Reloading TSS

[KJStechly]

Hey all, does anyone on here have experience reloading TSS for coyotes? Mainly 3” #2 shot?


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[Rich M]

Follow the recipe.

My dad was trying to experiment w 1/2 tss and 1/2 steel and wide patterns at 50 yds.

 

[Ozarkansas]

I’ve reloaded with 20 gauge 3”, in #9 for turkeys and BB for pigs, but never #2

 

[dtrkyman]

I would look at 4s or 3s, but I guess 2s would be a hammer at long range, but the pattern probably runs out before the energy!

Buy shot from Hal Abbot and he will give you load data and recommend a shot size.

 

[KJStechly]

Just to update everyone:

I did a ton of research and ended up buying a few reloading manuals. I did a few tweaks with the powder charge and these were the results

Both of these were shot at 40 yards.

The first picture was a 2.75” 1.5 oz load (81 #2 pellets). Ended up with 77 of those pellets on a 30x30 target, 27 inside a 10” circle

The second was a 2.75” 1.625 oz (90 #2 pellets).
Ended up with 85 pellets on a 30x30 target and 24 inside a 10” circle.


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[Fullfan]

Bud of mine is loading #4's he is getting great patterns at 65. Think he said 52gn of lil gun.

 

[RockAndSage]

Just to update everyone:

I did a ton of research and ended up buying a few reloading manuals. I did a few tweaks with the powder charge and these were the results

Both of these were shot at 40 yards.

The first picture was a 2.75” 1.5 oz load (81 #2 pellets). Ended up with 77 of those pellets on a 30x30 target, 27 inside a 10” circle

The second was a 2.75” 1.625 oz (90 #2 pellets).
Ended up with 85 pellets on a 30x30 target and 24 inside a 10” circle.


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It took a while to mentally adjust to shot size differences with TSS - mostly after absolutely hammering ducks out past 60yds with #7s, and getting that trust with experience. The rule of thumb, IIRC, is that you go 4-5 full shot sizes smaller with TSS. Each pellet is more lethal, and your pattern densities are far higher. I might go up to #6s on geese if I needed a lot of distance, but #2s on ducks is like buckshot man. Just way more size than you need, with fewer opportunities to hit. That's the magic with TSS - it's not just the increased lethality per pellet, but the load itself, with far more pellets, just kills a heck of a lot better, at least 50% further out than you can with steel.

Something else I had to adjust for is chokes. I asked one of the custom TSS loaders for choke recommendations, and he categorically advised to use a cylinder choke with TSS for waterfowl - and he has been right. My TSS patterns with a cylinder choke are a little tighter at 40yds that my modified choke is with steel.

 

[SouthPaw]

@RockAndSage What's your $/shell handloading TSS for waterfowl?

 

[Bluefish]

@RockAndSage What's your $/shell handloading TSS for waterfowl?

It runs 40-55 per pound, so for 1 1/8 oz loads 2.80-3.88 for shot alone. Then powder, primer, and wad, so add another buck or so. Call it 3-5 per shot.

 

[KJStechly]

It took a while to mentally adjust to shot size differences with TSS - mostly after absolutely hammering ducks out past 60yds with #7s, and getting that trust with experience. The rule of thumb, IIRC, is that you go 4-5 full shot sizes smaller with TSS. Each pellet is more lethal, and your pattern densities are far higher. I might go up to #6s on geese if I needed a lot of distance, but #2s on ducks is like buckshot man. Just way more size than you need, with fewer opportunities to hit. That's the magic with TSS - it's not just the increased lethality per pellet, but the load itself, with far more pellets, just kills a heck of a lot better, at least 50% further out than you can with steel.

Something else I had to adjust for is chokes. I asked one of the custom TSS loaders for choke recommendations, and he categorically advised to use a cylinder choke with TSS for waterfowl - and he has been right. My TSS patterns with a cylinder choke are a little tighter at 40yds that my modified choke is with steel.

I understand your point, but I’m not hunting ducks. I worked this up as an extended range coyote load. And if you talk to anyone that has been around the block a few times with tss and coyotes, they all prefer either 2x4’s or straight 2 shot. I’m not saying that smaller shot sizes won’t work, but when you look at penetration especially on marginal/ going away shots, #2 trumps even #4’s at distance. It won’t matter how many bb’s you have if they can’t penetrate like you need them to.


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[KJStechly]

It runs 40-55 per pound, so for 1 1/8 oz loads 2.80-3.88 for shot alone. Then powder, primer, and wad, so add another buck or so. Call it 3-5 per shot.

I can reload these 1.5 oz #2’s for $5.57 a shell


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[Bluefish]

I understand your point, but I’m not hunting ducks. I worked this up as an extended range coyote load. And if you talk to anyone that has been around the block a few times with tss and coyotes, they all prefer either 2x4’s or straight 2 shot. I’m not saying that smaller shot sizes won’t work, but when you look at penetration especially on marginal/ going away shots, #2 trumps even #4’s at distance. It won’t matter how many bb’s you have if they can’t penetrate like you need them to.


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I found that I liked the bigger tss for upland as it crushes/ breaks bone vs putting a hole in it. The 9-9.5’s had plenty of penetration, but just left pinholes in the bones. The 7.5 would break the bone. Having shot a mild steel plate with 7.5 I was amazed at the divots left in the plate. TSS has a lot more penetration than lead, but at most I would go 2 sizes smaller than what would be a good lead load.

 

[RockAndSage]

I understand your point, but I’m not hunting ducks. I worked this up as an extended range coyote load. And if you talk to anyone that has been around the block a few times with tss and coyotes, they all prefer either 2x4’s or straight 2 shot. I’m not saying that smaller shot sizes won’t work, but when you look at penetration especially on marginal/ going away shots, #2 trumps even #4’s at distance. It won’t matter how many bb’s you have if they can’t penetrate like you need them to.


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Ah, my bad man, I missed the coyote part of your first post. But I absolutely believe your #2 TSS load would crush coyotes. Guys are dropping deer with BB TSS, so it stands to reason.