Tungsten Super Shot will eliminate the need for a big bore
 

I finally had the chance to pattern and test my Tungsten Super Shot hand loads today. There is no doubt that any double I have in 12 down to 20 will kill a turkey dead at 40 plus yards with these number 9s.

The first gun I tried was my late Uncle’s 20 gauge Franchi 48-AL. Two weeks ago I found a vent rib barrel for the gun with a screw in full choke (.030) to replace my uncle’s I.C. plain barrel with which he killed hundreds of quail. The pattern was fantastic at forty yards with the full choke.

I next tried the same one ounce #9 loads in my most tightly choked 20 double, a Fox Sterlingworth with .034 in the left barrel. Although at forty yards the pattern was to the right of the target, there were more than enough shot in the turkey to kill him dead.

Next I tried my 1 ¼ ounce 12 gauge loads in my most tightly choked Parker, a VHE with .040 in the left barrel. Again, no turkey could live through the #9s. The Tungsten 9s have the same penetration at 70 yards as lead 9s do at 15 yards, and the same penetration as number 5s at 57 yards according to the chart. This gun also patterned to the right, and I had the guns on target in a Caldwell Lead-Sled. These pure tungsten pellets not only went through heavy paper and two thick layers of carpet runner. The pellets left their imprints in 1/16 inch solid steel. I made a trap to recover my shot (pictured) and of the three shells with 3 ¼ ounces of shot fired, I recovered 95% of it. Undamaged I might add. Very important at $3 an ounce. I hope to kill one spring gobbler with my late Uncle’s gun, one with the 12 VHE, and lastly with a 20 either in Fox or Parker. I am sure these pellets will kill out to 50 yards, but I can’t see that far anymore to know I'm on a turkey's head with a simple metal bead.

The last photo is what 1 ounce of #9s from a 20 gauge will do at 40 yards.

Finally there is no worry about damage to vintage barrels as in the 20s the shot is inside a 28 gauge shot cup inside a 20 gauge wad, and the 12s have a mylar wrap inside the 12 gauge shot cup.

Jerry, I haven't heard of this shot (TM tungsten yes) but what is Super Shot Tungsten and where do you get it?

Eric,

Here is the web site. Hal on the site sells it. He has multiple loads that he has developed. But he asks that when you buy from him and he shares the loads with you, that you don't share with anyone and I respect that. A pound costs $47 and #9s are all you need for turkeys and #7s for geese. The penetration is remarkable, as I could not believe the #9 would leave its imprint in steel at 40 yards. My only complaint is that no load uses common wads and they are available at Ballistic Products. But I doubt I'll ever shoot all 250 wads in my lifetime, and I had to buy both 20s and 12s.

They are killing turkeys with 28s and .410s at 40 yards.

https://www.tungstensupershots.com/

Here is a chart that shows 1.5 inch penetration with 9s into gelatin at 70 yards the same as lead 9s at 15 yards!

I see the shot is now $53/pound. Tariffs taking effect. I guess I'll have to operate on any turkey I kill to recover the shot from him.

http://www.trapshooters.com/threads/...sities.267784/

There are examples of the shot traps on there. Mine cost me $35 and scrap wood from a concrete project, and yesterday with three shots I recovered $9 worth of shot. Unless you don't mind throwing $3 an ounce away to test, the trap should be made before shooting these. That's what took me the longest, waiting to build the trap. They do caution that this stuff will kill so far that one has to be careful with your backdrop. I had flyers that went around the trap I am sure. Like a dummy, I made a holder for a roll of construction paper like one buys at Lowes and had it above the trap so I could roll it down and staple over the trap. Well the first shot filled it with holes, and it appears many layers deep into the roll. Powerful stuff.

It looks like Federal loads these but looking on line they are all sold out where ever I. Checked. Hand loading may be the only way to go at this point in time.

j a this sounds like a turkey hunters dream...maybe the price will drop as the shot becomes more known...i m ready for you to take a big gobbler with it....my hunting has been slow only been 1 time been to cold in the mornings for me....charlie

When you pattern the gun with lead, does it also pattern to the right or just the Tungsten Super loads? If so, any idea why?

It looks like it's made in China, using metal injection moulding.... no wonder it's so co$tly.

http://www.globaltungstens.com/tungs...gsten-shot.php

I believe one would find the barrels regulated to a shorter distance. I am guessing they would be right on at 35 yards. I have a L.C. Smith that would win any shooting match one took it to with the left barrel. But at the 30 yard turkey shoot distance one had to shoot at the top right hand corner of the target to center the pattern. It would be right on at 40 yards.

The extra full chokes in the 12 VHE and 20 SW I believe in this case are working against me. But that is why one patterns guns, to see where they shoot. Of course I could also have pulled to the right. But I don't think so. I squeezed the triggers like a rifle shot from the Lead Sled.

With the Franchi and a single barrel with a rib parallel to the center of the bore, the pattern was dead center.

Thanks for the update and followup Jerry. Was really interested in what you found out. I am blown away by the thought of using 9 shot on a tough old bird at 50+ yards. Good luck with the turkey season.

My cousin's grandson came up to target his 12 gauge 3.5 inch. He shot the new Winchester XRs, 1 3/4 ounce number 5s at 40 yards. His shot against the back steel plate of my shot trap did not even make a mark in the steel. The shot flattened out and was there on the ground. The tungsten 9s dinged the steel quite deep.