Winchester Longbeard XR vs Federal TSS vs HeviShot Magnum Blend vs Federal Grand Slam... TURKEY

We decided to do an extensive test on the popular turkey rounds available on the market.
Used a lead sled to ensure a steady and accurate shot and to save our shoulders.
Guns Used:
- Stoeger M3500 mounted Burris Fastfire III w/ Truglo Headbanger Choke (.665 restriction)
- Benelli Super Vinci w/ Carlson Longbeard XR Choke (.665 restriction)
Ammo Tested at 40 Yards:
3" Remington Premier Magnum 2oz #5
3" Federal Grand Slam 1 3/4oz #6
3" Federal Heavyweight TSS 1 3/4oz #9
Ammo Tested at 60 Yards:
3.5" HeviShot Magnum Blend 2 1/4oz Blend #5, 6, 7
3.5" Federal 3rd Degree 2 oz Blend #5, 6, 7
3.5" Winchester Long Beard XR 2oz #5
3.5" Winchester Long Beard XR Magnum #6
3.5" Federal Heavyweight TSS 2 1/2oz Blend #7-9
I hope yall enjoyed the video and if you have any questions please ask in the comments.

[@wdtaut5650]

Good lesson here for everyone: Pattern you gun/choke/load before the season. Know your killing range.

[@SunburntSportsman]

Yes indeed. Stilling hoping for all birds within 30 yards though.

[@oldArmyVet]

that xr is the king in my opinion

[@SunburntSportsman]

Hope to lay another one down tomorrow with it

[@lyleswavel320]

Depends on guage and choke, for tss & 3rd degree in 12 guage you want .650 choke size

[@tacoutdoors5085]

Compare apples to apples you start with #5 and go to 9 s of course there are more pellets in the kill zone

[@rhettwest1890]

#9 TSS is equivalent in mass to #5 lead

[@SG-ig2th]

That’s the whole point. That smaller tungsten pellet weighs the same as the larger lead one. So you get the same amount of energy per pellet, but twice as many pellets in the shell.

[@1m2m1m1]

👍👍

[@prestonduncan6340]

Did good with the camera on the target.

[@SunburntSportsman]

Thank you. Had it on a separate tripod off the shooting bench so it would stay steady

[@prestonduncan6340]

@@SunburntSportsman give really good look what shot are better. Keep up good work.

[@SunburntSportsman]

@@prestonduncan6340 Thank you.

[@johnd3901]

magnum XR with a carlsons is equal to TSS, I love it.

[@SunburntSportsman]

It's a good combination. Long beard XR is best bang for your buck too

[@markdunnam2745]

Agreed

[@mcwilliams4546]

That 3rd degree stuff has performed poorly out of every gun/choke combo I’ve tried it out of. I’m sure there’s plenty of guys that use and love them, but between me and my turkey hunting crew, we’ve never gotten a decent pattern from it.

[@SunburntSportsman]

It killed birds for me the one season I used but at the 20-30 yds they were at the pattern was tight enough. Sticking with the LB XR #6 this year.

[@lyleswavel320]

Get on sportsmen warehouse and find turkey load tss all day long and 3rd degree for around 30 dollars

[@SunburntSportsman]

I've noticed the TSS are in stock most places now. They've definitely upped the production and the prices.

[@josephvafi]

great video guys! a lot of rounds and a lot of distances. very informative. thanks! I would say however, that though the longbeard #6 patterned well at 60 yds, be careful of knockdown power there. Longbeards are coming out of the muzzle at only 1050fps, plus its #6 lead which is nothing near #7 tss or even the #7 hevi mid density rounds. For experience, i have a buddy that shoots longbeard. He shot a bird at 55yds w longbeard #5s. Turkey droppped. He thought it was dead, but it was only knocked out. it got up and my buddy luckily shot it again as it was walking away after "waking up " Ill stick w 3rd degree out to 40 and if the bird doesnt come in, ill cycle that round out and the second one loaded is a tss.

[@SunburntSportsman]

Glad you liked the video. I know I can kill a paper turkey at 60 but I'd probably hesitate at 60 for a bird in the field. I prefer them within 30.

[@arthurdirindinjr1792]

As much as it pains me to criticize any of my fellow hunters who spends their own money and time to perform a test to benefit their fellow hunters ( and it does) I feel compelled to point out a few errors in your testing methodology significant enough in degree that they need be recognized and rectified otherwise the resulting data from your tests will not be of any significant value. This is coming from myself a turkey hunter so obsessed with obtaining the maximum performance from my three dedicated turkey guns I have in the last 15 years alone fired every last lead 12ga 3" and 3.5" dedicated turkey load in shot sizes #4, #5, and #6 sold by; Winchester Federal Remington Active And Kent And Tungsten polymer loads in shot sizes #4 through #6 from Winchester and Remington I used both factory XFT as well as AM turkey choke tunes from Carlson's and Indian Creek My testing adhered to the fallowing methodology no exceptions My single Most important must have requirementnfor an acceptable turkey pattern was any pattern that EVERY shot must put at least 5 pellets in the brain Neck and spine hits are good but brain hits kill with near 100% certainty This was your first error I brushed out the barrel three times between each shot And began each session with a 100% clean barrel chamber and choke #1-only shot on days with under 10mph winds This was your second error #2-Only shot at 36"x36" pieces of contractor paper with a 10" circle centered using a 2.5" black circle as an POA that way I could see 100% the entire pattern as you must have at least 95-98% of your entire pattern to be able to accurately analyze a shells performance IMHO shooting only at any target that doesn't show at least 95% of your pattern targets like reactionary turkey targets again IMO yeild less than useful info and are IMO a waist of ammo #3-beginning about 5 years ago made from 1/4" wood a exact template of a Toms head I would use to draw on my targets within the 10" circle including the brain and spine to give to a deterninable degree what is the realistic likelihood of any given patterns ability to kill a Tom #4-did all preliminary testing at 25, 35 and 40 yards. If a particular shell performed well enough at 40 then I would progress at 5 yard intervals until it was no longer capable of producing consistent leathal patterns On every target Would do a pellet count in the 10" circle along with brain and spine hits on the turkey target , number of hits in the turkey above its waddles as well as total hits in the head and neck of the turkey. I found that without doubt number if pellet hits in a 10" circle are not nearly as important as fewer much more evenly spread pellet hits. In the case of 2oz #5 Winchester Long Beard XR's AND the Winchester Heavier than lead polymer Tungsten matrix shells the more constructive chokes of .660 Gave noticeably more pellets in a 10" circle But had more and larger voids with no pellet hits But the more open .665" gave much more uniform pellet distribution with essentially no large areas void of pellet hits. Lastly I used what I feel is the best poor man's penitration test for turkey shells and that's using making tape secure a new unopened 16oz bottle of drinking water at 50 to 65 yards to wooden stake. No point any closer than 50 . My test results were the fallowing: Absolutely best performing shells out of all my guns were: Winchester 12ga 3.5" 2oz #5 Heavier than lead polymer Tungsten matrix shells Patterned best and killed constantly at ranges I will not say here but farther than I ever thought possible and this was almost if not 10 years ago. If I knew Winchester was going to discontinue them no BS I would've bought a lifetimes worth. These shells consistently put at least 10 #5 pellets inside of a new full unopened 16oz water bottle at 70 yards and at least 5 THROUGH it Second best: Winchester Supreme Long Beard XR's 12ga 3.5" 2oz #5 no surprise here. Constantly put 9 #5 pellets in a new unopened 16oz water bottle at 60 yards and 6 through it. I feel my testing methodology whe admittedly involved time consuming and kinda costly but it has yielded me superb and unquestionably accurate results that allow me with 100% confidence to take what I know is the maximum ethical shot at a Tom Turkey. And they are quite easy for anyone to replicate if they were of a mind to.

[@corymattson6350]

Excellent information Thanks

[@lyleswavel320]

Crazy thing men and kids are killing turkey dead with a .410 with right choke with TSS at 40 yards, knocks em out

[@SunburntSportsman]

Tungsten shot has changed the game. Running around for miles a day with a 5lb shotgun is pretty appealing too.

[@kross1261]

Good video gentleman. I’ve been shooting XR for awhile now. Recently purchased the Carlsons XR choke for my M2 I’ve been contemplating the TSS but I think I’ll stick with the XR because I’ll like never shoot past 50 yards with my old eyes and the XR’s seem more than adequate at that range. Thanks for saving me $50!

[@SunburntSportsman]

The TSS is really good but I'm sticking with the XR too. I've never shot out past 50. Glad we helped you save some money. Good luck this season!

[@stanhunt8543]

I think you'd get a better pattern from the remington if you used a .675 or .680 choke. 2oz of #5 is a lot of shot.

[@mcwilliams4546]

What Remington?

[@stanhunt8543]

@@mcwilliams4546 the remington ammo

[@mcwilliams4546]

@@stanhunt8543 Ah, ok. I thought you were talking guns. My mistake

[@SunburntSportsman]

The TruGlo Headbanger is at . 665 I believe. Prior to that choke I never patterned it with my standard full choke. I don't usually take a shot more than 30 yds.

[@wdtaut5650]

@@SunburntSportsman Thank you. I'm with you there. I set my max at 35, figuring I'm good to about 40 (I test my loads at the range). I shoot a 3", so I don't get the patterns you did in the video at longer range. I have found I get a good killing pattern inside 30yds. with just 1 1/4 oz. #6. They don't bite so hard. The problem is, I usually don't have that shell in my gun when ol' Tom shows up. I use the Longbeards #5.

[@rodneyharouff5739]

that $5 &$6 a shell stuff is ridiculous.

[@SunburntSportsman]

It can definitely punch some holes in the paper

[@addisonross7129]

Last I looked 3 1/2 inch federal tss is running like $14 a shot now 😬 no thanks I’ll stick to longbeard xrs

[@SunburntSportsman]

@@addisonross7129 I saw a box of the 3.5 TSS for $85 at the store the other day. I'm sticking with my Longbeard XRs too. The #6s already put one in the freezer for me this year.

[@addisonross7129]

@@SunburntSportsman I’m using 3.5 #5 longbeards right now and they’ve been amazing so far, season here in ohio still doesn’t come in for a few weeks but I’m ready

[@SunburntSportsman]

@@addisonross7129 I used #5s last year and they did great. I'm headed to NC this weekend to hit some public land. Good luck when yalls season opens!

[@zachosborn1371]

What choke you running

[@SunburntSportsman]

2 different chokes in the review. They are Truglo Headbanger and Carlson Longbeard XR.

[@zachosborn1371]

What choke is in the stoeger

[@zachosborn1371]

And is it a .650

[@SunburntSportsman]

@@zachosborn1371 TRUGLO HEAD-BANGER Long Range Turkey Choke Tube for 12-Gauge Shotguns, TG185X

[@SunburntSportsman]

@@zachosborn1371 .665

[@Fatboybart]

9 is way to small. I get way to many public land birds fool off tiny bb’s. 4 shot high brass for the win any shell. 9 looks pretty on paper though.

[@SunburntSportsman]

Can't personally say I've hunted with that TSS #9 but does look good on paper. I'll be using LB XR #6s this year.

[@themississippioutdoorsman3107]

#9’s are bad to the bone, statistically better than #5 lead with a much better pattern density. Turkeys don’t flop much with it.

[@SunburntSportsman]

@@themississippioutdoorsman3107 they definitely killed the paper bird. When I run out if what I'm shooting I'll give them another look. I haven't heard anything bad about em.

[@tjmurray1132]

78 88 15 25 30 Distances last yeats eastern I killed tss 9s. I'd shoot 10s if made em.federal 88 bird fell like a truck hit it. Tss 9s for.life boys

[@wdtaut5650]

At the right distance, #9s are deadly. They run out of steam at longer range. When I started hunting, #7 1/2s were standard for turkeys, but we shot them much closer than today, always in the head. I had a friend who was a serious goose hunter. He figured #2s kill geese so why not turkeys? He body shot a good Tom with his goose load (this was when lead was still legal for geese) and watched it run away. Won't do that again.

[@clintgalloway756]

Great review!

[@SunburntSportsman]

Glad you enjoyed it.