Patterning Season Begins: Turkey Loads at NWTF Convention
The 2026 NWTF Convention and Sport Show is the perfect place to not only purchase your favorite turkey loads, but it's an opportunity to connect with ammo companies, understand their ethos and find what will complement your needs best. Whether you’re looking for something new or a tried-and-true staple, the NWTF sport show floor had a variety of turkey loads for spring pursuits. Patterning season starts now.
HEVI-Shot – HEVI-13
HEVI-Shot, the first to produce denser-than-lead options that eventually led to TSS becoming the standard for the most lethal turkey loads on the market, has re-launched its HEVI-13. For 12- and 20-gauge shotguns, HEVI-13 is advertised as offering 20% more effective range and energy than lead shot, as the HEVI-13 pellets come in at a density of 12.0g/cc versus 11.2 g/cc for lead shot.
Remington – Final Strut HD
Final Strut HD is Remington’s own tungsten-blended turkey takedown load. Loaded at a density of 12 g/cc, Final Strut HD is advertised as flying straight, hitting hard and providing dense patterns at long ranges.
Fiocchi
Fiocchi’s Golden Turkey TSS is advertised as offering dense patterns, deep penetration and long-range performance that combine to create the ultimate tungsten turkey hunting load. Three-inch offerings in 12-gauge, 20-gauge, 28-gauge and .410 bore deliver hard-hitting knockdown power using the finest 18 g/cc tungsten shot and most consistent patterns on the market.
Federal Premium Ammunition and Realtree Grand Slam and Heavyweight TSS Turkey Loads
Federal is helping Realtree celebrate its 40th anniversary with these limited-edition loads that feature Realtree’s iconic Original and Legacy camo patterns on the packaging. This exclusive is available in Federal’s Heavyweight TSS turkey loads, which features Realtree’s Legacy pattern, and Federal's Grand Slam turkey load, which features Realtree’s Original pattern.
Verdict
Verdict Ammunition’s Juror #5 is advertised as a premium hand-loaded, copper-plated lead shotgun shell designed for turkey hunting, offering a high-velocity alternative to tungsten (TSS) that ensures tight, consistent, and lethal patterns.
Winchester Longbeard Tungsten
Winchester’s Long Beard Tungsten ammunition offers a high-performance option built to push turkey loads to the next level. Featuring ultra-dense 17 g/cc tungsten shot, the load is said to deliver tight patterns, increased penetration and extended effective range, making it a serious contender in the turkey woods.
MIGRA
Now offering a new hybrid 5- and 9-shot stacked turkey load, MIGRA new offering is available in 12- and 20-gauge. The shot load has layers of nickel-plated lead stacked with high-density tungsten, advertised as giving hunters reliable energy and tight, even patterns.
Apex
One of NWTF’s Longbeard sponsors, Apex is back at convention offering a great selection of turkey loads. An American and veteran owned and operated company , Apex provides users with various turkey products.