TSS in smoothbore

[GrizzlyClaus]

Off my soap box now. Sorry.

 

[chrisLD]

ordered the tps wads, where do you all get your wads and cards?

Anyone else care to join in the conversation?

 

[GrizzlyClaus]

Usually Ballistic Products or Track of the Wolf for over powder and over shot cards.

 

[bud in pa]

i believe in doing what makes you happy, as long as it is ethical.

 

[ThompsonNC]

I can kill turkeys with my caplock out to 35 for sure with lead and my current pattern but all of them have been killed 20 and under.

Where did you get the camo outfit? Pretty cool!

 

[Blackpowderart]

Where did you get the camo outfit? Pretty cool!

https://us.novritsch.com it's a high end suit designed over in Europe somewhere for airsoft. No, I've never played airsoft but I wasn't happy with the "turkey" leafy suits and I didn't want a tradional ghille. I saw a video of guys hiding in a suit with added veg and without. I was sold. This suit comes in many different configurations and colors to suit your needs. Airsoft is kinda like paintball but specifically military in nature. People like literally get in sniper positions and play the game. The suit is extremely well built and it has small loops on it to add vegetation from the areas you hunt. You don't have too add it, but i usually do add some to the front and profile portions( shoulders,arms,head ).

These are the 3 pieces I chose the color was called "Amber"

 

[DanL]

Good information @GrizzlyClaus.

Please search for discussion "TSS in Smoothbores" November 1, 2023. Go to Post #5. I presented my experience with TSS in a flintlock smoothbore.

I agree with @GrizzlyClaus opinions and suggestions about using TSS. Using TSS is not about going against tradition, History or others' personal leanings for Flintlock smoothbores. I experimented with it's use because I can use it as an alternative to lead shot. This gives me choices for smoothbore loadings for various game. I still enjoy using lead for all game when I choose to do so.. Also, "FOR FUN", I still experiment by varying traditional load columns as well as experimenting with "modern" materials for load columns. Why? Because its FUN and besides the hunting seasons only last for 1/2 the year in Alabama. This gives me shooting opportunities the rest of the year!

Always use products designed for TSS in your load development and use.

Let's follow @B P Maniac Shooter 's lead, Experiment and have fun!

As Always, Follow safety guidelines and enjoy smoothbore shooting!

DanL

 

[Virgobythesea]

Alright, you already have TSS experience, great! For muzzleloading applications load as follows: 1- over powder hard card, 1- BPI TPS wad, trimmed to length to fit shot column height and slit with 4 slits, 1- thin mylar wrap inside wad, trimmed to height of wad, TSS shot load, your call on payload, but you already know you don't need 2 ounces of it to kill turkeys, and 1- over shot card. I'm using a Pedersoli Old English Maple 12 ga. and my load is exactly as above using 2 3/4 Drams Swiss 3Fg and 1 oz. TSS #9.5.
Use the wads no matter what anyone tells ya, it's just not worth possible barrel damage without. Cheap insurance and not that much bother for the little amount of shots you fire at turkeys. Also, in un choked guns, sometimes larger TSS pellet size actually patterns better than smaller size, i.e. # 7 or 8's instead of #9 or 9.5's.
Haven't tried Skychief's load with TSS because of the plastic wad, so don't know if it would help or hurt.
Wow, just realized that the most I talked at someone since I joined this place. Let me know if ya have more questions.
GrizzlyClaus.
P.S.: Yes, lead will kill 'em dead too.

Great information, thank you.

Do these wads work with jugged barrels?

I’m planning to use TSS 8.5 and 9.5 in a 1993 Pedersoli 20ga SxS.

Initially didn’t plan on using a wad because they are “supposed” to be chrome lined and it is jug choked.

Any thoughts?

 

[Blackpowderart]

Great information, thank you.

Do these wads work with jugged barrels?

I’m planning to use TSS 8.5 and 9.5 in a 1993 Pedersoli 20ga SxS.

Initially didn’t plan on using a wad because they are “supposed” to be chrome lined and it is jug choked.

Any thoughts?

I have no say in whether it's gonna leave a mark but this guy did it.

 

[turkeymanwade]

This is just my second post on this forum. Thank y'all for answering some of my questions without me asking them. I was TSS muzzleloader, curious. I have shot TSS in my Mossberg 935 but only because I was hunting a lead free zone. I don't see spending the money for most of the turkey hunting I do. But, that being said, it does kill 'em dead. I like the post about putting a red dot on a fowler. I'm kinda in that camp. Assuming I do get my great-granddaddy's shotgun to shoot, I might use TSS as a last resort.

 

[GrizzlyClaus]

Great information, thank you.

Do these wads work with jugged barrels?

I’m planning to use TSS 8.5 and 9.5 in a 1993 Pedersoli 20ga SxS.

Initially didn’t plan on using a wad because they are “supposed” to be chrome lined and it is jug choked.

Any thoughts?

Virgo,
I use the 12 ga. wad in my Pedersoli that is choked IC and Mod. see no reason why the 20 ga. wads won't work in your Pedersoli. I wish I could go back in time and choke whoever invented chrome lined barrels, lol. Chrome won't save your barrel from scoring from shooting TSS with no shot cup, don't care how many people are doing it or videoing it, it's only a matter of time and it will hurt your barrel. It only is there to help with corrosion protection, IMHO. Maybe those doing it think about it the same way I do about plastic wads, it's so few shots a year at turkeys I won't live long enough to hurt my barrel, lol. I can say from the pictures and video I've seen of their patterns they don't compare to the patterns I can get with the wads, plus I also use TSS on waterfowl, many more shots per year than your average turkey hunter. To each there own. If you're willing to try it with and without wads in your gun and see how it does, go for it, won't think bad thoughts about ya. People willing to go outside the box is how revelations are made!

 

[GrizzlyClaus]

Also Virgo, no need to go as big as 8.5's for turkey unless they happen to pattern better. 8.5's are for geese. 9.5's will kill turkeys farther out than you can keep your pattern together out of a muzzleloader, lol. I don't pass shoot ducks and geese only decoyin birds so long shot would be 40 yds. and I use 9's on waterfowl and 9.5's for turkey. If I were going to pass shoot geese to 50 yds. I'd switch to 8's.

 

[Virgobythesea]

Virgo,
I use the 12 ga. wad in my Pedersoli that is choked IC and Mod. see no reason why the 20 ga. wads won't work in your Pedersoli. I wish I could go back in time and choke whoever invented chrome lined barrels, lol. Chrome won't save your barrel from scoring from shooting TSS with no shot cup, don't care how many people are doing it or videoing it, it's only a matter of time and it will hurt your barrel. It only is there to help with corrosion protection, IMHO. Maybe those doing it think about it the same way I do about plastic wads, it's so few shots a year at turkeys I won't live long enough to hurt my barrel, lol. I can say from the pictures and video I've seen of their patterns they don't compare to the patterns I can get with the wads, plus I also use TSS on waterfowl, many more shots per year than your average turkey hunter. To each there own. If you're willing to try it with and without wads in your gun and see how it does, go for it, won't think bad thoughts about ya. People willing to go outside the box is how revelations are made!

Thanks Grizzly,

I would assume the pattern would be much better with the wads.

Do they tend to increase distance as well? Not trying to get unmentionable distance which is why I’m using the gun I am using; though it would be nice to get 30-35 yrd patterns in case I miss judge 20-25yrds.

With #5 lead at 25yrds I wouldn’t feel comfortable with my current shot patterns. Hence wanting to switch to TSS.

 

[Virgobythesea]

Also Virgo, no need to go as big as 8.5's for turkey unless they happen to pattern better. 8.5's are for geese. 9.5's will kill turkeys farther out than you can keep your pattern together out of a muzzleloader, lol. I don't pass shoot ducks and geese only decoyin birds so long shot would be 40 yds. and I use 9's on waterfowl and 9.5's for turkey. If I were going to pass shoot geese to 50 yds. I'd switch to 8's.

Good info.

Thats consistent with what I’ve seen others say too.

I bought both to try a duplex load for fun as I may also use this for waterfowl if I can get a good pattern at distance.

Wanted to see the difference in how they shot! thanks

 

[Blackpowderart]

Trying to get extra yardage with a wad is not the way to go, ask me how I know. My first muzzleloading Shotgun I went with the bpi brand tps wads and a turkey popped up at 7 yards. He got hit with a slug and lost many a feather. He didn't flop once, got hit with a body shot.

 

[Virgobythesea]

Trying to get extra yardage with a wad is not the way to go, ask me how I know. My first muzzleloading Shotgun I went with the bpi brand tps wads and a turkey popped up at 7 yards. He got hit with a slug and lost many a feather. He didn't flop once, got hit with a body shot.

Nice Tom and good info, thanks!

I’m planning on loading my right barrel with lead and no shot cup and buffer for shots under 15yrds as a JUST IN CASE.

 

[Blackpowderart]

Nice Tom and good info, thanks!

I’m planning on loading my right barrel with lead and no shot cup and buffer for shots under 15yrds as a JUST IN CASE.

I had cut the wad and slits shorter to extend range. In the end I quit using wads all together. But at first, coming from modern guns, I thought that was a better option. I'm killing ducks with a 12ga loading only with "ovwrshot" cards our to 45ish yards and bismuth 4s

 

[DanL]

@Virgobythesea I used the TSS wads in my jug choked 20 ga/.62. The jug choke had no added advantage using the plastic TSS wad.

I only shoot lead when not using a plastic wad. The Jug choke gives great patterns with the load I have developed for my smoothbore using lead shot.

DanL

 

[GrizzlyClaus]

Virgo,
Distance with TSS is solely a function of pattern. TSS 9.5's will kill a turkey at at least 60 yds., no you're not going to be able to do this with a muzzleloader, lol. As for close shots, that's why I shoot a double percussion gun two barrels two chokes two different patterns. I used to mess around with two different loads, one barrel lead the other TSS, why to much hassle carrying all that and keeping it straight, now I just change the load slightly in the open barrel for a more open pattern. My left barrel does 0 to 25 yds. and the right barrel handles everything else. I head shoot turkeys only, nothing against guys who body shoot them, just like not wrecking meat.

 

[Virgobythesea]

Virgo,
Distance with TSS is solely a function of pattern. TSS 9.5's will kill a turkey at at least 60 yds., no you're not going to be able to do this with a muzzleloader, lol. As for close shots, that's why I shoot a double percussion gun two barrels two chokes two different patterns. I used to mess around with two different loads, one barrel lead the other TSS, why to much hassle carrying all that and keeping it straight, now I just change the load slightly in the open barrel for a more open pattern. My left barrel does 0 to 25 yds. and the right barrel handles everything else. I head shoot turkeys only, nothing against guys who body shoot them, just like not wrecking meat.

definitely not wanting to shoot 60yrds. 35 yrds max would be nice.

I like the thrill of calling them in close.

What two loads are you using if you care to share.