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2nd best 20ga load

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Harold Money jr

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Years ago I had a 20ga 870 youth model and shot #7 hevi shot it was pretty much a perfect combination. I ran out and went another direction the last few seasons. Now, I've bought another 20ga and am wanting to use it. Here's my criteria, I don't shoot past 40yds unless I misjudge and I don't want to shoot tss so what are the next best loads that aren't tss? How about lead?
 
Some say the longboards are decent in 20. Issue with lead in a 20 is you're gonna have to run 5s or 6s which limit the amount of pellets down range even at 40yds. Heavy shot still has some options but the price saving isn't much from Tss.

Just my opinion and I don't mean it as anything more. I'll just never really understand someone using a 20 and just not spending the money on TSS shells. I get it for a 12 but 20 just doesn't make sense to me. The limit is 2 so a pack of 5 or a pack of 10 will last many seasons. In the long run the money just evens out to me especially compared to cost of gas and calls. Why not in a sub gauge just get the best option you can. If you cripple or miss a bird with lead etc in that moment the cost would be well worth it.

Again just my own personal opinion.
 
If I wasn't shooting TSS , I would shoot Longbeards #6 shot. I have patterned them all and Longbeards shoots great in both #5 and #6. I just prefer the 6. Another load that we have killed several out of a 20 gauge with is the Federal Grand Slam, I used the #6 but my hunting partner shot #5. Keep your shots within reason,pattern your gun, know your limits and you will be fine.
 
I shot number 6 long beards and just the regular Winchester lead in my 20 for a while. I switched to TSS and love it. Like said above, spend the money. You won't shoot that many times for it to matter.
 
Federal heavyweight #7s or 1 5/8 ounce #9 tss. Really the best two options and not in that order. The shells are the biggest liability and the best insurance. With as expensive turkey hunting can be, why not shoot the best shells to insure success? I'll never shoot anything else regardless of gauge. I'm set up to load .410, 20, and 12 and have been for years. I own enough components to hunt with the rest of my life.
 
TSS...then longbeards. I used to shoot an over/under with a close barrel set up with longbeard 6s and bottom with tss. I killed a pile of em up close with the longbeards
 
I know the trend is using the super high dollar "Turkey" loads, but I have killed a bunch with Fiocchi Golden Pheasant 3" #5 or #6 @ 1200fps (Nickle plated shot). Much cheaper that "Turkey" loads and actually patterned better in my 870 shotgun. I just keep the shot distance under 40yds. The Remington Nitro Pheasant loads (copper plated) also work well. Just another alternative for when ammo is hard to find.
 
THE DUKE said:
Where are you getting tss for 20ga for $45 a box.
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Rogers sporting goods usually has them for 49.99 and free shipping.

As for the OP, I haven't shot a 20 gauge in a decade. However, I just bought one, tricked it out and bought 3 boxes of tss #9's after a bunch of research. I took @REN 's ideology and figured if I shoot twice a year, that's basically spending $20 a year on a successful season. I'll take that
 
If you're willing & able to reload you can get some of the 13 or 15 g/cc density shot from online retailers and cook up your own. It's better than lead from a density standpoint but not quite up to the 18 g/cc of true TSS. Up to you to decide how much value you put on your time. I actually liked reloading but just don't have time to do it anymore.
 
I will say this since you specifically said that you didn't want to shoot TSS , some have mentioned them. If you can somehow find the Federal Heavyweight #7 they are awesome. I still have 3 boxes but Federal quit making them when TSS came out.
 
deerfever said:
I will say this since you specifically said that you didn't want to shoot TSS , some have mentioned them. If you can somehow find the Federal Heavyweight #7 they are awesome. I still have 3 boxes but Federal quit making them when TSS came out.
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Yeah they were the tss before tss lol. Just very finicky on chokes but if you could get them to pattern they were amazing
 
REN said:
Yeah they were the tss before tss lol. Just very finicky on chokes but if you could get them to pattern they were amazing
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That would be the flight control wad. It was finicky. The federal heavyweight shot is 15 g/cc where tss is 18 g/cc and some even 18.5 or 19 g/cc coming on to the scene now
 

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