Long-Range Turkey Shooting Reality Check: TSS Patterns and Penetration at 70 and 90 Yards

Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) has been a game-changer for turkey hunting. Its 18 g/cc density delivers more power and better patterns than lead or bismuth, resulting in cleaner kills at reasonable distances. However, TSS has given some hunters a false sense of their long-range capabilities. Just a few years ago, 50 yards was considered a long shot on a turkey. Now, there are hunters boasting about taking down turkeys at 70 yards and beyond.

“Unfortunately, some hunters want to push the limits of their gun and load just to show off,” says Nick Charney, co-owner of Apex Ammunition, one of the leading companies for TSS loads. “We didn’t develop TSS for long-range shots. We designed these loads for ethical distances. Killing a turkey beyond 50 yards goes against the spirit of the sport. Our boxes don’t promote long-range shooting.”

So, how far is too far to shoot a turkey? To find out, I conducted a turkey load test with various TSS loads and lead shotshells to measure both pattern density and penetration.

Testing Turkey Loads

Using three different shotguns (Remington 870, Benelli SBE3 Performance Shop Turkey, and Browning BPS), I shot each of the nine shells at a 10-inch Birchwood-Casey Reactive target from 40 yards to measure pattern density. Then, I conducted a penetration test at the same distance using a wooden box designed to slow down the pellets as they entered.

For the long-range test, I shot TSS loads from Apex, Boss, Federal, Hevi-Shot, Fiocchi, and Browning, alongside Winchester’s Longbeard XR lead load, at 70 yards. I shot from a sitting position and also off a lead sled. The difference in patterns between shooting from the ground and the sled was negligible. All TSS loads penetrated the board, while the lead load did not.

After evaluating the seven loads, I selected the top four (Federal, Hevi-18, Browning, and Fiocchi) for a 90-yard test. None of these loads could penetrate the board at this distance.

What Do the Test Results Prove?

From the pattern and penetration tests, it’s clear that a turkey can be killed at 70 yards with TSS. However, the combination of shotgun, choke, and load must be optimal. Out of the three guns tested, only the Remington 870 consistently performed at that distance.

At 90 yards, there were very few pellets within the 10-inch circle, particularly in the head and neck area, where an ethical shot should land. None of the shotshells could penetrate the drywall, suggesting that the energy of the payload may not be sufficient to kill a turkey at that distance. Therefore, shooting turkeys at 90 yards, regardless of equipment, is irresponsible.

Understanding Turkey Loads

TSS payloads are more powerful than other bird shots because tungsten is denser than steel, lead, and bismuth. This allows for more, smaller pellets to be loaded into a shotshell. For instance, a 2-ounce charge weight of TSS No. 9s contains around 724 pellets, compared to 340 in a 2-ounce load of lead 5s (which has comparable mass to TSS No. 9s). However, the higher shot count doesn’t mean that shooting a turkey at 70 yards is ethical. Only a small percentage of the shot will hit the target.

“At 70 yards, your bead basically obscures the bird,” Charney explains. “I think most people just aim at the bird without considering the consequences. This approach often leads to wounded birds that escape and die somewhere, never to be found. TSS is not a long-range load. It’s a more effective alternative to lead. Personally, I’m disappointed whenever I hear someone bragging about a 90-yard shot. That’s nothing to be proud of.

“There’s a perception that if you pay $8 for a shotshell, it’s a magic bullet that guarantees a hit. That’s simply not true.”

Killing a Turkey vs. Shooting Turkey Patterns

Testing loads at 70 and 90 yards differs from actually killing a turkey at those distances. While I conducted the test from a sitting position, it doesn’t replicate the challenges faced in a hunting scenario. In real hunting situations, you may need to shoot through brush, deal with wind drift, or estimate the distance without a rangefinder. Shooting turkey loads at 70 or 90 yards is more akin to zeroing a rifle.

To ethically kill a turkey at 70 yards, you need to practice shooting in various wind conditions and understand where the TSS pellets will land. The performance of your gun at 40 yards, the standard for patterning, is vastly different from its performance at longer ranges. It’s essential to test and adjust for these differences. For example, a load that patterns well at 40 yards may produce fewer hits at 70 yards.

Additionally, accurately judging distances beyond 40 yards during a hunt can be challenging, even for experienced turkey hunters. Without a rangefinder, it’s difficult to determine an exact range in the field.

Other Considerations for Shooting Turkeys at Long Range

With the right shotgun, choke, and TSS load, it is possible to ethically kill a turkey at 70 yards with proper preparation. However, shooting beyond that range exceeds the ballistic limits of tungsten and relies heavily on luck.

You must also consider the presence of other turkeys near your target. As the distance increases, the spread of your shot widens. If other turkeys are within a few yards of your intended target, they might be hit by stray pellets, potentially injuring or killing them. Both scenarios are unethical and may even be illegal, depending on the regulations in your state.

Lastly, shooting turkeys at long range takes away much of the challenge and excitement that makes turkey hunting special. Many hunters argue that it reduces the experience to simply filling tags rather than enjoying the hunt itself.

“Some people feel that if they put in the effort and don’t return with a harvest, it’s a waste,” Charney notes. “It’s not. Sometimes the turkey wins. To prove your worth as a turkey hunter, you don’t need a photo of a dead tom or, worse, a poorly placed shot.”