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.
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