Alright I’m making a change

[TN Larry]

The 3.5" 12 will definitely get the job done but realistically more than you need for under 40 yards. Like others, I made the switch to a 20 gauge in 2017. I had always shot either the 3.5" HV Winchesters and then the Winchester Longbeards. I'd still be shooting the Longbeards if still packing the 12. I started with the Federal Hvy Weight #7s and then started hand loading TSS #9s in 2018 and haven't looked back. After a back surgery and blown disc in my neck, I'm not sure if I could take the recoil of the 12 with s 3.5" shell anymore. The weight reduction to the 20 has been great as well as I am a run and gun woods hunter. You'll be more than satisfied with the shells you ordered, but I'd recommend setting up the 20 that you have and don't think you will regret it. I don't see the 12 gauge coming out of the safe ever again for me.

 

[Andy S.]

tickweed - the only shells I'm not that familiar with are the Federal TSS, with "flite control wad". Their wad MAY make them behave differently. For all other TSS shells with a nornal wad, find out what your flush full choke diameter opening is and subtract 0.15 - 0.20" and buy that choke for TSS. I hunt with and recommend a Carlson. I own several other higher dollar and more flashy chokes, but they stay in my gun safe.

For example, my REM 20G flush full choke is 0.590 exit diameter. I hunt with Carlson 0.575 and shoot 1 5/8 ounce of TSS #9s. That equates to 588 TSS pellets going down range. At 40 yards, I typically get 250 inside the 10" circle and another 250 between the 10" and 20" circles. Pretty efficient setup to retain 500 out of 588 inside the 20" circle, so 85% of the pellets are where I want them. The other 88 pellets or 15% are outside the 20" circle. This setup will kill further than any of us should be shooting. I promise, no BS.

 

[Setterman]

Appreciate all the info, I ordered some 3" #9's to try. Next year the 20 gauge is coming out, as I don't have time to set it up this season

 

[Andy S.]

^^^ Good luck Jim. Agreed on not changing setup mid season. Set it up and fine tune it after season and you'll be sitting on go next March. Good luck and holler back if we can help.

 

[Huntaholic]

GEEZ THAT HURT! LOL I just got off the phone with Nitro Company placing an ammo order. A 25 rd box for my old 12 ga 870 super mag and a 12 rd box of 2.75 8x9 tss for the 20ga was $364 bucks! Ive been shooting Rays ammo for more years than I can remember, no use swapping now.

 

[TN Larry]

For example, my REM 20G flush full choke is 0.590 exit diameter. I hunt with Carlson 0.575 and shoot 1 5/8 ounce of TSS #9s. That equates to 588 TSS pellets going down range. At 40 yards, I typically get 250 inside the 10" circle and another 250 between the 10" and 20" circles. Pretty efficient setup to retain 500 out of 588 inside the 20" circle, so 85% of the pellets are where I want them. The other 88 pellets or 15% are outside the 20" circle. This setup will kill further than any of us should be shooting. I promise, no BS.

I shoot the same setup and get just about the same numbers. I shot some of Andy's other chokes as well when setting my gun up (870 youth 20), but the Carlson's had the best pattern. They will kill a bird a lot farther than you should be shooting at as Andy says above. I have killed one and my son killed one that I got caught up in the moment and misjudged the yardage on but still both dead birds.

 

[Boll Weevil]

And if anyone's concerned about a #10 gettin' it done, don't be. Those lil'boogers will flat wear a turkey's face out. I found a flyer resting against the breastbone of a 43yd bird last week so penetration isn't an issue.

 

[ROVERBOY]

GEEZ THAT HURT! LOL I just got off the phone with Nitro Company placing an ammo order. A 25 rd box for my old 12 ga 870 super mag and a 12 rd box of 2.75 8x9 tss for the 20ga was $364 bucks! Ive been shooting Rays ammo for more years than I can remember, no use swapping now.

That price is friggin insane. Sounds like some kind of punishable crime to me.

 

[elknturkey]

I'm asking myself all the same questions and am honest enough to admit that after several decades shooting candlesticks it's hard to mentally not load up one. I think I want to drop back to a 3" shell especially with the advantages.

I've got a M2 20 gauge that is collecting dust, I have a feeling if this goes as expected it'll be my last season lugging a 12 gauge. With my style I don't need to shoot far.

I'll report back if conscious on how the recoil is lol

We prob hunt the similar type of terrain and habitat and shooting ranges. The 20 is all you will need plus some. I use a m2 20 but going to a 28ga next year and just take the 20 on out of state hunts. I used a 12 for a few years when I started with tss and it was way overkill and I was just shooting 1 3/4 oz

 

[Andy S.]

GEEZ THAT HURT! LOL I just got off the phone with Nitro Company placing an ammo order. A 25 rd box for my old 12 ga 870 super mag and a 12 rd box of 2.75 8x9 tss for the 20ga was $364 bucks! Ive been shooting Rays ammo for more years than I can remember, no use swapping now.

I know you will, but make sure POA=POI. I had a diehard buddy miss two last year first weekend with Nitro TSS H518 shells and he couldn't believe it. Shot his gun and it wasn't even close, about 8" left of bullseye. He called Ray and Ray told him they switched out the hulls in between turkey seasons. One changed component (hull, powder, wad, choke, barrel, length of shell, etc) CAN move POI. No one deserves to learn that when shooting at a live bird. My .02

 

[Southern Sportsman]

I've got a M2 20 gauge that is collecting dust, I have a feeling if this goes as expected it'll be my last season lugging a 12 gauge. With my style I don't need to shoot far.

Save yourself the time and shoulder bruising and switch now. ESPECIALLY since you already have the gun. 1 5/8 oz of tungsten 9s and the factory full choke that came with it and you'll never look back.

 

[Andy S.]

I've got a M2 20 gauge that is collecting dust, I have a feeling if this goes as expected it'll be my last season lugging a 12 gauge. With my style I don't need to shoot far.

Save yourself the time and shoulder bruising and switch now. ESPECIALLY since you already have the gun. 1 5/8 oz of tungsten 9s and the factory full choke that came with it and you'll never look back.

Agreed. Just check and make sure POA=POI and you'll be set. With foliage increasing every day, average shot distance for us woods hunters will decrease with time.

 

[Huntaholic]

GEEZ THAT HURT! LOL I just got off the phone with Nitro Company placing an ammo order. A 25 rd box for my old 12 ga 870 super mag and a 12 rd box of 2.75 8x9 tss for the 20ga was $364 bucks! Ive been shooting Rays ammo for more years than I can remember, no use swapping now.

I know you will, but make sure POA=POI. I had a diehard buddy miss two last year first weekend with Nitro TSS H518 shells and he couldn't believe it. Shot his gun and it wasn't even close, about 8" left of bullseye. He called Ray and Ray told him they switched out the hulls in between turkey seasons. One changed component (hull, powder, wad, choke, barrel, length of shell, etc) CAN move POI. No one deserves to learn that when shooting at a live bird. My .02

Of course! That's just one of the reasons I shoot nitro ammo. Back several years ago I set my 870 super mag up shooting H51013 4x5x7 hevi shot. I was getting on average 360 pellets in the 10. A couple years later I was running low on ammo and ordered again. I had just got a 11-87 super mag and was testing loads in it and it loved the newest order of ammo to the tune of 325+ in the 10. I noticed however that the hulls were a different color but it didn't dawn on me. Over the next couple years I switched out between guns but I noticed the hard way that the 870 wasn't doing what it once did. I called Nitro and talked to Sandy, she asked Ray what was going on and he said the burgundy hulls were an old load but he would be glad to look up the data and components and send me the old load I needed. When I called today, she looked me up in the system and made sure to place my order for a load that's not been in the data for years now. THAT is why I use and will continue to use Nitro ammo! 10 bucks a shot isn't really that much in the grand scheme of things when it comes to turkey hunting.
YES it was expensive in the beginning buying ammo to find a load my guns liked, but once I found it I don't ever have to worry about that again as long as Ray is around.

 

[REN]

I havent done much with TSS in my SBE2, just never felt then need being as it show magblends so well and I had a bunch of that ammo laying around (plus I hunt with a 20 90% of the time)

BUT if you ever got questions on the M2 20 let me know, that one I shot A LOT of chokes and ammo through doing a bunch of testing. And that wasnt to maximize the 10inch it was more to get a good 10 will having a really good 20.

 

[TheLBLman]

I had a diehard buddy miss two last year . . . . .
they switched out the hulls in between turkey seasons.
One changed component (hull, powder, wad, choke, barrel, length of shell, etc) CAN move POI. No one deserves to learn that when shooting at a live bird.

Just one more reason rifle-like chokes can cost you birds you otherwise would have killed?

 

[Andy S.]

I had a diehard buddy miss two last year . . . . .
they switched out the hulls in between turkey seasons.
One changed component (hull, powder, wad, choke, barrel, length of shell, etc) CAN move POI. No one deserves to learn that when shooting at a live bird.

Just one more reason rifle-like chokes can cost you birds you otherwise would have killed?

He definitely had a "turkey choke" that hit POI the season before, but ordering a new lot # of shells and not recognizing the different hull is what cost him, along with not checking POI before season. The turkey choke wasn't a big factor in that sequence of events.

 

[REN]

I had a diehard buddy miss two last year . . . . .
they switched out the hulls in between turkey seasons.
One changed component (hull, powder, wad, choke, barrel, length of shell, etc) CAN move POI. No one deserves to learn that when shooting at a live bird.

Just one more reason rifle-like chokes can cost you birds you otherwise would have killed?

Personally I think part of that is really overblown. I missed plenty of turkeys as a kid running lead and a full choke. I have missed far less birds that later on in my years by learning better shot habits and experience. I feel in a lot of instances that just poor technique or "turkey fever" are a larger part of the issue vs the choke set up. Most any xfull turkey choke at 10 yds is SUPER tight.

Im not saying it cant increase the chance of missing but in my own experience I have found other reasons to be the main reason I or buddies have missed. Again just my own opinion, and at the end of the day that doesnt mean much

 

[Bone Collector]

I'm asking myself all the same questions and am honest enough to admit that after several decades shooting candlesticks it's hard to mentally not load up one. I think I want to drop back to a 3" shell especially with the advantages.

I've got a M2 20 gauge that is collecting dust, I have a feeling if this goes as expected it'll be my last season lugging a 12 gauge. With my style I don't need to shoot far.

I'll report back if conscious on how the recoil is lol

I shoot the 3" #9s recoil is not horrible and they knock em dead. I will shoot to 40 but most my shots are 25-30.

 

[MR Yote]

:lol:

I prefer a long bow and a loin cloth myself. But to each his own I guess.....

:lol: :lol: ........classic

 

[TheLBLman]

. . . . . in 3.5" because I'm glutton for punishment.

I suspect you'll soon reduce that load ---- way overkill for your style of hunting,
and the punishment of a 2.5 oz load is brutal compared to 2 oz and less.

I don't shoot past 30 yards.

Your kill pics will look better if the turkeys still have a head.

No reason to dislocate a shoulder.

How many of those did you shoot, Setterman?