Good Shots Require Smart Thoughts

It is made from high-density tungsten alloy (specifically, 18 grams per cubic centimeter [g/cc]) and has thus become the most versatile and hardest-hitting shotshell pellet on the turkey-hunting market today.

TSS is denser than other materials used in shotgun loads, including lead (11.34 g/cc), bismuth (9.8 g/cc), copper (8.8 g/cc) and steel (7.84 g/cc). This allows for significantly higher pellet counts and smaller shot diameter as TSS will carry its penetration energy and ability longer than conventional loads. As TSS also is a harder metal, there is less chance for the distortion of the shape of the pellets when exiting the barrel, which helps hold patterns tighter at farther distances. In other words, a heavier and harder metal such as TSS will hit with more of an impact at shorter distances and provide lethality at greater distances compared to a lighter material.

Think about getting hit by a marble versus a ping-pong ball – a marble will pack a punch both up close and downrange. A ping-pong ball might shock you a little bit at close range, but it dramatically loses its punch the further it goes.

Despite the data sets on the performance of APEX Ammunition’s loads and it taking a mere 1-1.5 inches of penetration to kill a turkey, neither the NWTF or APEX are a proponent of hunters shooting outside of their shooting capabilities or at further-than-proven distances out of their firearms.

Factors that cannot be accounted for in controlled testing are field conditions, hunting situations and the excitement level that comes from having a gobbler within shooting range.

Here are some tips to help ensure confidence in the shot you take:

Always Pattern Your Shotgun

As a responsible hunter, it is essential to understand your shotgun's effective range and tendencies to ensure you can hit your target accurately and ethically without causing unnecessary suffering to the bird. Patterning your shotgun allows you to evaluate its performance in harmony with your selected choke and ammunition, leading to a more successful hunt.

While it only takes one well-placed pellet hitting the spine or brain to kill a turkey, properly evaluating your targets and adjusting your shotgun will significantly increase your chances of success in the field. Ensure your pattern will deliver a lethal blow consistently by practicing deliberately and thoroughly at the various yardages you plan to hunt. Don't take a shot unless you've patterned your shotgun at that distance.

Learn how to pattern your shotgun.

Optics or Rail and Bead

While using a red dot sight can allow for targets to be more easily acquired and also keep hunters on target regardless of if their cheek is lowered on the stock or not, there is usually no magnification to this type of sight. Therefore, viewing targets with a larger MOA dot or on too bright of an illumination setting can cause targets to be obstructed at certain distances.

So, evaluating the types of terrain you will be hunting can help determine if a red dot is suitable or if you should look for a smaller MOA dot that offers more precision.

Learn more about picking the right optic for your turkey gun. 

Hunting Scenarios Are Different than Patterning

After establishing a solid pattern for your shotgun and being comfortable with it at the distances you plan to hunt, it is essential to realize that hunting scenarios are less forgiving. Often when we pattern our shotguns, we have the luxury of sitting comfortably with a clear path to our target.

Hunting wild turkeys can be more varied, including interference by brush, shooting in uncomfortable positions or increased wind speeds. These factors can significantly affect your pattern. Ensure you take in to account all variables before taking a shot.

Safety

The end goal of any turkey hunt, whether you harvest a bird or not, is safety. Turkey hunting is one of the safest outdoor endeavors, and hunters are responsible for keeping themselves and those that may be around safe. This means always knowing what is beyond your target – especially if you're using a high-performance load such as TSS – and when to and not to shoot.

Hunters Are Responsible for Their Decisions

Ultimately, what happens after we pull the trigger is our responsibility that we must own. Only you can affect the outcome.

There is no question that TSS has changed the turkey hunting landscape. Hunters can feel more confident about shots previously on the cusp of effective lethal range; however, practice is more important now than ever, and your ability to judge distances or use a rangefinder remains crucial to the shot.