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teul2 wrote:So what is the weight of the TSS vs lead?
My feeble mind wants to think that the heavier lead would have better terminal performance than pretty much any other metal. But I know there are WAY more factors than just weight.

Making assumptions here, but maybe the fact the TSS is lighter, you can get it to go faster with the same powder charge makes it more deadly?

Lead is not heavier than TSS. Lead shot is around 11g/cc where TSS in 19g/cc.

Here's a basic chart showing the approx, nominal pellet counts per ounce of shot of various materials and sizes; assuming true shape, true size and true density. (Borrowed from another source) Where TSS shines is being able to shoot #9 TSS at 362 pellets per ounce that hits as hard or harder than #4 lead at 136/oz or say hevishot #6 at 209/oz. I've weighed and counted an ounce of TSS and got a slightly higher pellet count than the source sited.


Lead Shot

Lead #2: 89/oz
Lead #4: 136/oz
Lead #5: 173/oz
Lead #6: 222/oz
Lead #7: 295/oz


12g/cc Shot (Hevi-Shot, Hevi-13, Win XRHD, Rem HD)

12g/cc #2: 81/oz
12g/cc #4: 125/oz
12g/cc #5: 159/oz
12g/cc #6: 209/oz
12g/cc #7: 278/oz


13g/cc Shot (ITX Extreme Turkey Trauma-13, Nitros Megaweight)

13g/cc #2: 75/oz
13g/cc #4: 115/oz
13g/cc #5: 147/oz
13g/cc #6: 193/oz
13g/cc #7: 256/oz
13g/cc #8: 352/oz


15g/cc Shot (Federal Heavyweight, Tungsten Spheres)

15g/cc #2: 65/oz
15g/cc #4: 100/oz
15g/cc #5: 127/oz
15g/cc #6: 165/oz
15g/cc #7: 219/oz
15g/cc #8: 301/oz


18g/cc Shot (TSS)

TSS #2: 54/oz
TSS #4: 83/oz
TSS #5: 106/oz
TSS #6: 139/oz
TSS #7: 185/oz
TSS #8: 254/oz
TSS #9: 362/oz

deltadukman wrote:So, question. I've always been interested in reloading shotgun shells but never bit the bullet. What all would someone need to buy(reloader, scales, etc) to start rolling their own? Where do yall buy your shot? From my limited research, it appears as there are just a few people that you can buy it from and its very hush hush.

Not really. There seem to be a 50-11 people reloading these days. Most are those that shoot a lot as it doesn't really seem cost effective to do it otherwise. Lots of people sharing reloading recipes on forums like the refuge as well.
Here are the first 2 sites that come to mind for reloading.
https://www.natchezss.com
https://www.grafs.com/

Gunslinger, I have heard nothing but great stuff about TSS. why is there no one manufacturing it in a shell? Or is there someone?

Gunslinger wrote:Where TSS shines is being able to shoot #9 TSS at 362 pellets per ounce that hits as hard or harder than #4 lead at 136/oz or say hevishot #6 at 209/oz.

That's amazing. I can see the benifits.

Is that TSS shot approved as a non-toxic also?

TSS is nontoxic. I'm guessing no major manufacturer is making TSS shells due to cost of shot. Low margin of profit I'd guess. Although, the price of TSS seems to be coming down. You'll be north of $5 per shell when you factor in price of shot and components (that's loading 2oz 12 gauge loads). The only real "tool" you have to buy is a roll crimper which is around $20. Oh, and a scale. I use a drill press, but a buddy uses his hand drill to roll crimp. If you already have a reloader with star crimper, you're set. Although I shoot a 12, the other place TSS shines is the 20 gauge. You can carry a lighter gun and shoot TSS with the range of a 12 gauge. I'm not naming names, but I've seen a guy shoot one at 65 yards with #9 TSS in a 20 gauge - barely flopped.

Are you saying you can reload shotshells without using a traditional reloading press? How do you get a new primer seated in the shell?

Thinking it through, I guess you're only putting or rather pouring powder in the bottom of the shell, pressing a wad in by hand, then putting shot in the wad by hand and using whatever tool you just described above to roll crimp the shell?

Is resizing the brass head not a problem? (Maybe not, if the shells were fired from your own shotgun?)

I had two 12 gauge reloading machines that I sold Wayback when you could buy Winchester AA 12 gauge super sports at Walmart for $3.50 a box.

I think I still have over 10,000 shotshell primers at home. Hah

Wildfowler wrote:Are you saying you can reload shotshells without using a traditional reloading press? How do you get a new primer seated in the shell?

Thinking it through, I guess you're only putting or rather pouring powder in the bottom of the shell, pressing a wad in by hand, then putting shot in the wad by hand and using whatever tool you just described above to roll crimp the shell?

Is resizing the brass head not a problem? (Maybe not, if the shells were fired from your own shotgun?)

I had two 12 gauge reloading machines that I sold Wayback when you could buy Winchester AA 12 gauge super sports at Walmart for $3.50 a box.

I think I still have over 10,000 shotshell primers at home. Hah

I bought pre-primed hulls - not expensive at all. No press needed. Weigh powder and shot, and load all by hand, one at a time. I may load 12-24 in one sitting and they last me a year. I bought components a few years ago and still have enough to last me another 5 years. And I don't re-use spent shells, so no re-sizing.

Gunslinger wrote:TSS is nontoxic. I'm guessing no major manufacturer is making TSS shells due to cost of shot. Low margin of profit I'd guess. Although, the price of TSS seems to be coming down. You'll be north of $5 per shell when you factor in price of shot and components (that's loading 2oz 12 gauge loads). The only real "tool" you have to buy is a roll crimper which is around $20. Oh, and a scale. I use a drill press, but a buddy uses his hand drill to roll crimp. If you already have a reloader with star crimper, you're set. Although I shoot a 12, the other place TSS shines is the 20 gauge. You can carry a lighter gun and shoot TSS with the range of a 12 gauge. I'm not naming names, but I've seen a guy shoot one at 65 yards with #9 TSS in a 20 gauge - barely flopped.

Gunslinger, what am I looking at $/shell for 20 gauge or 28 gauge?

teul2 wrote:So what is the weight of the TSS vs lead?
My feeble mind wants to think that the heavier lead would have better terminal performance than pretty much any other metal. But I know there are WAY more factors than just weight.

Making assumptions here, but maybe the fact the TSS is lighter, you can get it to go faster with the same powder charge makes it more deadly?

I borrowed this information you see below from Gobbler Nation:

Lead Shot

Lead #2: 89/oz
Lead #4: 136/oz
Lead #5: 173/oz
Lead #6: 222/oz
Lead #7: 295/oz


12g/cc Shot (Hevi-Shot, Hevi-13, Win XRHD, Rem HD)

12g/cc #2: 81/oz
12g/cc #4: 125/oz
12g/cc #5: 159/oz
12g/cc #6: 209/oz
12g/cc #7: 278/oz


13g/cc Shot (ITX Extreme Turkey Trauma-13, Nitros Megaweight)

13g/cc #2: 75/oz
13g/cc #4: 115/oz
13g/cc #5: 147/oz
13g/cc #6: 193/oz
13g/cc #7: 256/oz
13g/cc #8: 352/oz


15g/cc Shot (Federal Heavyweight, Tungsten Spheres)

15g/cc #2: 65/oz
15g/cc #4: 100/oz
15g/cc #5: 127/oz
15g/cc #6: 165/oz
15g/cc #7: 219/oz
15g/cc #8: 301/oz


18g/cc Shot (TSS)

TSS #2: 54/oz
TSS #4: 83/oz
TSS #5: 106/oz
TSS #6: 139/oz
TSS #7: 185/oz
TSS #8: 254/oz
TSS #9: 362/oz

I have my dad's old Mec 600 Jr, i may have to put hands on some TSS and try my hand.

[quote="Smoke68"

Gunslinger, what am I looking at $/shell for 20 gauge or 28 gauge?[/quote]

I can't honestly say. The price of TSS varies per source, which is the main factor. I'd guess the cost for components per shell less than $1 (pre-primed hull, wad, spacer, buffer, shot card if roll-crimping). That leaves TSS. I can tell you I load 2oz loads in 12 gauge, so I get 8 shells per pound. Assume you load 1.5oz loads for 20 gauge, you'd get 10.6 shells per pound of TSS. Assume you bought TSS for $50 shipped per pound (which I've seen cheaper recently), you're at $4.71 per shell just for shot. So, I'd guess $5-$5.50 per shell conservatively. Find TSS for $40/lbs and you're at $4-$4.50 per shell. Likely less than that, as I'm probably over pricing components in bulk.

Using the Hoyt Faktor for the first one this year...

870 and magnum blends for the rest.