Real world 410 range for turkey

[Honyock]

For those of you that have went the sub gauge route on turkey, what has been the effective range of a 410 with TSS? Not looking for absolute maximum range but the good reliable range. I know this may sound ridiculous, but I've got a place that has an abundance of turkeys (150+) and looking to make it more of a challenge than blasting them with a 12 gauge.

 

[Dryfly1]

I shoot handloaded TSS 9.5s and 40 yards is not a problem. This is on a scoped gun that has been patterned extensively

2Gbl

 

[Ferrulewax]

My self imposed limit is 40. I might be fine a little further out but it starts opening up past that. That's with a rossi tuffy turkey with the factory choke and apex 9.5. I may be able to tighten the spread a little with experimenting with loads and chokes but 40 is plenty for me.

 

[Skerhunter]

If you want more of a challenge just set rules for yourself and effective range won’t be an issue. .410 at standard hunting ranges shouldn’t be an issue (inside 30-40 yards).

My “rules” for archery are that a bird (not a Jake) must gobble on his way in and strut through the decoys before I shoot them. Decoys are set so they strut inside of 20 yards. I don’t use a blind and I’m a very average caller, so it’s a fun hunt!

 

[dtrkyman]

If you went in deep and tested multiple loads and chokes probably 50 yards, otherwise 40 is likely going to be max.

A cheap 12ga lead load is probably less effective than .410 TSS, not including long beard XR.

 

[WoodDuck]

My wife killed one last year at 55 with .410 and TSS #9. Range limit was supposed to be 40 but she misjudged. Ethical range is going to be pattern dependent.

I remember reading that theoretically TSS 9s will penetrate 2” at 70 yards at ~1200fps muzzle velocity. The smaller shot has lower surface area so will penetrate better than larger lead pellets. Also, smaller shot = more pellets = increased pattern density.

 

[Honyock]

Thanks, first ride with the TSS. I've always had a self-imposed 40 yard limit using Winchester Long Beard XR with the 870 12 gauge so 40 works for me. I guess I'm old fashioned, I've always tried to call them in to within twenty yards rather than seeing how far I can shoot. Never saw the need for TSS in a 12 gauge but that's just me.

 

[dtrkyman]

I hear that, I started hand loading TSS prior to the availability from commercial loads, basically started to have the ability to carry lighter guns! I kill most of my birds inside 30 but it is nice to have some buffer for those "40 yard" shots that turn out to be closer to 50!

 

[diamond10x]

Have never killed any with TSS out of my .410s, only lead 4s and 6s. It’s what I used for probably my first 6 or 7 years of Turkey hunting til I graduated to a 12. Never had any issues stoning birds 40-45 yards and in with mossberg 500 .410 factory full choke and lead. TSS i’d imagine 50 and in easy but if patterned well could reach out to 60.

 

[fishdart]

My furthest with #9 Boss Toms in the .410 was 45. Worked a treat.