If it weren’t for the lead shot ban in 1991, the evolution of shotgun shells would have likely stagnated. When ammo makers moved to steel so duck hunters could continue legally killing puddlers and divers and geese each fall, turkey hunters benefited … eventually. Steel is hard but not dense, and slowly, shotshell manufacturers began to turn to bismuth and tungsten as non-toxic alternatives to steel waterfowl shot. Both metals are denser, thus more effective at killing. As a side effect, TSS (tungsten super shot) became widely popular for turkey loads, because it hits harder, and patterns better than any other birdshot in production. But, having a hull full of TSS doesn’t mean a turkey load is going to be great. So to separate the good from the great, associate gear editor Adam Moore and I spent a few days shooting every turkey load we could get our hands on to see how they patterned, penetrated, and to check their speed. After some intensive testing, here’s our list of the best turkey loads out there.
As a turkey hunter, choosing the right ammunition is crucial to having a successful and ethical hunt. While there are many options available, determining the best shot size for turkeys can be confusing. After researching and evaluating the most common shot sizes, #5 copper-plated lead shot in a 12-gauge, 3-inch magnum shell is typically the best all-around choice for most hunters. However, other factors like your specific shotgun, shooting ability, and hunting situations should be considered as well. Here is a breakdown of the most popular turkey loads to help you pick the right one.
#4 Shot
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Contains fewer pellets than smaller shot resulting in less dense patterns.
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Heavier individual pellets provide increased range and energy downrange.
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Large pellet size may not pattern well in some choked turkey barrels
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Best for experienced hunters shooting at longer ranges or through obstructions.
#5 Shot
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Provides a good balance of pellet count and weight.
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Copper-plated #5s penetrate better than standard #5 lead.
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Dense patterns deliver sufficient energy out to 40-50 yards,
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Recommended compromise size for most hunters and setups.
#6 Shot
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Smaller pellets create very dense patterns with high pellet counts.
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Typically effective out to 35 yards or so.
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Light weight limits penetration, especially at longer ranges.
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Ideal for early season hunts in open areas at close range.
#7 Shot
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Very small pellets offer maximum pellet count per shell.
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Patterns densely out to 30 yards.
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Minimum legal size for turkey hunting in some states.
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Useful in 20 gauge guns, but limited range and penetration.
Tungsten-Iron Shot
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Dense tungsten pellets provide excellent penetration and energy.
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More pellets than lead in same size, resulting in dense patterns.
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Effective past 50 yards in 20 or 12 gauge.
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Recoil is reduced compared to heavy lead magnum loads.
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Much more expensive than traditional lead turkey loads.
When choosing your ammunition, always pattern your specific shotgun on paper at the ranges you plan to hunt. This will reveal if you need to adjust your sights or try different loads to achieve dense, even coverage in the turkey’s head and neck area. Consider the average shot distances you take and if you need extra power to punch through brush. Early season and open terrain may allow smaller shot, while late season woodland hunts usually require more penetration. Finally, assess your shooting ability realistically. The extra range of heavy loads is of little use if you aren’t able to hit turkeys past 40 yards. With some careful testing and an honest appraisal of your needs and skills as a turkey hunter, you’ll be able to confidently choose the right turkey load.
Best Turkey Loads for .410 Bore
- Best Pattern: 156 (Mossberg 500)
- Average Pattern: 130
- Cartridge Length: 3 inches
- Payload: ⅞ ounces
- Shot Size: 9.5
- Velocity: 1060
- Price: $63 (per box of 10)
- Excellent patterns from all three guns
- Availability is currently scarce
Apex is largely responsible for the popularity of TSS in turkey hunting which has also bolstered the popularity of turkey hunting with .410 shotguns. So it’s fitting that Apex’s Ninja would win our Editor’s Choice pick. The load produced denser patterns than others in this test. With our Mossberg 500 .410 test gun, the load patterned phenomenally, averaging 154 hits inside a 10-inch circle. That’s better pattern density than a couple TSS loads and lead loads featured above.
The .410 Ninja loads did have an advantage over other .410 turkey loads in this patterning test because they have a slightly heavier payload (⅞ ounces) than the other loads in this test (13/16 ounces). Also, since Apex loaded its shell with No. 9.5s it has more pellets within its payload. Apex says that 403 pellets are packed into this load. The only downside with .410 Ninja is that availability tends to be scarce.
Tightest Pattern at 40 Yards: Boss 3-inch, 2-ounce, No. 9
- Best Pattern (10-inch circle, 40 yards): 250 pellets
- Best Head/Neck Strikes: 60 pellets
- Brister Box: 1 pellet through 21 pieces of cardboard
- Muzzle Velocity: 954 fps
- Copper-plated shot
- Placed the most pellets in the head and neck of any test load
- Direct to consumer equals lower price
- Last in penetration among TSS loads
Boss was the only TSS shotshell in our test that did not use a polymer buffer to help with shot fractures. But they do use a rather sizable piece of fiber at the wad’s base to act as a cushion. The recipe clearly works because Boss put the most pellets on the head and neck of our turkey targets, placing 60 No. 9s in the kill zone through the 870.
Boss Tom patterns from 40 yards: Left to right: Remington 870, Benelli SBE III, Browning BPS. Joe Genzel
It also tallied 51 head and neck hits with the SBE3 (also better than any other shell), and the BPS registered 26 hits. There was a falloff in overall pattern performance from the Remington to the SBE3 inside the 10-inch circle—from 250 to 140 pellets—at 40 yards, but that was the case with just about every test shell outside of Hevi-18 (and 140 pellets still results in a dead turkey).
Boss did struggle in penetration compared to the other TSS turkey loads. Only one pellet made it through 21 pieces of cardboard, but again, that’s still a dead bird. The loads are copper-plated, which protects them from being compromised by moisture, and are available in 12-, 20-, and 28-gauge, plus .410. Boss is also slightly less expensive (even with shipping costs depending on where you live) than most TSS loads.
- Best Pattern (10-inch circle, 40 yards): 214 pellets
- Best Head/Neck Strikes: 50 pellets
- Brister Box: 10 pellets through 27 pieces of cardboard
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,054 fps
- Buffered shot
- Second best for head/neck shots
- Best TSS pattern percentage: 214 of 590 (36 percent)
- Patterned low out of all three guns
Fiocchi is known for target loads, not turkey hammers, but that might change after hunters see our test results. The 3-inch, 1 5/8-ounce loads, had the best overall pattern percentage of any TSS shotshell (36 percent), placing a total of 214 pellets inside the 10-inch circle through the 870. The SBE3 put 118 pellets (25 in the head and neck) on target and the BPS had 57 No. 9s in the circle (18 head and neck shots).
Fiocchi Golden Turkey patterns at 40 yards: Left to right: Remington 870, Benelli SBE III, Browning BPS. Joe Genzel
Golden Turkey performed well on the Brister box, sending 10 pellets through all 27 pieces of cardboard. Fiocchi heavily buffers its shot. When I poured the contents into a clear plastic bag, I could barely see the pellets—it was like they were buried in white sand. The seal at the end of the shell is tight to ensure moisture does not get inside of the shell. Fiocchi also uses a plastic cap, not a crimp, to secure the shot and buffer. Golden Turkey is available in 12- and 20-gauge, plus .410 in Nos. 7 and 9 shot.
- Best Pattern (10-inch circle, 40 yards): 109 pellets
- Best Head/Neck Strikes: 25 pellets
- Brister Box: 21 pellets through 27 pieces of cardboard
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,491 fps
- Buffered shot
- Consistent head and neck pellet strikes from all three guns
- Blended shot
- High muzzle velocity
I expected better overall patterns from a box of $75 Federal TSS, but the 109 (25 head/neck) it produced from the Remington 870, 95 (24 head/neck) from the SBE3, and 44 (16 head/neck) by the BPS were all still deadly. Federal shined on the penetration box, delivering 21 pellets through 27 pieces of cardboard, making it one of the hardest-hitting loads in the test. That’s likely due to the Flitecontrol Flex wad design that has been proven to deliver dense patterns at distance.
Federal TSS patterns from 40 yards: Left to right: Remington 870, Benelli SBE III, Browning BPS. Joe Genzel
In fact, we shot the Federal load (and a few others) out to 70 yards and it scored the highest, placing 49 pellets inside the 10-inch circle and penetrating the ½-inch thick drywall board, which showed it had enough energy to kill a gobbler at that range. It ran out the muzzle at 1,491 fps, which is extremely hot for a turkey load. Federal also buffers its shot. The polymer balls are not as fine as some of the other buffers in the test, which might be another reason it shoots so well at long range. Federal offers the shotshell for 12- and 20-gauge in 7 or 9 shot, a blend of 7/9 shot, and a blend of 8/10 shot (20-gauge). It’s also available in .410 No. 9s.
- Best Pattern (10-inch circle, 40 yards): 88 pellets
- Best Head/Neck Strikes: 28 pellets
- Brister Box: 95 pellets through 27 pieces of cardboard
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,013 fps
- Buffered shot
Browning TSS was the only load that put more pellets (95) through the Brister box than it did the 10-inch paper target (88, BPS). The penetration box opening (18 inches) is almost double the size of the 10-inch target, so it is possible for more pellets to travel through the box than pierce paper. The 3-inch, 1 ¾-ounce load didn’t perform as well as Federal Heavyweight out to 70 yards, putting 16 pellets in the circle, seven of which were head and spine shots. It did penetrate the ½-inch drywall.
Browning TSS patterns from 40 yards: Left to right: Remington 870, Benelli SBE III, Browning BPS. Joe Genzel
Remington’s 870 put 73 pellets in the circle with 25 head and neck shots, and the SBE3 totaled 48 strikes with seven head and neck shots. Browning lists the muzzle velocity at 1,200 fps, but its best shot on the chronograph was 1,013. The shot is lightly buffered and includes a few pieces of flax at the end of the shell, which is crimped. The TSS load is available in 12- and 20-gauge, plus .410 in shot sizes 7, 9, and 7/9 blend.
- Best Pattern (10-inch circle, 40 yards): 125 pellets
- Best Head/Neck Strikes: 40
- Brister Box: 4 pellets through 14 pieces of cardboard
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,273 fps
- Shot-Lok technology
- Best pattern percentage of any shell
- Top number of hits inside 10-inch target for lead
- Value
- Doesn’t pattern well out of all guns
- Limited effective range
Longbeard XR uses a liquid resin that dries hard around the lead pellets inside the hull to create a buffer and thus less fracturing of pellets once you pull the trigger. Called Shot-Lok, the technology helps increase pattern density. I shot this load on paper quite a bit before our test and had never been overly impressed with it. But when I patterned it out of the 870, it scored the highest pattern percentage of the test: 125 of 297 pellets (42 percent) inside a 10-inch circle at 40 yards with 40 head and neck strikes.
Winchester Longbeard XR patters from 40 yards: Left to right: Remington 870, Benelli SBE III, Browning BPS. Joe Genzel
There was a massive drop off shooting XR out of the SBE3, scoring just 51 pellets (15 head and neck strikes), and the BPS tallied just 26 pellets on target (11 head and neck strikes). It penetrated 14 cardboard slats shooting the Brister box, and proved that it was a 40-yard load if you’re shooting the right gun and choke combination.
Winchester touts this as a 60-yard load that performs with some tungsten capability, but I didn’t see those results in our testing. I shot XR out to 70 yards and only a few pellets lodged in the ½-inch drywall. Most hit the drywall and fell into the box. XR only put 10 pellets inside the 10-inch circle from 70, and just one of them was a head and neck strike. But, when you’re paying $20 for a box of 10 turkey loads, 40-yard killing power is damn exceptional. The load is offered in 12- and 20-gauge in Nos. 4, 5, 6 shot.
- Best Pattern (10-inch circle, 40 yards): 42 pellets
- Best Head/Neck Strikes: 9
- Brister Box: 1 pellet through 19 pieces of cardboard
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,264
- Buffered shot
- Best lead shell penetration
- Heavy recoil
- Overall pattern at 40 yards is weak
Remington’s new TSS loads were not available at the time of the test, so I shot the 3.5-inch Magnums through the SBE3 (42 pellets in the 10-inch circle and eight head and neck strikes) and BPS (35 pellets in the 10-inch circle and nine head and neck strikes). I couldn’t test the loads through the 870, however, because it’s a 3-inch gun. Forty yards is on the far edge of this round’s capability, though it did have solid penetration, making it through 19 cardboard slats in the Brister box.
Remington Magnum Turkey patterns from 40 yards: Left to right: Benelli SBE III, Browning BPS. Joe Genzel
A box of Magnums retails at $10 for five shells, and you get what you pay for when you buy these Roman candles. A $2 turkey shell is good for killing gobblers that come in close, but you shouldn’t expect to kill one with it at long range—no matter how souped-up your gun is with this ammo. The SBE3 costs $3,330, and it could only put 42 of 300 pellets (14 percent) on target. There were also two different kinds of flax and a polymer buffer inside the shotshell, taking up space that more shot should have occupied. An average load of 2-ounce No. 5s has 340 pellets. This load was 40 short. Remington Magnum offers this turkey load in 12- and 20-gauge in Nos. 4 and 5 shot.
- Best Pattern (10-inch circle, 40 yards): 37 pellets
- Best Head/Neck Strikes: 10
- Brister Box: 1 pellet through 14 pieces of cardboard
- Muzzle Velocity: 748 fps
- Doesn’t pattern well at 40 yards
- Muzzle velocity is not as advertised
Not every turkey shotshell is meant to kill a gobbler at longer distances. As with the Remington load, Kent’s Ultimate Turkey leaves much to be desired once you stretch it to 40 yards, but that’s not such a bad thing. If you’re just getting started in turkey hunting, or simply want to shoot a longbeard inside 30 yards, this load will do fine.
Kent Ultimate Turkey patterns from 40 yards: Left to right: Remington 870, Benelli SBE III, Browning BPS. Joe Genzel
The Kent Ultimate Turkey penetrated 14 cardboard slats at 40 yards, so it can kill a bird at that distance. But, there isn’t much margin for error when only 10 of your 37 pellets inside the 10-inch circle will strike a tom’s head and neck. In this load, Kent did not buffer the Diamond (lead) shot. Ultimate Turkey is offered in 12- and 20-gauge in No. 4 and 5 shot.
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