The Truth & Lies About Tungsten Shot | Ballistics Of Different Brands

Tungsten shot is surrounded by a fog of marketing. The truth is that tungsten is the best material out there for duck, goose, and turkey hunting due it its high density and ballistics properties. The lies are that every brand, blend, and mix of tungsten is promoted as equal and they are NOT. You need to know certain key facts to help sort through the price, quality, and effectiveness of different tungsten waterfowl ammo.
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In this video I talk about what factors to look for when shopping for tungsten shot so you can make informed purchasing and shotgun hunting decisions. This video is an in-depth review of tungsten shot and covers the ballistics of different brands such as TSS (Tungsten Super Shot), Heavi Shot XII, Tungsten Matrix, and more. I use ballistics data, composition and density information instead of opinions to tell the story.
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Tungsten shot filled shotgun shells are ideal for waterfowl hunting and turkey hunting because you can use a higher number of smaller pellets that still deliver more ballistic energy and terminal performance on the target. Tungsten can be superior to steel shot, bismuth shot, and even lead depending on how it is made. But the truth is not always obvious at first glance.
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[@driftlesshunter9200]

Don't lose sight of lead being 11.34 g/cc. Hevi-13 is 12 g/cc. Not much of jump for the price. 18 g/cc is a jump, but size is greatly reduced.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

They make 15gcc too. And a few otherzs in between.

[@caydendebois4281]

Migra doesn't even advertise there density nor would they tell what it was when i called. They said its proprietary information great video we have to keep these companies honest with how we spend our hard earned money.

[@caydendebois4281]

also would these companies quit pushing tungsten more than 1300fps if 1200 fps >12g/ccm kills every bird fine with the right size shot surely we don't need 18g/ccm going faster. this is coming from a waterfowler that primarily shoots 3-1/2' shells

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Thanks! Wow you called and they still wouldn't tell you what was in the shells?

[@pahunter7816]

Being a serious turkey hunter & NWTF member for over 20 years I am glad I never bought into all this hype over ammo wether it be for turkey or waterfowl hunting.. After years of spending big $$$ shooting different ammo through different choke tubes at the pattern board I found the best ammo & choke tube combo's for me & my two Remington SP 10 ga shotguns.. For turkey hunting I'll stick to shooting Federal Grand Slams in #5's out of an original Primos Jelly Head Choke tube & for goose hunting I'll stick with shooting Federal Black Cloud in BB out of my original .720 Terror Choke Tube.. Both setups are absolutely lights out devastating on turkeys and geese..

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Thanks for sharing. I think the best thing you can shoot is what you feel comfortable and confident shooting. There need not be anymore to it.

[@davidbilbrough3726]

England in Northumberland . We have the best shooting along with the west coast of Cumberland. Mountains ,hills,moors forests, lakes and fantastic marshes. We are now getting trouble with wild hogs and grey squirrels. Shot loads of roe deer ( bit like white tail) in the past with home made .30cal shot; and hundreds of grey squirrels over the last 20 years. Not made a dent in them- the little breeders.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Thanks

[@xwld2971]

Awesome video!!! I subscribe to you're channel after seeing this video! I truly love when the American public is able to see the difference between the real deal, and a knock off! I see that Hevi-Shot has raised their prices in the 12g/cm3 tunsten loads that have always cost around $4 per round to $10 per round, and that is not constant with the 18g/cm3 TSS shot you are testing! I hope that Hevi-Shot can reconsider their marketing! Thanks for the video!

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate the support.

[@kylebiggs2961]

Migra is a fine example of a company that won't tell you the density of the Tungsten. Emailed with that question several times. Hevi Shot used to wouldn't tell you back before they made Bismuth and the Hevi-X they made at the time. This was Hevi-X before the new and improved Hevi-X that got discontinued in 2021 to make way for Hevi-XII.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Thanks Kyle. I know, how hard is it to just print the number on the box? Or at least put it on the website.

[@ntreff]

The original Hevi-Metal had tungsten and steel. During Covid they changed the recipe. They started using bismuth instead and they called it Hevi-metal. 70/30. They jacked the prices up just as everyone else did, and by the way they never came down and will never come down. Then they decided to do the original Hevi-metal recipe with tungsten but they then called that Load Hevi-X (treme) which is 70/30 steel/tungsten. Hevi Biz became popular and they did do the Hevi-12 somewhere around there but that’s not the original Hevi SHOT. THAT, is Hevi 13….pure tungsten @ TSS (18). Nothing really new here. It’s all the same BS. Btw, we still flood the waters with lead fishing weights!!!! Tons of it!

[@davidbilbrough3726]

As most tungsten shot contains a polymer it deforms through chokes , then bounces back; So you MUST! Pattern each shot size as it is very sensitive to some chokes. Personaly I would leave it alone as there too many variables. Kent started out over here; where they made tungsten shot with a food grade polymer. If I remember right they could not get a patent over here. I did tests for BA systems on their shot. These were 1 1/4 oz no 3's; and were absolutely fantastic. Using these as a first shot I got 25 ducks for 25 shots- missing once and two for one. They did not continue with this as the directors had spent a lot of their own money.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

What country are you in?

[@kross1261]

Spot on. Another good video. As I was looking for some premium shells for late season honkers. Density is a very important factor. And many different weights out there with the tungsten offerings. People read tungsten and think their buying the best….

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Thanks so much! Yea, the marketing here really throws people through a loop.

[@andrewduis1881]

Thank you for the education. I use Hevi shot #2 for feral cats, coyotes, and home defense. My 20 ga with 1oz kills animals so fast at 25-35 yards with a MOD. choke that many times they die so fast that they do not even bleed. Tungsten hits so much harder than lead. I just purchased 12 ga #2 hevi 1 1/8 ounce shell at 1500 fps....under 2 dollars a shell and worth every penny.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Nice! Which Hevi load are you using?

[@andrewduis1881]

@@TheNewHuntersGuide Interesting I was looking at your video on turkey loads when I got your question... I purchased Hevi shot for my 20 gauge it's in a 3in... Number two with a 1-ounce shot charge... Rated at 1400 ft per second in does not give a density for the tungsten... The load I just ordered is for the 12 gauge... 1 1/8 load... 12 for density... 3in Shell at 1500 fps... What is the density of the first load is it does not say... For the 20 gauge

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

@@andrewduis1881 Ok gotcha. Yea, I was wondering about the density.

[@babaktaherian]

Excellent video. I am still waiting for the comparison between different payloads and shot numbers in Boss Bismuth. I am also very curious to see a comparison between Boss and Kent Bismuth as well as a comparison between Bismuth and Hevi 12.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Thanks! Just shot a BOSS payload recoil comparison video, and on my docket to shoot next I have the Kent Vs. Boss, and some patterning tests, as well as a #4 vs. #3/5 test, and several others.

[@babaktaherian]

@@TheNewHuntersGuide Can't wait to see those George. I also would like to have an idea about same number different payloads. As you know, say in a three inch, for each shot size, say 4, they offer three payloads. It would be helpful to see the difference in performance. In fact, I want to order some and been waiting for your take on it ;)

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

@@babaktaherian Well, spoiler alert from 2 future videos but I'm actually leaning towards the lighter payloads. The difference in recoil for 1/8 oz of shot is about 15%. So 1 5/8 has 30% more recoil than 1 3/8. That is alot and it feels like alot. I found 1.5 oz is the most I can shoot without pain with every shot in a Semi shotgun. 1 3/8 is preferred. I bought a case 1.5oz and wish now I would have gotten the 1 3/8. I can still shoot the 1.5 ok but I think I can probably shoot the ligher load better still. The 2.75" shells should not be overlooked either. Their recoil is less still. Less recoil equates to better shooting which results in more birds taken than the extra shot. For me personally 1 3/8 feels like about the sweet spot. I'm 5' 9" at 170. More details to come in some future videos!

[@babaktaherian]

@@TheNewHuntersGuide Thanks for the spoiler alerts :) . I am still interested in the performance aspect perhaps even when 2.75 inch is also considered. I have a A400 Xtreme plus for waterfowl that should help with the recoil plus I am 230 lbs and 6'8" ;) Keep up the good work. You are doing exactly what I wanted to do for my own knowledge and record but never got the chance.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

@@babaktaherian Absolutely! Most of my videos are stuff I'm doing because I want to know. I just figured I might as well film them for others too.

[@alanwilson27]

Thanks for all the research.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Thanks for watching!

[@Leehealy-wheninthewoods]

Great dialogue on tungsten!

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Thank you so much!

[@ZEEKUPP]

I load my own shells with #7 heavy weight 15g/cc. for geese. I have also loaded with TSS 18g/cc. At what I paid for the Heavy weight it is, in my opinion a better value. A 1oz. load of # 7 heavy weight has over 200 pellets per shell and will kill geese almost as far as the TSS, an excellent tool for pass shooting in locations where decoys don't work.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

How much cheaper is the 15g/ccc for you? What ends up being your cost shell?

[@ZEEKUPP]

@@TheNewHuntersGuide Ballistic Products had a sale at the time when I bought the shot. It was about $500.00 for 20 lb. vs. the regular price of about $100.00 more. That translates to 320 shells at less than $2.00 a shell for the shot, so counting the other components it was probably less than $4.00 per shell using new hulls. The TSS shot I purchased was slightly over $100.00 for two pounds. Both options are less expensive than purchasing already made shells and you know exactly what is going into them. If you reload these though, count on using many felt or fiber wads as spacers because this dense shot takes up a small space.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

@@ZEEKUPP Thank you!

[@ZEEKUPP]

@@TheNewHuntersGuide You're welcome.

[@timwade8629]

I got a bunch of #7 15g/cc federal heavy weight shells for a smokin deal a few years ago and they are awesome on passing geese...almost unfair

[@FightingTexasAggie]

What is your source for rhe velocity charts? I'm trying to find something similar to help me compare a couple options.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

I build the charts in Excel from the raw data. It takes awhile.

[@FightingTexasAggie]

@@TheNewHuntersGuide what did you use to calculate the velocities at given distances?

[@Drblood6721]

No BS, love these videos!

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Thank you so much!

[@Drblood6721]

@@TheNewHuntersGuide Really enjoyed the thinsulate, primaloft one too. Never knew the true meaning and comparisons of them. I'm a big numbers guy and have sent multiple friends your steel vs bismuth comparison videos. Keep up the great work

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

@@Drblood6721 thanks so much! More ballistics gel tests are on the way. Shot some today.

[@lukemc5800]

What energy units are you using?

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

I believe the designation is energy foot-pounds per pellet.

[@bent5434]

Great video. Thanks for the info

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Thank you!

[@curtiseggemeyer5681]

In your own opinion do you feel say a 410 gauge Western Field full choke would be safe with tungsten reloads #7's using a wad suitable for steel and non toxic shot. Or is tungsten really on safe in full chokes that screw on and specify they are safe. I m a little confused on this , I know bismuth is safe if I wanted to use the 410 in a non toxic hunting area only.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

I would call the gun manufactured to make sure. It's all in the steel that the barrel and choke is made of it. Soft steel barrels and chokes can't hold up to the hardness of TSS, particularly in the choke area.

[@robbunzey377]

Understanding the price point can deter folks from purchasing TSS-18, I can personally tell anyone that it is far superior to anything else avaialable. I handload everything from .410-10g, from 375gns to 1100 gns. Have clients that take coyote out to 120 yards with #2 TSS, turkeys at 70+ yards with #8. After thousands in testing, I can assure anyone that regardless of price point, if you are remotely close with your aim, every harvest will be just that, a harvest. I have never wounded or gimped an animal with this stuff, it is simply devastating!

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

No doubt at all! I have found it second to none for turkeys and it's worth the cost, for the 18gcc. For ducks, it gets real hazy real fast because of how much shooting you tend to do. That said, I'm good with all incarnations and alloys, if they are clearly labeled and priced properly.

[@thopkins2271]

The fallacy that lots of people make is comparing the same shot sizes. The really dense TSS should be #8’s or #9’s for ducks. Don’t just try to make it a lead analog, it isn’t and bismuth does better at that anyway. Now all of a sudden a .410 is a legitimate duck gun throwing nearly as much shot and pattern density as your 12 gauge and #2’s.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

I don't disagree. I'm not sure what I said to infer we're on different pages.

[@thopkins2271]

@ I spoke a little early. I think I saw the first chart and had an autistic outburst. Forgive me. Editing that post to make it sound a little less aggressive.

[@dtaylor9673]

After 24 years of shooting 34g/36g of No. 1 and No. 3 shot through a 76mm (3 inch) chamber I am seriously considering moving down to a 70mm (2 3 /4) cartridge. Here in the UK we can buy European steel cartridges at 70mm. 34g numbers 1, 2 and 3. All at 1400 fps. Why suffer the recoil?

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

I couldn't agree more. I'm leaning more and more in that direction.

[@dtaylor9673]

@@TheNewHuntersGuide George, here in Europe steel cartridges are getting so much better. We have seen a huge improvement in quality.

[@rjohns10]

Great video

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Thank you!

[@blaykevollmer9890]

I've been looking for winchesters specifications for density and can't seem to find any and all other brands I shoot like boss, hevi, federal, and Remington give all specifications which arouses my suspicion. Also from personal experience I am able to kill a lot more birds with every brand except winchester which I've only killed a handful of birds with it. Is there any reason as to why winchester is the only brand not to give this and do you have the same experience with it?

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

I don't know about that specific question Blayke, but I do know there are alot more companies that won't give you details about what is in the shells. Too many actually. I am always suspicious.

[@blaykevollmer9890]

@Joshua Lowe I was talking steel because it feels like shooting paper at birds

[@bgdesignandsolutions]

@@blaykevollmer9890 Cut the shells open, and likely you will find very deformed shot in cheaper Winchester rounds and other ones like that. Some even have holes in them, which makes them hollow and less likely to do damage.

[@blaykevollmer9890]

@Joshua Lowe federal and every other steel shit is 8 g/cc

[@blaykevollmer9890]

@Joshua Lowe look up density of federal speed shok, Remington nitro steel, and hevi steel

[@brentthull4935]

I reload 20ga 2 3/4 one oz of 18gcc for little over $3

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

That's excellent!

[@tasaman]

You totally missed the boat. The thing about tss is you can use much smaller shot and get better penetration and gain more effective range. Where you would need #2 for late big ducks and kill them at 50 yards you could switch to tss # 4 or even 6 or 7 and kill them at 70.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

I don't think I said anything to the contrary of that, lol. In fact I've made your exact point. I've done videos testing #9 out to 70 yards. The point of the video is to slap people in the face to wake up and read what they are buying. Alot of inferior tungsten blends are being sold at prices similar to TSS. Ammo is being labeled "Tungsten" to make people thing its TSS when its a metal/plastic polymer blend with a density of 11 being sold for the price of TSS with a density of 18. People need to wake up, know what they are buying and make educated purchase decisions. I said nothing against TSS, I happily shoot it on occasion myself. I speak highly of all aspects of TSS, perhaps more than anyone else on KZbin, aside from the great cost. I've probably done more to demonstrate how effective it is than anyone on the platform.

[@beekeeper8474]

I hunt for the challenge and food. Might as well buy ducks at the store. Far cheaper

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Makes me wanna go buy some at the store right now lol

[@garretcunningham9112]

When my #4s stop killing them out to 60 yards I’ll make the switch 😂 what a laugh

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

What setup are you using to get that much range?

[@bgdesignandsolutions]

A lucky shot will drop a goose at 60 yards, like maybe an under shot in the head, but that is not in the norm for #4. I used hand loaded 1-1/2 oz #4 steel this year for pattern density and dropped them out to 30-35 yards. But #4 completely loses it after 40-45 yards on geese. Won't penetrate their hide, which is a whole lot thicker than a duck or pheasant that can be taken cleanly out farther.

[@blaykevollmer9890]

@@bgdesignandsolutions I have also made shots like that and it cripples them not drops them dead. I'm a very good shot as well, only missed a couple of shots because I was using winchester shells and they're the worst company in my experience because I just watch feathers all the time then I use every other shell company and I hit them in the head every time. I mean if you're using a full choke you may get out to that range but the furthest I was able to shoot dead in the air was 45 yards on a pintail later in the year with Kent fast steel 2.0 which are zinc plated and not aluminum plated like winchester

[@bgdesignandsolutions]

@@blaykevollmer9890 Yea, I sometimes wonder what ammo makers are up to when they sell ammo with cheap made shot. But, they do work at closer ranges and they are cheap for the guy just getting started or doesn't have the money for better quality. Despite that, I will buy Blind Side when it goes on sale. It works pretty good and holds a good pattern. But I mostly reload.

[@blaykevollmer9890]

@@bgdesignandsolutions I have watched videos on this one guy patterning the blindside and it was a pretty rough pattern. Maybe it was just his gun which was a browning or maybe the choke but with my experience from winchester I personally don't plan on buying it. In fact I just bought my first case of boss and am excited to see how it performs. But hey if it works for you go for it

[@tungstenman2822]

only 18.3g/cc call TSS

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

That is correct. Actually only 18.3 from federal. Federal invented the term tss. We just now apply it generically to everything 18.3.

[@tasaman]

@@TheNewHuntersGuidefederal started loading tss 10 years after I shot my first tss load so you are very wrong with this “fact”. I guess I should tell Hal Abbot he didn’t load it 15 years before Federal.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Read what I said again. Federal brought the term TSS to market, they didn't invent tungsten shot. They pioneered the marketing for it.@@tasaman

[@tasaman]

@@TheNewHuntersGuide thousands and thousands of people have been using it for 15 years. Now if you want to say they took an idea and commercialized it, I’ll agree. They did not invent the name or term. Hal Abbot did as far as I know. I could pull up a email from 2007 if I could find it when I got my first price quote for a pound of #7 tss. I just wish they never stopped making the Federal Heavyweight shells. Much more economical at 1/4 the price and 85% the performance.

[@joseph6738]

So here's the reason to load your own ammo in tungsten...buy 2 pounds of 18 for 86 bucks. Thats 32 one oz 20 guage loads for 86 bucks. What would that cost you in factory shells and you're stuck with what they give you for a lot of money

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

It's true!

[@tungstenman2822]

$10 for a shell !! why not buy 18.3 g/cc tungsten shots for $30.13USD/lb and load by yourself.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Becuase you also have to buy loading equipment and learn how to do it and void most firearms warranty. Many people won't do any one of those things, let alone all 3 lol

[@Benroe-yz1nz]

Where are you finding it for $30 per lb?

[@martinhambleton5076]

Do a penetrative test on both out to 60 yards using several10mm thick pieces of ply wood. The practical test kills graphs every time.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

What do you want to see tested?

[@martinhambleton5076]

@@TheNewHuntersGuide Comparisons of the various cartridge materials lead verses everything else. Get three ten millimetre pieces of ply wood. Shoot at it from sixty yards with each of cartridge materials. This will tell you which material had the best penetration and how many pellets have hit the target. Graphs, charts and various claims by companies are OK, but a practical and positive test is actual fact if done properly.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

@@martinhambleton5076 I couldn't agree more, that is why I have been doing so many ballistics gel test videos on the channel with lead, steel, bismuth and more recently a little tungsten, and I have many more planned to get real world data.

[@ThePeterDislikeShow]

I don't like the politics of how tungsten is produced. Child labor, conflict, etc.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

Yea I can't disagree. The batteries in pretty much every mobile device are made the same way. All of it needs to change.

[@AB7N.C]

You should said it's expensive first

[@TheNickademas1]

You need to stand further from the camera you won’t look so weird

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

You are not wrong. But if I stand further the audio isn't as good... It's a bad choice to have to make. I recently got a new microphone which I think helps a fair bit and gives me some more flexibility.

[@TheNickademas1]

@@TheNewHuntersGuide haha. ah that makes sense.

[@FeckArseIndustries]

Blinky McBlinky.

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

It was a cold bright windy day. It was hard to keep the eyes open.

[@FeckArseIndustries]

@@TheNewHuntersGuide Lol! I thought you were signalling someone, like a downed pilot POW😉

[@TheNewHuntersGuide]

@@FeckArseIndustries Haha