Pros/Cons

[Coker]

With all the talk about TSS vs. others, I thought I would give my $.10 cents worth for those on the fence

My set up and hunting area/style
1. 75% woods hunting, run and gun style, try to get them in close.
2. 12 gauge Browning Maxus, 3.5inch, Hevi Shot #6, with Primos Jelly Head choke .670 (my gun)
and
3. 20 gauge Remington 870 youth, TSS #9, Red Dot scope, with Carlson choke .575 (Daughters gun)

Pros: Browning
1.Very deadly out to 50yds....although most of my shots are within 35yds.
2. $$ for Hevi Shot is slightly average ($27-$30 per box of 5)

Cons:
1. Kick/Recoil

VS.

Remington 20 gauge youth

Pros
1. Deadly out to 50 yds
2. Lighter shotgun but only by a 1lb or 2lbs at the most

Cons
1. TSS is more expensive ($2-$4 higher per box)

Both guns have killed turkeys this year. 20 guage at 17 yds and the 12 guage at 40 yds.

For me, both are very deadly for my style hunting. The TSS is more expensive but the 3.5 inch Hevi Shot has more recoil. The gun weight difference is not a game changer for me (Again, 1lb-2lb difference)

In the end, I still carry my Browning in the woods. I am comfortable with it and will continue to use it. Maybe, just maybe, I will bring my daughters 20 gauge with me this year and hunt with it.

Hope this helps.

 

[REN]

TSS doesnt have to be as much as retail prices. If you got a buddy to go in with to just get the materials you can reload your own for cheaper AND you know nothing changes in it from year to year.

 

[TheLBLman]

The gun weight difference is not a game changer for me (Again, 1lb-2lb difference)

Another difference is the weight of the shells.
How many in the gun + how many in your pocket?

If you compare a 1 1/2 oz 20 ga. load to a 2 oz 12 ga load,
the weight difference per shell is closer to a full once each
since the 12's require more "hull" and more powder.

Also, even if the guns were the same weight, because the 20 has a smaller "footprint", that weight is more centered and requires less energy to carry.

I agree it doesn't sound like much with either, but after a full day of carrying,
the difference seems much greater.

 

[ROVERBOY]

A 20 gauge is great with TSS but, you know already about price. I shoot Longbeards out of my Mossberg 500 3" 12 gauge and don't think I really need TSS in it. Have you tried them in your Browning? I've killed several at 40 yards and further.

 

[Gravey]

My son has a Mossberg 500 bantam and doesn't turkey hunt anymore so I guess that means it's mine. I still carry my SX3 12 gauge and probably will for the foreseeable future. If I do get a hankering to hunt with a 20 more I'll probably look for a Benelli M2.