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.

look how much farther one can take a big bore and kill a turkey....i gotta get me some of this shot...charlie

Charlie,

They are selling the fully loaded 2 1/2 ounce loads for $12 a shell ($59 for a box of 5 without shipping).

https://www.mackspw.com/Apex-Tungste...-Ga-3.5-2.5-Oz

I think if one crammed 2 1/2 ounces of this stuff into a big gun that 60 to 70 yards plus would not be a problem. But I would like to get him a whole lot closer. But if he makes me mad enough after two weeks of fooling with him, well I just might make a special load just for him. I've ended many a spring having been after the same wise old bird for two weeks and being outsmarted every day.

Unfortunately they also show out of stock. Im thinking 2 1/2 oz of 7 1/2, 8, or 9’s would be one heck of a turkey killler. Headed to New Mexico on the 15 th, sure wish I could “Field test some”. I will keep looking.

Several years ago had a big old Tom working a pasture on a hill slope. Had jake and hen dekes at about 25 yards. He was a huge bird. Dang bird sat there in full view about 300 yards down hill from us henned up and gobbled at us for 3 straight hours but would not move toward us. Heck my hunting partner even let out a loud fart and bird hammered back at that. At about 10 o'clock we were close to calling no joy and that dang bird started casually ambling our way. I guess out of curiosity.

My buddy was a bit exposed and could not move but turkey hung up at what I thought was 50 yards. Was hunting with a 12 gauge shooting 3 inch shells and had just taken a bird a few weeks before at 50 yards with same setup but I wanted him in closer to be sure. He stood there looking straight at my partner. It lasted about 5 minutes but it felt like an eternity and bird started looking nervous and turned to take step back down the hill. I decided to cut loose. I knocked about two feathers out of him and dang bird lit out running down the hill to bottom of pasture. No kidding dang bird then stopped and looked up at us, puffed up and strutted some more and shook like a dog and then ambled off.

After he left we went and stepped off and instead of 50 yards he was 65 yards. Right where I thought he was standing was a little hump that I estimated correctly was 50 yards. Problem was there a slight depression after that hump could not see from angle of sitting then another hump past that bird was actually standing on. Judging distances in open pasture with pasture grass where you can't see feet and sitting down low with no land marks can be tough.

Sure wish I had some of that tungsten then. Found out later that bird got harvested by somebody else and it weighed out at 25 lbs and had a 15 inch beard. No record but a dang big bird.

I carry my rangefinder with me and given time mark distances mentally.

Yes sir. Used to bow hunt way before any range finders and became pretty good at estimating distances. Problem with scenario I described is that I had made note of where I thought bird was standing and believed hung up, except due to lay of the land he was standing about 15 yards farther out. Could not see that second little ridge from angle when sitting and we set up in the dark. Size of bird also gave a false of impression it was closer than it was. Also knew that if I could have seen legs and feet then might have pinpointed him better but who knows. Hindsight is 20/20 and would have set up for this bird differently but only had one shot at him.

Anyway, made me sick to misjudge that bird, I'd of let it walk if had known it was farther out than 50 yards and I was on a guest hunt. Definitely did not want to shoot up someones birds on a whim. My buddy and I both thought bird was standing in same place when I shot. 50 yards was limit of what I would try with 3 inch load of #5 lead shot and choke I was hunting with. I like what you observed about the lead shot's performance at long distance as not having much as much impact compared to tungsten. When that old bird shook like a dog it looked like he was doing it to shake shot out of his feathers.

Btw did find out after the season from a guy that did harvest that big old tom. I asked him if there were any noticeable wounds from my encounter and he said not one scratch best he could tell. Bird was not a record breaker but definitely the bird of lifetime for most of us.

Again sure wish I'd know then what I know now about what you have demonstrated with tungsten. Believe it would have made a difference for me in that one scenario, but like you, prefer to get em in closer.

Frank,

I did not pattern with lead but today I patterened again with TSS, and even using another gun, a 12 Trojan with .039 in the left barrel and the 12 VHE again.

Again at 40 yards shooting off a Led Sled, the guns pattern to the right greatly. Thus I am sticking to my theory they are regulated for a closer distance. I will have to remember this tomorrow if I get a chance. The 12 VHE is up first.

But most surprising is the 20 gauge one ounce TSS put more pellets in the turkey target's head than the 12s, and that was true with the Fox SW and the Franchi 48-AL. But there would have been so many body shots in all of them that nothing could escape since the TSS will go through the turkey.

Vermont limits shot size while hunting turkeys to #8 being the smallest and #2 being the largest - though I don't know who would ever use #2 for such a tiny target.






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Good luck, hope you get a bird. That is interesting your experience with the 20 gauge but that is why you pattern things. As precise as we try to be we all are still dealing with the chaos of mini explosion scattering a bunch of pellets all over the place and hopefully more of them hit the intended target than not. Some setups just pattern better than others.

Dean,

They do make it in #8 equivalent.

Thanks for the update Jerry. Looking forward to the follow up report of your turkey hunt. Best of luck!

It's okay - I'm good with my chilled #6 lead from .042 & .043 chokes at 45 yards or less.






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Jerry

Finally was playing around in the interweb and saw a video of fella shooting Federal TSS in 3.5 shell using #9. Not certain what his choke was but pretty sure it was turkey choke but he put a lot of pellets into the kill zone target at about 75 yards. Pattern was also evenly dispersed so even if you were off some, plenty of shot to wax that bird on either side. Pretty cool stuff.

I wonder how many ounces of shot those 3.5" shells were loaded with?

Anybody here shooting 3.5" shells in their Parker?




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Gawd I hope not unless its a bigger gun than a 12 gauge. Besides if your shooting at a turkey head at some of the distances people are patterning, you almost need a scope on the gun. I don't think I want to see a scope on a Parker.

I think Jerry is like others in finding out one of the limitations on SXS when it comes to distances, barrel regulation, sighting, point of impacts when it comes to a need of tight patterns on a small target. There is probably never going to be a need to overload a Parker for a long range distance shot on turkey. 40 yards is probably about the limit unless you start really vectoring your aim accounting for regulation left to right which can be challenging.

I know alot of really big time turkey hunters. One of them loves old sxs but he got a customized O/U that he loves and he calls it the perfect turkey gun for all occasions. Bottom barrel zeroed in at 35 yards and top barrel is dead on at 50+ yards.

No test volunteers so far. I've called in four so far. Opening day a 60 yard look at my decoy did not please him; Tuesday a fly down to 75 yards and one gobble (called him back at about 11 a.m.) and he said goodbye; and today, well I watched him strut at another seventy-five yards, and the clock struck twelve (end of shooting time) and he was safe for another day. We talked for over an hour. All of them have lots of concubines.

I give them 3 points for every day they beat me. I get seven for a score. Score now: 15 to 0. Three more shutouts and I can't beat them this year.

Back again tomorrow at 5 a.m.

i went hunting this morning for about a hour i seen a good gobbler but he was call shy....been putting radiator on my hunting truck they gave me wrong thermostat....hope to hunt a lot next week....jerry i hope you get to use that new shot load on a 60 yard turkey....charlie

Jerry, I just recently started loading with TSS too. Also purchased from Hal. Looking forward to smoking some gobblers in a few weeks! Amazing that the #9 has the same energy at 60 yards as the lead 4s do at 40!!! Might even use some of these for waterfowl in the future if I can't get any ITX shot. Hal is great at providing recipes for the various loads too. Using 8s or 9s throws a heck of a dense pattern at those birds!!

JA Early said, "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."

From what I was told if you shoot a turkey at "usual" distances there is enough energy that the shot goes right through them. They have yet to recover a pellet!!

Dang, something tells me waterfowl hunting is going to get a lot more expensive.

Our Turkey season opens May first, so far I can't find Federal TSS loads in any local store, all say anyday. Plus we can't order shells thur the mail thanks to New York laws.

I had a strutter yesterday about 70 yards. If he had been 60 I would have tried him and maybe recovered a few pellets. I did shoot one of the TSS loads today. Had him going crazy in the tree. Flew down, went the other way. I followed an hour later, set up in the woods on the edge of a cut-over. Watched the open oak woods. Now any experienced turkey hunter would know they prefer the cut-over to sneak to the call over open woods. Brain freeze. He saw me, clucked and before I could get the gun up was airborne so my 1 1/4 ounces of TSS are spread over five acres now as I wasn't even close. Been fooling with him for four days and now he is well educated.

What fun. Birds like that taste better anyway. Btw once you get a bird educated you may have to back off a few days or try other subtle or aggressive tactics. Subtle ones are easier like changing a call so bird hears a different yelps. Sometimes it simple easy stuff you overlook, forgot or learn that makes a difference.

Years ago we had a bird like yours that bested us for 2 days working an area with woods, logging roads and food plots. We had that bird down in his patterns and he always did something different, but we did know about where he roosted. Got there early and owled him to roost gobble and then snuck within 300 yards of an old oak tree that had some thinned out pines it. Thinking was we would move to him some and cut him off to area of logging road on knoll he had been working. We sat down and yelped one time and he barked back at us. Off in the distance a few moments later even saw him drop out of that big old tree. We made one more yelp and he gobbled from the ground again and then we shut up, he knew where we were and it was right where we thought he wanted to be. Thinking he was going to be on us in a few minutes, then nothing but we were patient. We never heard him for almost an hour. He obviously went the other way to a food plot we knew of but never had seen him there nor any turkey sign before. So we think we need to try and move closer to him.

Luckily fella I was hunting with was way more experienced than me and said before we move lets try something. There was a crow calling way off in the distance and after the next crow call he shook an old box call and it sounded like a weak jake gobble. I had never seen that trick before. Immediately that gobbler hammered at it and he was 50 yards away from us with 3 jakes and about a dozen hens. In the span of about 30 seconds we were about to break cover and move to having a flock in our lap at 10 yards.

Thats turkey hunting.

Hal will recommend #8s and #9s.

Seems like a great chemistry/metallurgy experiment, but $10/shell?

Most expensive part is patterning. After that, $10 for successful hunt with a bird on the ground is probably the most inexpensive part of the whole experience. What hacks me off now is that I have boxes of lead turkey loads but now want to buy these tungsten loads. I guess its a great 1st world problem to have.

Any guesses on the effect of such hard shot on old barrels, if any? Apparently it has some sort of razzmatazz hot rod wad/shot cup

In my 20 gauge 1 ounce loads it uses a 7/8 ounce wad with the top of a 28 gauge wad inside of it, and a wad under the shot inside the wad. The shot all fits within the cup. On the 1 1/4 ounce 12s it is inside a 12 gauge wad with a mylar wrap. I have looked at the bores and can see no marks or scoring. The small shot takes up very little space compared to lead.

I'll eventually get him. And yes, I do change calls. I have eight calls with me at all times: 1 gobbler, 1 box, 1 pot with two different strikers for different frequencies, and four mouth calls from a juvenile hen to great great grandma.

Yea you will. Your definitely properly accessorized. :) What I like about challenging birds is the learning part and figuring out patterns. It's said you learn more from defeats, maybe so, but I like to learn from success just a much. He will slip up somewhere. Just a matter of time and mind over matter.