TSS Reloading

[bowhunterfanatic]

Can someone give me an estimate of what it'll cost starting 100% from scratch and with 0 knowledge? I'd be loading for a 20 gauge if that makes a difference.

 

[Wrangler95]

Look on Old Gobbler and Gobbler Nation,should find it on there!

 

[REN]

Can someone give me an estimate of what it'll cost starting 100% from scratch and with 0 knowledge? I'd be loading for a 20 gauge if that makes a difference.

the big cost will be shot obviously, that is about 50% of the total cost to get started really.

depending on what receipt you use you will need to buy the materials which will be hulls, wads, felt, powder, buffer and shot cards. those you buy in bulk so initially it will be high but you wont have to buy them more then once really.

other then that you just need a crimper (about $20) and scales (can be as cheap or expensive as you want to go, I think we got ours off Amazon for like $20)


Im happy to help with any questions you have just PM me or text me 615-306-3219 Jaymie

 

[Andy S.]

Assuming you load 1 5/8 (1.625) ounce of shot per shell, you'll be able to load 10 shells per pound (16 ounces) of shot. Assuming roughly $50/lb for TSS alone, you'll be right at $5/shell for just the shot. You'll need hulls (buy in bulk), wads (bulk), cork/felt (bulk), overshot cards (bulk) and buffer (bulk) and a roll crimper (used with cordless drill). You'll probably have $8+/shell by time you pay for all items and shipping.

Check this video out for a tutorial.
[youtube]Vp7_CNcIAZE[/youtube]

 

[Andy S.]

Look on Old Gobbler and Gobbler Nation,should find it on there!

TSS is not a topic that OG moderators care to see on their board. There is some discussion on their board, but GN is definitely the ticket for TSS discussion, pointers and feedback.

 

[orion43]

Bow, send me a PM, I will share info.

 

[REN]

It's really not hard at all to do once you get the hang of it. I loaded up 15 shells tonight for me and TNReb and it only took me like 45mins start to finish and I was taking my time.

 

[REN]

I will add one of the best "tools" I got (Andy may have recommended it or someone else from here when I started) was a cigar tamping tool. Fits perfect in the hull to push the hull and all the parts down. They are super cheap and awesome to have

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Aunt nothing to it but to do it

 

[TNReb]

You need a friend like REN so that you can split initial setup costs, then just say "Hey buddy, load me up some shells!", and he gets it done.

In all seriousness though... it does cost a good little bit to get started. I wouldn't have done it if I didn't have someone to split the costs with. You have to like fooling with that sort of stuff and patterning guns. If you just want to shoot TSS and don't care about the process, it may not be worth the investment.

I had fun building a trap to recapture the shot, and trying different chokes to see how they all patterned out with the various loads.

 

[Boll Weevil]

I had fun building a trap to recapture the shot, and trying different chokes to see how they all patterned out with the various loads.

Question: Shot into a trap, does TSS deform where perhaps it doesn't pattern as to be worth continued reloading? I know th stuff is super hard but does it flat side and deform so it's un-reloadable?

 

[TNReb]

I had fun building a trap to recapture the shot, and trying different chokes to see how they all patterned out with the various loads.

Question: Shot into a trap, does TSS deform where perhaps it doesn't pattern as to be worth continued reloading? I know th stuff is super hard but does it flat side and deform so it's un-reloadable?

Nope! No deformation that I've noticed.

 

[TheLBLman]

Look on Old Gobbler and Gobbler Nation,should find it on there!

TSS is not a topic that OG moderators care to see on their board.

Any idea why?

 

[REN]

I had fun building a trap to recapture the shot, and trying different chokes to see how they all patterned out with the various loads.

Question: Shot into a trap, does TSS deform where perhaps it doesn't pattern as to be worth continued reloading? I know th stuff is super hard but does it flat side and deform so it's un-reloadable?

As long as you have a good amount of soft material like carpet or equivalent to slow it down it won't deform at all and last year we got approx 94% of all the shot back we fired at it

 

[TNReb]

I had fun building a trap to recapture the shot, and trying different chokes to see how they all patterned out with the various loads.

Question: Shot into a trap, does TSS deform where perhaps it doesn't pattern as to be worth continued reloading? I know th stuff is super hard but does it flat side and deform so it's un-reloadable?

As long as you have a good amount of soft material like carpet or equivalent to slow it down it won't deform at all and last year we got approx 94% of all the shot back we fired at it

Oh yeah... completely forgot about all those carpet layers.

 

[FOX FIRE]

The powers that be over on O.G. has decided that TSS is unethical because everyone kept taking shots at longer distances, read some that were in the 75 yard range (if you can believe it), the idea of taking birds at unheard of distances instead if developing your calling skills to get birds close is what done the TSS shooters in, so now they call G.N. home.

 

[TheLBLman]

The powers that be over on O.G. has decided that TSS is unethical because everyone kept taking shots at longer distances . . . . . . . the idea of taking birds at unheard of distances instead if developing your calling skills to get birds close is what done the TSS shooters in, so now they call G.N. home.

That's an understandable explanation, although don't know if the decision to stifle the discussion is a wise one.

I guess, what's ultimately happening is the development of TSS is kinda a defacto way of hunting more with a rifle than a shotgun?

This COULD ultimately lead to shorter seasons and lower bag limits,
as it does make it easier for someone with less "hunting" experience, to simple go shoot some turkeys.

IMO, all the aspects of all our choices should be debated.
Like many on O.G., I'd hate to someday see turkey shooting replace turkey hunting.

In some respects, simply shooting a live target (vs. "hunting")
is somewhat like just hand-placing a ball in a hole, calling it "golfing",
then comparing one's golfing skills to Tiger Woods'.

The real fun and challenge is more in playing the game,
rather than just placing a ball in a hole, or shooting something.

Where we draw our lines becomes the issue.

 

[Andy S.]

The real beauty of TSS is you KNOW your shells will consist of the exact same components year to year, as well as the ability to easily kill turkeys at traditional distances using sub gauges (20, 28, .410), with lighter weight guns, and minimal recoil.

 

[elknturkey]

Tss can kill way out there and some people probably use it for that reason alone but from all the people I know that use it, which is several, we could go back to lead in a 20ga and keep on killing the same amount. I live in a rifle state so if long range was our goal I'd pull out the 22-250. My average kill range is prob around 28 yards, maybe not even that. I try not set up to where I can even see him till he's at 40 which isn't hard to do where I hunt.

It doesn't seem right to spend that kind of money on a shell when you don't need the horse power but for what I spend every year just on gas, food and tags, $60 in shells is just a drop in a bucket to have the best shell available. I have enough components and shot stock piled to where I will prob never need to buy anymore. No worrying about running out or load being discontinued.

Back to the OP. If you buy 2lbs of shot $88, 100 hulls $18, 250 wads $15, buffer $10, filler $10, OSC cards $8 (if you roll crimp), crimp tool $20 scales $30, powder $30 you're looking at roughly $250 to get started. I load a 1 7/16 so i get 11 shells from a pound, a little more velocity and I didn't lose anything in the 10"

 

[TheLBLman]

The real beauty of TSS is you KNOW your shells will consist of the exact same components year to year, as well as the ability to easily kill turkeys at traditional distances using sub gauges (20, 28, .410), with lighter weight guns, and minimal recoil.

Andy, I believe you and I typically see pretty eye to eye on most issues, including this.
I'm only concerned that too much about real hunting is becoming more about simply shooting.

I'm not opposed to using TSS at all, and the only reason I'm not is simply because I haven't spent the time to start.
That, and the fact I'm pretty content with those Federal Heavyweight #7's in my 20 gauge.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

The real beauty of TSS is you KNOW your shells will consist of the exact same components year to year, as well as the ability to easily kill turkeys at traditional distances using sub gauges (20, 28, .410), with lighter weight guns, and minimal recoil.

Andy, I believe you and I typically see pretty eye to eye on most issues, including this.
I'm only concerned that too much about real hunting is becoming more about simply shooting.

I'm not opposed to using TSS at all, and the only reason I'm not is simply because I haven't spent the time to start.
That, and the fact I'm pretty content with those Federal Heavyweight #7's in my 20 gauge.

I see what you mean but that could also be said with blinds and decoys :stir:

 

[TheLBLman]

I see what you mean but that could also be said with blinds and decoys :stir:

Good point, and almost everything in some way makes it "easier" to kill a turkey than in times past.

We could make similar points about bug spray, camo clothing, comfortable clothing, goretex,
snake boots, atv's, seat cushions, custom calls, custom chokes, optical sights, you name it.

But nothing has extended actual shooting range as much as the development of heavier-than-lead shot, most specifically the TSS.

 

[REN]

how is using HW7 much different then TSS when the reason for using it is the same thing??

 

[TheLBLman]

how is using HW7 much different then TSS when the reason for using it is the same thing??

Never claimed there was much difference behind the reasoning for using either
and am not against TSS.

I use HW7 in my 20 gauge mainly because it makes my 20 gauge as "effective" (or more so) than my old 12 ga turkey guns using the copper-plated lead loads I've used for decades. For me, it's more about getting traditional 12 gauge performance out of a 20 ga shotgun, i.e. makes it "easier" for me to walk with a lighter gun, so guess it makes it "easier" for me to kill more turkeys. :tu: TSS is just even better than HW7.

 

[REN]

yeah i didnt mean my post to come out as you were saying it was sorry about that.

 

[TheLBLman]

Why you sorry THING you!

 

[TNReb]

The real beauty of TSS is you KNOW your shells will consist of the exact same components year to year, as well as the ability to easily kill turkeys at traditional distances using sub gauges (20, 28, .410), with lighter weight guns, and minimal recoil.

Bingo. I'm not one of the guys shooting absurd distances. I killed 2 birds last year, and both were about 30 yards. Part of the fun of turkey hunting is kind of like bow hunting with deer ... you actually have to make an effort to get close to them, or more accurately, get them close to you.

 

[Roost 1]

TSS is not ruining the game, fanning has already done that. I kno guys that tag out every year in multiple states and all they do is sleep in and then ride roads looking for birds to "fan in". I don't even care to listen to them tell their stories, actually just walked off. Killing is all a lot of guys know. Never learned to hunt but then again it all looks the same on Facebook, Tndeer, or in a text message.....

 

[TheLBLman]

Killing is all a lot of guys know.
Never learned to hunt but then again it all looks the same on Facebook, Tndeer, or in a text message.....

Kinda the point I was trying to make.
More and more, HUNTING is being replaced by simply SHOOTING, and/or just bragging rights over having killed something.
IMO, this does not bode well to the future of hunting.

 

[spoon]

Killing one would be nice....23 years of turkey hunting, I've killed 2 and yes I use decoys, tss, LB and the occasional pop up blind.

I'm also the self proclaimed worst turkey hunter :cry: