#3138844 - 01/25/13 11:44 AM
HTL or Lead?
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Andy S.
TnDeer Old Timer
12 Point
Registered: 07/26/99
Posts: 7290
Loc: Atoka, TN
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Do you turkey hunt with lead or heavier than lead (HTL)? If your answer is lead, please state whether or not you have ever tried HTL shot when turkey hunting.
The other topics made me wonder how many turkey hunters still use lead? And of those, how many have tried HTL but switched back. Not that lead is a bad thing or inferior, just wondering because I can only think of one guy in my circle of friends/acquaintances who has tried HTL, and then reverted back to lead only. Not sure of his reasoning, but I know he only shoots lead #4s nowadays.
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Andy S.
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#3138857 - 01/25/13 11:56 AM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: Andy S.]
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woodsman87
6 Point
Registered: 09/27/12
Posts: 638
Loc: south TN
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I use both. I like the HTL shots better because of course they pattern better. But the plus of lead is definately the price.
I have used HTL about every year since they came out with them until last year, when I killed 4 birds with lead. The only reason I had lead was because I ran out of HTL, had to have something quick, during mid season, so I got some Federal Flight control wad lead #5s. Shot 4 gobblers with them also patterned them before and almost as good as HTL.
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#3138861 - 01/25/13 11:59 AM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: Andy S.]
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Grizzly Johnson
Good ol' Boys "Team Grizzly"
16 Point
Registered: 10/07/08
Posts: 12900
Loc: Mid. TN
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I started with lead.... killed 6 turkeys in 2 springs.... Missed one due to mis-judging distance and my pattern spread out too much.... It was a great bird and I was a little mad at myself.
Hear how good the HTL stuff was, so I went with the Hevi loads in #6's & #'7's.... and the 5,6,7 Blend... all in 3.5" loads.
I found I got a better (tighter) pattern with the HTL @ 40 yards.... so if I fudged the distance a bit I would still be good to 45 yards or so.... hopefully not depending on the magic pellet to drop a turkey..... hunting large open fields, sometimes the distance is more due to not having something to compare or judge distance with.
I have a guy that loads some handloads using the H-13 shot.... but with the price of HTL getting higher, I have some lead from before that I plan on using if need be.... just have to be more sure of my distance when field hunting.
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Criminals thrive on the indulgence of society's understanding.
Your compassion is a weakness your enemies will not share.
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#3138864 - 01/25/13 12:06 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: Andy S.]
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Layne
4 Point
Registered: 08/04/08
Posts: 154
Loc: Eads TN
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I use the HEVI-13 myself but did switch back to Winchester double X magnums when I ran out and couldn't find the HEVI locally.
I missed a couple birds and quickly found a box of HEVI... because it had to be the shells... 
I really think the HTL pattern better in my gun.
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#3138874 - 01/25/13 12:15 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: Layne]
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REN
Good ol' Boys "Team Grizzly"
10 Point
Registered: 10/24/07
Posts: 3828
Loc: Wilson County, TN
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HTL and have no plans to go back to lead anytime soon.
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John 3:16
Psalms 42:1
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#3138895 - 01/25/13 12:33 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: REN]
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catman529
spiderboy
16 Point
Registered: 11/10/10
Posts: 11086
Loc: Franklin TN
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Never shot HTL myself, lead gets the job done for me
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A good day in the woods is best finished off with an ice cold Sun Drop.
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#3138930 - 01/25/13 12:54 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: catman529]
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Bullfrog
4 Point
Registered: 10/14/08
Posts: 401
Loc: Ky Lake
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Hunted with Hevi Shot for a few years and went back to lead after I watched a couple of birds walk off. I'm shooting a cheap Undertaker choke now, along with Flight Controls, and don't plan on changing.
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#3138936 - 01/25/13 12:56 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: catman529]
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Lawrence
8 Point
Registered: 10/03/07
Posts: 1745
Loc: MT. Juliet Tennessee
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HTL for me
I shot lead for years and had good results and killed a ton of birds I guess I'm just changing with the times
My favorite lead load was the Remington High Velocity 3-1/2" #4's
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#3138940 - 01/25/13 12:58 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: Bullfrog]
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Roost 1
8 Point
Registered: 07/24/11
Posts: 1726
Loc: KY
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@Grizz... Use a rangefinder!!! Lol
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#3138997 - 01/25/13 01:31 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: Roost 1]
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knightrider
10 Point
Registered: 09/27/10
Posts: 4796
Loc: claiborne
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magblends are the stuff!!!! no more lead for me
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killing tomorrows trophies today
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#3139032 - 01/25/13 01:55 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: knightrider]
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Boll Weevil
6 Point
Registered: 06/26/11
Posts: 640
Loc: Hardeman
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Both actually. I shoot an over/under with two different chokes; top barrel for way out there and bottom barrel for when he's right in my lap. HTL on top and copper-coated lead on the bottom.
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#3139178 - 01/25/13 03:31 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: Andy S.]
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Rockhound
8 Point
Registered: 04/04/11
Posts: 2003
Loc: Lawrence Co. TN
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I use both. When i bought my 10 ga. I started stockpiling shells. Started with hevi 5. Killed some birds but have moved to federal heavyweight #7. When i hunt certain places such as a few patches of woods on our farm i load up with lead because i will not have a shot over 20 yds.
But i dont see myself going straight lead for a ling time
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#3139322 - 01/25/13 05:16 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: Andy S.]
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Roost 1
8 Point
Registered: 07/24/11
Posts: 1726
Loc: KY
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@ Roost 1 - your comment about 45 yards and shooting lead is what sparked this question. What say you? 
I wont have a gun that wont consistently kill at 45yds with LEAD....However I really just like stirring the pot.:)
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#3139337 - 01/25/13 05:27 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: 8 POINTS OR BETTER]
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Andy S.
TnDeer Old Timer
12 Point
Registered: 07/26/99
Posts: 7290
Loc: Atoka, TN
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My kids are going to shoot Pixie Dust (tss #9) out of their 20ga this year.
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Andy S.
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#3139507 - 01/25/13 07:32 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: Andy S.]
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8 POINTS OR BETTER
10 Point
Registered: 08/15/07
Posts: 3869
Loc: Hardin, Co.
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My kids are going to shoot Pixie Dust (tss #9) out of their 20ga this year. Nice, look forward to hearing your opinion of it. Are you loading it or getting it from someone?
I'm loading it. And maybe a few .410 loads also.
_________________________
" Some localities are willing to work for their sport, and have plenty. Others are willing merely to take what comes easy, and have little or none." - Aldo Leopold
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#3139564 - 01/25/13 08:04 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: Roost 1]
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Grizzly Johnson
Good ol' Boys "Team Grizzly"
16 Point
Registered: 10/07/08
Posts: 12900
Loc: Mid. TN
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@Grizz... Use a rangefinder!!! Lol I have been..... says Hevi-13 on the side....  I like that.......
_________________________
Criminals thrive on the indulgence of society's understanding.
Your compassion is a weakness your enemies will not share.
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#3139576 - 01/25/13 08:10 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: Roost 1]
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timberjack86
12 Point
Registered: 06/20/11
Posts: 5697
Loc: Grundy county
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After shooting and the looking at the htl shot patterns how could I go back to lead?
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Way down yonder in the land of cotton...
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#3139588 - 01/25/13 08:18 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: Roost 1]
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catman529
spiderboy
16 Point
Registered: 11/10/10
Posts: 11086
Loc: Franklin TN
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@Grizz... Use a rangefinder!!! Lol I have been..... says Hevi-13 on the side.... I like that.......
_________________________
A good day in the woods is best finished off with an ice cold Sun Drop.
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#3139616 - 01/25/13 08:36 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: 8 POINTS OR BETTER]
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Andy S.
TnDeer Old Timer
12 Point
Registered: 07/26/99
Posts: 7290
Loc: Atoka, TN
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If you are willing to share it, I'd be interested in knowing approximate cost per shell when reloading your own TSS loads. I have always wondered what the cost would be to shoot it, assuming one already has the reloading equipment etc. Shoot me a PM with that info if you will. Thanks Chris.
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Andy S.
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#3139667 - 01/25/13 09:06 PM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: Andy S.]
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Rockhound
8 Point
Registered: 04/04/11
Posts: 2003
Loc: Lawrence Co. TN
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Another pm sent andy
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#3140072 - 01/26/13 09:36 AM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: Rockhound]
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Andy S.
TnDeer Old Timer
12 Point
Registered: 07/26/99
Posts: 7290
Loc: Atoka, TN
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Got it RH, thanks again.
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Andy S.
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#3140120 - 01/26/13 10:21 AM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: Andy S.]
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8 POINTS OR BETTER
10 Point
Registered: 08/15/07
Posts: 3869
Loc: Hardin, Co.
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Andy I'm reloading them from scratch. I will be roll crimping them so about the only equipment you have to have is a roll crimper and a drill to spin it. I use new primed hulls, wads, shot card , and tss #9. The tss was around $54 a pound delivered. I figure I will have $8 to $9 per 20ga shell starting out, but it will give the kids the killing power of 12ga 3" heavy shot load in a 20ga 2 3/4".
_________________________
" Some localities are willing to work for their sport, and have plenty. Others are willing merely to take what comes easy, and have little or none." - Aldo Leopold
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#3140131 - 01/26/13 10:30 AM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: 8 POINTS OR BETTER]
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Andy S.
TnDeer Old Timer
12 Point
Registered: 07/26/99
Posts: 7290
Loc: Atoka, TN
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Sweet deal Chris, sounds like a great plan.
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Andy S.
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#3140967 - 01/27/13 06:03 AM
Re: HTL or Lead?
[Re: Andy S.]
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Uncle Jesse
4 Point
Registered: 04/04/11
Posts: 143
Loc: Estill Springs
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I shot Remington hevi shot for several years when it first came out, but went back to 2 3/4 lead in 08. I don't want a tight pattern anymore because I miss too many when they get close. Now, I wouldn't hesitate at all to walk into the spring woods with one shell. If Mr LongTom steps inside 40, he's riding home with me.
I did kill 2 turkeys this fall with my 20 gauge and Hevi shot though. I feel a little different about lead in a 20.
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