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Not happy - 20 gauge Federal TSS

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ruger7mag

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Well I'm 1 for 3 shooting the federal 3" TSS 9s.
Bird 1- 15 yards, dead no issues.
Bird 2- a little over 40 yards, didn't even act hit, but stayed very low to the ground when he flew off.
Bird 3- 40 yards, may be closer to 35, knocked him down and he got up and flew off very low to the ground.

Makes me sick, I know without a doubt all birds would have been dead with my 12 gauge or with the heavyweight 7s I was shooting out of my 20.
I'm going to check my scope when I get a chance, but I doubt it's off.
Back to the 12 gauge now.
 
Not what I wanted to read today! Keep us updated! So far with 12ga we are 4 for 4. I have apex 20ga but have yet to use on a bird.


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If you soot at a turkeys 40 and in with tungsten 9s and he runs off, that's either you or your gun. Did you pattern those shells before hunting with them?
 
Something is wrong. With that setup should be dead birds.


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Southern Sportsman":tv4etbz4 said:
If you soot at a turkeys 40 and in with tungsten 9s and he runs off, that's either you or your gun. Did you pattern those shells before hunting with them?
Click to expand...


Yes I patterned them... Shooting about 290 at 40 yards.
 
ruger7mag":1n6xqhiw said:
Southern Sportsman":1n6xqhiw said:
If you soot at a turkeys 40 and in with tungsten 9s and he runs off, that's either you or your gun. Did you pattern those shells before hunting with them?
Click to expand...


Yes I patterned them... Shooting about 290 at 40 yards.
Click to expand...

Was POI the same as other loads? Some TSS loads will shoot great patterns but to a different spot than other loads.

I have personally seen TSS pellets shoot all the way through feathers, both breasts, and the breast bone at more than 40 yards. So I promise, those pellets did not just bounce off your turkeys' heads. They just didn't find the head for one reason or another.
 
Southern Sportsman":1c2mfc91 said:
ruger7mag":1c2mfc91 said:
Southern Sportsman":1c2mfc91 said:
If you soot at a turkeys 40 and in with tungsten 9s and he runs off, that's either you or your gun. Did you pattern those shells before hunting with them?
Click to expand...


Yes I patterned them... Shooting about 290 at 40 yards.
Click to expand...

Was POI the same as other loads? Some TSS loads will shoot great patterns but to a different spot than other loads.

I have personally seen TSS pellets shoot all the way through feathers, both breasts, and the breast bone at more than 40 yards. So I promise, those pellets did not just bounce off your turkeys' heads. They just didn't find the head for one reason or another.
Click to expand...

The TSS shot about 6 or 8 inches lower than the heavyweight 7s I used to shoot. I adjusted my scope accordingly.
The patterning and sighting in deal is nothing new to me. My guns are shot every year before season to make sure poa/poi is correct with my scopes.
I'll shoot when I get a chance to see if my scope is off or not.
 
I don't have vast experience with the new Federal TSS loads, only pulled the trigger 4 times between me and my son this year, but thay have been absolutely swarming the birds... I mean, no flopping, barely a twitch, and some nasty bloody heads.

bird 1- 25 yards
bird 2- 30 yards
bird 3- 35 yards
bird 4- got away due to Ethan shooting the barbwire 10ft from the end of the barrel. It should have been a slam dunk kill, I didn't even bother to raise my 10g I was so confident he was going to kill the bird.

OFC, have to remember the federal #9's are the reduced recoil loads at only 1000 fps... I wouldn't feel as great about shooting them past 40 due to that... but if they are past 40, I'm not shooting.

sounds like my pattern is just like yours... I'm shooting a .575 undertaker in the 870 youth compact. Getting 300 in the 10 plus 20" rings at 40 yds.... I know, not great for you paper shooters, but it's perfect for my son who often rushes the shot in the real world and where most of our shots are at 20-30 yds. I would not even hesitate a bit to shoot at 40, however.
 
I hate to hear this as I know it has to be weighing on you, and I hope you get it rectified soon. One thing I can promise you is the TSS #9 pellets are not the problem. My buddy killed one this morning at 30 yards or so with TSS #9s AFTER the pellets cut down an index finger sized sapling about 5 yards in front of the wattles. With that said, he was definitely shooting a more open pattern than you stated, say 220-240 in 10", and 220-240 in 20".
 
I hope you get it fixed soon but definitely not the TSS shot itself. This year is my first year hand loading and definitely impressed so far. My son and I may miss the next 5 shots but are 5 for 5 so far from 25 yards to farther than I care to admit due to misjudged yardage. Our patterns are close to what Andy describes above with 230 - 250 in the 10" and the same in the 10-20". Guns are 870 youth with a primos tightwad choke and 870 compact with a 575 Carlson's.
 
SKFOOTER":2w9i9y4i said:
Did you shoot another patterning shot with them after adjusting your scope or just trust your adjustment???
Click to expand...


Yes, I shot again after adjustment to make sure my poa/poi was correct.
 
Andy S.":946bcbh3 said:
I hate to hear this as I know it has to be weighing on you, and I hope you get it rectified soon. One thing I can promise you is the TSS #9 pellets are not the problem. My buddy killed one this morning at 30 yards or so with TSS #9s AFTER the pellets cut down an index finger sized sapling about 5 yards in front of the wattles. With that said, he was definitely shooting a more open pattern than you stated, say 220-240 in 10", and 220-240 in 20".
Click to expand...

Yes sir, it is weighing very heavily on me. I have missed/crippled more turkeys in this one season than I have in the last 10+ seasons combined. After switching to a scoped gun all those years ago, I quit missing/crippling birds. It absolutely drives me crazy to miss one and makes it even worse when I know I crippled one.
 
Not saying this is your case but just curious for those that do shoot a scoped gun..,

One reason I've not scoped my turkey gun is fear of hitting a limb or something with my shot that I couldn't see through the scope. I hunt in some thick woods a lot. Fields this would not be a problem. Has this ever happened to you guys that use one?
 

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