20 Gauge tungsten turkey load

[bluetick78]

Thinking ahead to next spring, I'd like to hear from some of you that have experience with tungsten loads in short-barreld 20 gauge. My 9 year old son shoots a youth model 870 in 20 gauge. The barrel is 18 or 20 inches with a Carlsons vented turkey choke. Currently he's using 3" Winchester Longbeard #5's. That load patterns well out to about 30 yards, but falls apart after that. We hunt fairly open country, and it can be tough to get birds in closer than 40-45 yds.
Question is, how many of you guys have used tungsten loads in a short-barreled 20 gauge, and which loads worked best? I've looked at offerings from Fiocchi, Federal, Remington and several others but can't decide where to start. I really just need to add another 10 yards or so to the guns effective range so my little man can tag some birds.

 

[Hills]

I would look at Apex shells. They have a 20ga 1-3/8 oz load that should be good for him. TSS is pretty forgiving of choke constriction so whatever he is using now is worth trying before buying anything else. Even factory full chokes can throw patterns that are plenty good to shoot 45 yds

 

[bradb]

Just try a few kinds of tss 9s. Most shoot plenty good, some great. But unique to your combo.. a pretty fair number of birds have fell to my youth 20

 

[N2TRKYS]

I shoot a Rem 870 youth with a 21” barrel. With my 15/8 oz #9 handloads and an IC 555 choke, I get a consistent 300 pellets in a 10” circle at 40 yards.

My 21” barreled 1187 setup the same way gets 350 pellets.

 

[Ondavirg]

You’ll have better luck with the smaller tss shell makers than bigger manufacturers like federal, but any of them will blow your mind compared to patterns you are seeing with lead. It’s hard to trust those tiny 9s (or smaller) but they will kill turkeys farther than we should shoot at them. Apex is my favorite currently as well.

 

[Scottf270]

Follow the advice from above. Buy some lighter loads of #9 tss, go with a more open choke and go hunt.

 

[Dryfly1]

Foxtrot Ammo or Make your own.

2Gbl

 

[mullet dredge]

I own two 21" barreled compact Rems, an 870 and 11-87. Prefer a more forgiving pattern so shoot a .570 Sumtoy in the 870 and a .575 Carlsons in the 11-87. I handload Hal's 1 5/8oz 3" Big20XL #9s. That being said, the recoil from that heavy payload and small light gun can be a little "snappy" especially for a 9 year old. The gas operated 11-87 makes it somewhat more tolerable over the 870.

 

[Gman12]

I use a Franchi 20 gauge and the TSS 9 shot is pretty nasty out to about 50 yards.

 

[Kurts86]

Apex 9’s are typically the first place to start on TSS loads.

 

[JBrew]

Apex is tried and true. Federal MagBlends have also shot well for me, if you're looking at a little lower cost option.

 

[Oddfellow]

Apex Ammo or Foxtrot Ammo. The owner of Foxtrot Ammo is a standup guy. An active member over on Gobblernation, and always available to answer any questions. He used to be able to get some good prices on Indian Creek chokes, but I do not know if that is still the case.