 2.41 per shell.

 

[503]

Your rifling wouldn’t last too long, until you source a barrel made of depleted uranium.

Sabot. Could hunt dinosaurs with it haha.

 

[HankBuck]

I was thinking specifically about Leopards. I have a good friend who is a Game Warden and he occasionally shoots coyotes on depredation. He told me that Hevi Shot’s ‘Dead Coyote’ load, which is Hevi Shot in T shot size, will cleanly kill a coyote out to 80 yards if you hit it good. He knows whereof he speaks.

@DLSJR - i have no doubt “T” shot will kill a coyote at 80 yrds - cleanly if 7-10 pellets hit chest or a pellet strikes skull/spine….but consistently would be difficult because even 3-4 pellets in lungs, liver would take a long time to bleed out….although still result in a dead coyote. But I’d sure use HEVI shot or TSS over lead —- and I’ve still lost two coyote hit with HEVI #4s because i failed to center my pattern on it. They left some blood and likely died but i never found them…. I think you’re right in that “if you hit it good” they kill cleanly —— a key factor in killing anything cleanly is Hit-it-Good !