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.

 

[Fullfan]

Tripple B metals has TSS for 35-38 a pound

 

[KJStechly]

Tripple B metals has TSS for 35-38 a pound

I look into their page on Facebook. What turned me off about them is their larger shot isn’t “finished”. What I mean by that is there is a ring around the pellet and it’s not perfectly round. I understand it’s cheaper than your average tss, but what worried me was how that would affect the pattern and also if one of those were to contact your barrel it would probably do some major damage. I bought my tss for 48$/ lb with free shipping and ended up getting a pattern that I was pretty impressed with so I do not intend to change much if anything

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[Fullfan]

I look into their page on Facebook. What turned me off about them is their larger shot isn’t “finished”. What I mean by that is there is a ring around the pellet and it’s not perfectly round. I understand it’s cheaper than your average tss, but what worried me was how that would affect the pattern and also if one of those were to contact your barrel it would probably do some major damage. I bought my tss for 48$/ lb with free shipping and ended up getting a pattern that I was pretty impressed with so I do not intend to change much if anything

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Understand completely, have never bought anything larger than #8's. But have a but that did buy some #4' and loads them for coyotes. Will ask him about the shot he received. Dang good pattern you posted, how far was the shot ?

 

[RockAndSage]

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.

I had this happen with a teal not long after you posted this, and possibly a mallard on a different shot a couple of days later. Stoned both of them, both completely free-fell down on land, and laid there still for a couple of minutes each. And each suddenly got up and flew off, after being completely still for at least two or three minutes. I didn't see any motion from either until they jumped, but also didn't have eyes on them every second. It does make me wonder if the ones I hit that fell into water might have been able to do something similar, but drown before reviving, laying there belly-up and heads underwater.

Don't have a huge data set, but thought I'd share the experience. The two incidents have made me rethink buying #9s for waterfowl again. It smacks the tar out of them within the decoys, but I didn't have those problems with #7s.

 

[Bluefish]

I had this happen with a teal not long after you posted this, and possibly a mallard on a different shot a couple of days later. Stoned both of them, both completely free-fell down on land, and laid there still for a couple of minutes each. And each suddenly got up and flew off, after being completely still for at least two or three minutes. I didn't see any motion from either until they jumped, but also didn't have eyes on them every second. It does make me wonder if the ones I hit that fell into water might have been able to do something similar, but drown before reviving, laying there belly-up and heads underwater.

Don't have a huge data set, but thought I'd share the experience. The two incidents have made me rethink buying #9s for waterfowl again. It smacks the tar out of them within the decoys, but I didn't have those problems with #7s.

I have run into this with deer and a non fatal shot placement. The initial shot hits the nervous system and stuns them, but the damage doesn’t make them bleed out fast enough to not wake up

I have had a couple experiences with 9-9.5 tss where the bird flies off, then dies later. One a pheasant, I thought I had it centered and it glided off. We found it on the ground where it landed, dead. I assume the small shot damaged the lungs enough for death, but was slow to happen. Had a turkey this year, hit at 35-40 yards, rolled then got up and flew off. Tracked it and it was dead when I got there. Had a few holes in the body from shot, just not a quick stop. I may load some larger shot for turkey to see how it compares.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I have run into this with deer and a non fatal shot placement. The initial shot hits the nervous system and stuns them, but the damage doesn’t make them bleed out fast enough to not wake up

I have had a couple experiences with 9-9.5 tss where the bird flies off, then dies later. One a pheasant, I thought I had it centered and it glided off. We found it on the ground where it landed, dead. I assume the small shot damaged the lungs enough for death, but was slow to happen. Had a turkey this year, hit at 35-40 yards, rolled then got up and flew off. Tracked it and it was dead when I got there. Had a few holes in the body from shot, just not a quick stop. I may load some larger shot for turkey to see how it compares.

What choke constriction was you using for the turkey you shot?

 

[Bluefish]

What choke constriction was you using for the turkey you shot?

I believe it’s a jebbs xx full. Cva scout stock choke. Rolled the bird then she got up and flew off. Went 30 ish Yards and was done.