Who Loads Their Own TSS?

[nso123]

Is it worth it to you to load your own TSS? I can buy the ammo at wholesale (which is still expensive), but wonder if you have found that your reloads shoot better? I have done the math, and it would take me about 100-125 rounds to break even with buying loaded ammo.

 

[REN]

Is it worth it to you to load your own TSS? I can buy the ammo at wholesale (which is still expensive), but wonder if you have found that your reloads shoot better? I have done the math, and it would take me about 100-125 rounds to break even with buying loaded ammo.

its no longer about "saving $" to load your own, much like doing it for rifle shooting. Its even more so that way with inflation on components and the extreme cost of shot now.

Having said that its still worth it to me IF you can get all the components on the cheap somehow (hulls, powder, wads, shot cards etc). The MAIN benefit to your own is you control the QC of every round. You know all the components are exactly the same vs factory where they can change power, wads or other components without publishing it or heck they can even discontinue the shells.

You can also somewhat play with the load to try and maximize it in your gun/choke combo like less buffer or less powder or even hull slit depth. You can build a trap and collect the shot to keep reloading it. Plus just has a different feel when you shoot birds with your own shells. Now I will say I dont see a benefit to doing it for 12 gauges personally with all the options of factory loads there.

 

[nso123]

its no longer about "saving $" to load your own, much like doing it for rifle shooting. Its even more so that way with inflation on components and the extreme cost of shot now.

Having said that its still worth it to me IF you can get all the components on the cheap somehow (hulls, powder, wads, shot cards etc). The MAIN benefit to your own is you control the QC of every round. You know all the components are exactly the same vs factory where they can change power, wads or other components without publishing it or heck they can even discontinue the shells.

You can also somewhat play with the load to try and maximize it in your gun/choke combo like less buffer or less powder or even hull slit depth. You can build a trap and collect the shot to keep reloading it. Plus just has a different feel when you shoot birds with your own shells. Now I will say I dont see a benefit to doing it for 12 gauges personally with all the options of factory loads there.

I have access to the components at wholesale too, so that is another consideration.

 

[megalomaniac]

I haven't shot a round of factory rifle ammunition in almost 25 years.... all handloads.

But I just can't see taking up the space in my reloading room to reload shotshells, since I don't use a shotgun very much.

I think in the past year I fired 5 rounds of TSS 20g at turkeys, and 10 rounds of 12g steel at ducks.

Now if I ever got into sporting clays or a lot of wingshooting, I would strongly consider reloading shotshells.

 

[Andy S.]

I reload TSS strictly for turkey hunting and have for a decade now. If it were me, and I was starting today, I'd buy commercially available ammo, choose a forgiving choke, pattern my setup on a warm day, and hunt. Most hunters shoot at 3-5 turkeys annually (sure, some travel and shoot at 10-15), but to me, the juice is not worth the squeeze today for handloading TSS shotshells for 50 yard and under. Commercially available TSS (increasingly expensive this year) will do the trick just fine. My bigger suggestion is to pattern the ammo/choke you decide on to ensure POA=POI. If you change chokes or anything with TSS turkey ammo, pattern your gun again. That is more important to me than my handloads versus a commercially available round. I like to set it, forget it, and go hunting. My .02

 

[nso123]

I haven't shot a round of factory rifle ammunition in almost 25 years.... all handloads.

But I just can't see taking up the space in my reloading room to reload shotshells, since I don't use a shotgun very much.

I think in the past year I fired 5 rounds of TSS 20g at turkeys, and 10 rounds of 12g steel at ducks.

Now if I ever got into sporting clays or a lot of wingshooting, I would strongly consider reloading shotshells.

That is part of my thinking too. I haven't hunted with factory ammo in a rifle for over 30 years.

 

[tntrkkllr]

I have access to the components at wholesale too, so that is another consideration.

Hook a brother up

I load my own turkey loads and re load all my center fire cartridges

 

[ewc]

Hook a brother up

I load my own turkey loads and re load all my center fire cartridges

I reload for at least 10 different rifle calibers. I don't reload for shotgun. Don't shoot it enough to make it cost worthy.

I know i could gain accuracy and speed-
But at what price? The factory stuff works and i don't need to be sub moa with a shotgun.

 

[Jbird22]

I started loading TSS for myself before it was ever available commercially. I believe handloads will outperform most commercial loads due to consistency. But in all honesty, commercially available options are plenty adequate. If starting today, I would purchase them commercially vs. load my own simply from a convenience standpoint.

 

[TN Larry]

What @Andy S. and @Jbird22 said.

I've been loading for several years now and started the year before it was commercially available. I wanted to use a 20 ga due to weight and length reduction but also recoil reduction due to a shoulder issue. I'm super glad I did it and probably have enough components to last a life time. However, if starting over, I'd just buy them commercially.