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.
When it comes to turkey hunting having the right ammunition can make or break your hunt. There are a variety of turkey loads available with shot sizes ranging from #4 to #9. But with all these options, what shot size works best for bringing down gobblers? We’ll examine the pros and cons of different shot types and sizes to help you select the ideal turkey load.
Comparing Lead and Non-Toxic Shot
The first decision is whether to use traditional lead shot or non-toxic alternatives like tungsten bismuth or steel. Here’s how they compare
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Lead – Very affordable option. Lead shot patterns well and retains energy downrange. Effective for turkeys out to 40 yards.
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Tungsten – Denser than lead so carries more energy farther. Allows longer shot distances. More pellets in tighter patterns. Costs more than lead.
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Bismuth – Another heavy, non-toxic shot that performs similar to tungsten. Also expensive.
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Steel – Required for waterfowl hunting. Lighter than lead so more limited range. Not ideal for turkeys.
When it comes to lethality on turkeys, tungsten and bismuth generally perform better than lead. But lead will work fine for most hunting scenarios. Non-toxic loads cost more so factor that into your decision.
Lead Shot Sizes for Turkeys
For lead turkey loads, the most common shot sizes are:
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#4 Lead – Heavier pellets retain energy past 40 yards. May give erratic patterns in some guns.
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#5 Lead – Balances pellet count and weight. Most consistent patterns. Good to 45 yards.
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#6 Lead – Smaller pellets create dense patterns. Excellent choice for close range shots under 35 yards.
A good all-around lead size for turkeys is #5 shot. It provides a compromise between knockdown power and pattern density. For early season hunts when birds are farther away, lean towards #4 lead. Opt for #6 lead for short distance shots in thick cover. Always pattern your gun to find what shoots best.
Tungsten Shot Selection
With tungsten turkey loads, you’ll see sizes like #7 or #9 shot. The tiny pellets allow for these advantages:
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More pellets in the shell means denser patterns.
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Smaller shot has more energy downrange than larger lead shot.
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Tighter patterns extend lethal turkey hunting range past 50 yards.
The tradeoff is tungsten’s extremely high cost compared to lead. For most hunters, #7 tungsten offers the best balance of pellet count and energy. It’s ideal for longer shots on open fields. Use #9 tungsten for exclusively close range hunting where you want smaller dispersion.
Key Considerations When Choosing Shot
Here are some other tips for picking the best turkey load:
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Test different loads to see which patterns tightest from your gun.
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Match shot size to hunting distances. Larger for far, smaller for close.
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Think about turkey anatomy. Larger shot penetrates thick feathers and bone.
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Factor in foliage and shooting conditions. Smaller shot can deflect off twigs.
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Consider required non-toxic loads for hunting public land.
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Weigh performance vs price. Non-toxic shots cost more.
Recommended All-Purpose Turkey Loads
Here are some excellent all-around turkey loads to consider:
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Winchester Longbeard XR #5 lead
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Federal 3rd Degree #7 tungsten
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Remington Nitro Turkey #6 lead
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Rio Blue Steel #5 lead
-Kent Fasteel #5 lead
With the right shot size and load selected for your needs and hunting scenarios, you’ll be able set up the best opportunity for filling your turkey tag. Always pattern your gun and know your effective shooting distances. Follow these tips to pick the shot that will help you bag more gobblers.
TSS vs. Lead Turkey Loads
Hevi-Shot was one of the first ammo makers to employ tungsten in its turkey loads (handloaders used it for some time before mass shotshell production began). They used a combination of tungsten and iron to create a pellet with a density of 12 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cc), which is slightly higher than the 11 g/cc density of lead. Since then, more large ammo manufacturers have produced TSS loads, which are not pure tungsten, but rather a mix of 95 percent tungsten and 5 percent nickel and iron powder. TSS has a density of 18 g/cc, which is more than twice the density of steel. Because TSS is so dense, you can load smaller and therefore more pellets of it in a hull. For instance, No. 9 TSS has about the same mass as a lead No. 5 pellet. But there are around 360 pellets per ounce in a load of No. 9 TSS compared to 175 for a lead 5. So, you can see why TSS packs a more potent punch.
TSS is also expensive. A box of five 2-ounce turkey loads can run upwards of $60, which is why plenty of turkey hunters still stick with lead. And that’s just fine. Because many lead loads can kill turkeys out to 40 yards if choked and patterned properly. They also cost one-third the price of TSS. If you shoot most of your turkeys inside 40 yards, there might never be a reason to buy TSS. Field & Stream shotgun editor Phil Bourjaily tested TSS against lead loads in 2021, if you want to see how potent lead is at shorter yardages.
To find out which of today’s turkey loads most effectively kill gobblers, associate editor Adam Moore and I recently tested nine popular lead and TSS shotshells. Here are the results.
Best Turkey Loads: Reviews & Recommendations
- Over a 2-ounce payload
- Dense pattern
- Heavy recoil
- Loud
- Pricey
- Best Pattern (10-inch circle, 40 yards): 270 pellets
- Best Head/Neck Strikes: 25 pellets
- Brister Box: One pellet through 26 pieces of cardboard
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,488 fps
- Buffered shot
Apex produced the best pattern of the test, placing 270 No. 9s inside a 10-inch target at 40 yards through the Remington 870. Benelli’s SBE3 put 156 pellets on target and the BPS placed 67 in the circle. One pellet penetrated 26 of 27 cardboard slats in the Brister box, which was the second worst of all the TSS loads (other than Boss, the rest made it through all 27 panels). But that’s still enough energy to kill a longbeard.
Apex patterns at 40 yards. Left to right: Remington 870, Benelli SBE III, Browning BPS. Joe Genzel
The 2¼-ounce payload was the heaviest of the test, and you can feel every bit of it when you pull the trigger. But you also get 814 pellets downrange, which gives you a better chance of getting a pellet in a turkey’s head than any of the other turkey loads tested. Apex lists the muzzle velocity at 1,190 fps, but the chronograph didn’t read lower than 1,300 fps on three different shots, the best being a spicy 1,488 fps, which is comparable to a waterfowl load.
Apex does not crimp its shotshells. Instead, the company places a sealed paper cap at the end, which makes it less likely to hang up in the action as it ejects because there’s no flaring. GT-3 is offered in 10-, 12-, 16-, 20-, and 28-gauge, as well as .410-bore in shot sizes 7.5, 8, 9, and 9.5.
- Second-best TSS pattern percentage: 253 of 714 (35 percent)
- Patterned the most consistent out of all three guns
- Velocity is lower than advertised
- Best Pattern (10-inch circle, 40 yards): 253 pellets
- Best Head/Neck Strikes: 46 pellets
- Brister Box: 22 pellets through 27 pieces of cardboard
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,080 fps
- Buffered shot
Hevi-18 had the most consistent patterns of the test out of all three turkey shotguns. It placed 253 pellets (46 of which struck the head and neck) inside the 10-inch circle from the 870, followed by 156 (46 head and neck) out of the BPS, and 147 (34 head and neck) from the SBE3. The contents inside the Hevi-18 four-petal wad look much different than any of the other shells. Hevi-18 uses flaxseed at the end of the payload to fill any empty space left in the shell, a common trait in every Hevi-Shot product I’ve ever used.
The Hevi-18 patterns at 40 yards: Left to right: Remington 870, Benelli SBE III, Browning BPS. Joe Genzel
But the buffering—small polymer balls that look like salt and hinder pellet deformation—is heavy. It was so thick that it covered up most of the pellets once I dumped them into a plastic bag. The 2-ounce payload penetrated 27 pieces of cardboard in the Brister box, which it hit with such authority that the box actually jumped up from the sawhorses it was placed on. The load also put 27 pellets inside the 10-inch circle at 70 yards and penetrated ½-inch drywall, proving it could kill a turkey at that distance. Hevi-18 is offered in 12- and 20- gauge, plus .410-bore in shot sizes 7 and 9.
Which AFFORDABLE Turkey Load is BEST? | Full Test & Review
FAQ
Is a 5 or 6 shot better for turkey?
A single high velocity #6 will kill a turkey past forty yards. Sometimes a #5 load will pattern better than #6. The better pattern increases odds of getting that single pellet on the bone. So, go with whichever load patterns best regardless of shot size.
What type of shot do you use for turkey?
A standard 2 ¾-inch or 3-inch magnum tungsten load is more than enough for killing turkeys out past 50 yards.
What is the best shot on a turkey?
The obvious best shot is a head shot as this will immediately kill the turkey in its tracks, but if you take a body shot it best to shoot a turkey in the back. By that I mean it is best to shoot a turkey as it is quartering away or facing straight away.
What shot do you need for turkeys?
These may include turkey bordetellosis eye drop vaccine at 1 day old and in water or spray at 14 days old, or bacterin; paramyxovirus 3 and influenza A (prevalent hemagglutinin) at 26–28 and 40 weeks old; erysipelas—live or killed products might be required for market turkeys, and repeated vaccinations might be …
What is the best shotgun to kill turkeys with?
The biggest lesson I learned from this test for the best turkey loads (other than there are few guns better than the 870 to kill turkeys with) is that you must pattern your shotgun extensively, and at different distances, with the load you intend to hunt with if you want to kill a bird at or past 40 yards.
Which shotgun is best for putting down a tom turkey?
We will suggest choosing between the Hevi Shot HEVI-18 and the Federal Premium Heavyweight TSS. Both are top-notch performers for putting down a tom turkey. That said, no two shotguns will deliver the same pattern with the same TSS load. So patterning your shotgun to determine the correct load and choke combination is vital.
What are the best shotshells for turkey hunting?
That list of potent turkey-getting shotshells includes loads like Winchester’s Long Beard XR and other shotshells that extends a hunter’s maximum shooting range far beyond the old 40 yards.