The TSS Conundrum & Why Lead Is The Answer

I didn’t submit to the sub-gauge turkey craze. Though I’ve jellied heads with 28-gauge and .410 bore shotguns, and had a blast doing it, I’m a 12-gauge guy. That will never change. Occasionally, I’ll tote a 20-gauge and have had excellent success with it. However, every one of my sub-gauge turkey hunts had one thing in common. I was shooting TSS. 

Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) is a game-changing shotgun ammo specifically engineered for turkey hunting. It’s made from a high-density (18g/cc) tungsten alloy, making it incredibly effective in the field. The secret lies in its density — TSS is about 60 percent denser than lead. This allows hunters to use smaller shot sizes while still achieving impressive lethality, meaning more pellets in a tighter pattern and the ability to harvest birds at longer distances.

Due to its shot density and ability to penetrate, TSS lets hunters drop from a 12-gauge shotgun to sub-gauge models for larger birds like turkeys and still achieve success, even at distances up to 60 yards. Sub-gauge shotguns tend to be lighter and produce less recoil, making the idea of slinging a sub-gauge over the shoulder ultra-attractive to some hunters. Plus, there’s the cool factor. Many hunters want to shoot turkeys with sub-gauge shotguns with TSS loads because it makes the feat of the harvest sound more impressive. Then, there are those who have harvested so many birds with a 12-gauge that they’re just looking for a new challenge. 

I’ve tested shotguns, chokes, and ammo for 20 years and, in my experience, nothing bests TSS. In 2018, I shot a 3-inch, 2-ounce payload of #9 TSS at a turkey target with a factory Browning Invector-Plus full choke from 80 yards. My jaw dropped. There were more than enough pellets in the head/neck area of the target to kill a bird, and most of the pellets were buried deep in 1/2-inch-thick plywood. 

Until 2018, my turkey go-to was Winchester’s 12-gauge 3-inch, 1-3/4-ounce, #6 Long Beard XR. It killed birds extremely well out to 40 yards and patterned decently to 50. That hasn’t changed. I still slay birds with Long Beard XR and other lead loads. 

The TSS loads I’ve tested, though, including Winchester’s new-for-2026 Long Beard Tungsten, trumps lead. I can send more small pellets with increased lethality and put more pellets on target with TSS than I can with lead. Those are just facts.

Tungsten Super Shot is attractive because tungsten’s very high density can deliver superior downrange energy and tighter patterns; but producing it at a commercial scale is tough for several reasons. First, raw tungsten is expensive, and supply is constrained. Tungsten concentrates come mainly from a few countries, driving volatility in material costs that makes affordable shotshell production difficult. Import tariffs are also high. Second, tungsten is extremely hard and brittle, so traditional lead-shot manufacturing methods (casting or simple cold-forming) don’t work. Producing uniform, spherical tungsten pellets requires advanced powder metallurgy, high-pressure compaction, sintering, or metal‑matrix composites —processes that demand specialized equipment, long cycle times, and tight process control. Those processes also generate high tooling wear and maintenance costs. Third, coatings or alloying are often needed to prevent oxidation and to ensure proper barrel behavior, adding complexity and testing requirements. Quality control is critical: Marginal differences in pellet density, sphericity, or hardness can ruin performance or damage barrels. Finally, market size remains limited compared with lead, so manufacturers struggle to amortize tooling and R&D costs. Regulatory pressure to replace lead creates demand, but until materials, supply chains, and production methods scale and become cheaper, wide adoption of TSS will remain economically and technically challenging.

We’re not telling you not to shoot TSS. We love it. What we are telling you is that sub-gauge craze or not, the 12-gauge is still king, and lead still kills. I spent last week at a South Dakota turkey camp with 12 hardcore turkey hunters, including one world-champion caller and several others who make their living hunting wild turkeys. Guess how many of them shot a sub-gauge? Zero! 

Why?

Turkeys haunt them. They want to leave nothing to chance. They know a 3-inch, 2-ounce TSS 12-gauge load has more pellets, and more matters. Close or far, these hunters want to boost their odds of busting a tom’s dome, and no gauge is better than the 12 for that.

Because the 12-gauge shotgun is the most popular gauge, kingpin shotshell makers will produce TSS in that gauge more than any other, especially as materials get tight. Keep that in mind.

I feel like TSS has made lead, at least in the minds of some hunters, obsolete. This shouldn’t be. TSS has been around for less than a decade. How long have hunters been killing gobblers with lead? Over a century. 

The object of turkey hunting is to get birds close. Though I know I can kill a longbeard at 70-plus yards with TSS, I’d never do it. That’s not why I hunt turkeys. I hunt turkeys because I want to put a hard-gobbling bird in my lap. Lead still makes them dead. It’s hard to beat a 12-gauge, 3-inch, 1-3/4-ounce payload of #5 or #6 lead. 

Many hunters appreciate the familiar ballistic behavior of lead loads in their existing shotguns and chokes, avoiding the need to re-tune patterns. Lead #5 and #6 loads produce tight, consistent patterns with factory and custom chokes.

Another clear advantage: Lead shells are widely stocked at local stores and online retailers, making them easy to obtain. Cost remains a major factor — lead ammo is significantly less expensive than specialty tungsten super shot, so hunters can afford to practice and carry sufficient shells without breaking the budget. Lead offers a balanced mix of performance, affordability, and accessibility, making it a practical, effective choice for turkey season. Many seasoned hunters still trust lead loads for dependable, consistent field results.

A 12-gauge delivers more pellets on target, more energy, and more patterning/options at turkey ranges than smaller gauges, making it more forgiving and effective.

Key reasons:

• Pellet count/pattern density: A 12 gauge carries a larger payload (more pellets) at turkey shot sizes (e.g., 4, 5, 6). More pellets hitting the head/neck increases instant lethality and margin for error.
• Energy and penetration: Greater mass and velocity mean better downrange energy and penetration through feathers/skin to vital tissue at typical turkey ranges (20–50 yds).
• Flexible load selection: Wide commercial selection of turkey-specific loads. Sub‑gauges have fewer specialized turkey loads.
• Chokes and patterning: 12‑gauge choke options and forcing cones are optimized for turkey setups, making it easier and more consistent to achieve dense, tight patterns.
• Effective range: At common turkey distances, a 12 gauge will retain pattern and energy better; sub‑gauges often require heavier shot or reduced range to match performance.
• Availability and cost: Ammunition, chokes, and accessories for turkeys are more widely available and often cheaper in 12‑gauge.

Bottom line: For most turkey hunters, the 12‑gauge gives the best combination of pellet numbers on target, energy, patterning flexibility, and ammunition choice, making it the most effective and forgiving option.

Browning’s Maxus II Camo is a waterfowl wrecker. It’s also hell on fast-flushing upland birds, and I’ve used my Maxus II cloaked in Auric to kill 22 longbeards. I’m sure this article will jinx it, but I’ve yet to miss a gobbler with this shotgun. Of the 22 turkeys harvested with the Maxus II, only four have been with TSS shot. Keep that in mind.

• Reliable gas system tuned for heavy turkey loads: Browning’s Active Valve gas system cycles 3.5" magnum turkey loads reliably while handling lighter loads cleanly, so you can run heavy steel or lead turkey loads without short-stroking or excessive fouling.
• Soft, controllable recoil: The gas design and an effective recoil pad (Inflex II-style) make heavy turkey loads more comfortable on the shoulder, helping with faster, steadier follow-up shots on long-bearded birds.
• Turkey-friendly chamber and capacity: The 3.5" chamber and standard magazine configuration let you use full-power turkey shells and carry a useful load count for hunting situations.
• Tight, repeatable patterns: Factory barrels and choke compatibility deliver consistent, dense patterns at typical turkey ranges; interchangeable turkey chokes let you tune patterns for shot size and distance.
• Fast follow-ups and balance: Autoloading action provides very quick second shots with minimal muzzle rise; the Maxus II’s balance and ergonomics make off-hand, stalking, and blind shooting easier.
• Durable construction and finish: Built to handle heavy loads and field conditions; reliable extraction/feeding under real hunting use.
• Good ergonomics and sights: Comfortable stock geometry, good sight options (fiber-optic or bead), and a solid rib for mounting optics or extended sights commonly used in turkey setups.

If you’re an over/under lover, Browning’s Cynergy Ultimate Turkey needs to become your new longbeard partner. I’ve killed a few toms with this ergonomic shotgun, and to put it in put simple terms, it melts longbeards. 

Browning Cynergy Ultimate Turkey is widely praised because it combines shotgun design and turkey-specific features to deliver reliable, repeatable performance in the field:

• Break-action over/under platform: Rock-solid reliability and immediate second-shot readiness.
• Very low-profile receiver and barrel alignment: Faster, more natural mounts and quicker bead acquisition.
• Crisp, single-selective trigger: Exceptionally light, with a consistent break for precise shots.
• Turkey-optimized barrel/choke setup: Factory choke options and tight, repeatable patterns at typical turkey ranges.
• Balanced, pointable handling: Easy to swing and steady on a head/neck target.
• Reduced muzzle rise and felt recoil (design and pad): Quicker follow-ups and less shooter fatigue.
• Durable finishes and quality fit & finish: Stands up to field abuse and hunting conditions.
• Good sighting options (fiber-optic/high-visibility bead or rib): Faster target acquisition in brush/ blinds. The included Picatinny rail also makes it easy to mount a red dot optic.

My son prefers Browning’s A5 over the Maxus II. He has his reasons, and I have mine. Like the Maxus II, the A5 is a migration ender, but it works just as well for anchoring big toms. 

• Semi-automatic reliability and fast follow-ups: Quick second shots when a turkey moves at the last second.
• 3.5" chambering: Lets you run full-power turkey loads for maximum pellet count and energy.
• Tuned turkey barrels and choke compatibility: Factory choke options for consistent, tight patterns at typical turkey ranges.
• Soft, manageable recoil: Reduces flinch and speeds recovery for follow-up shots.
• Balanced handling and pointability: Makes the A5 easy to mount and steady on head/neck targets in blinds or tight cover.
• Durable construction and reliable feeding: Built to work in real-field conditions with minimal fuss.
• Good sighting and rib options: Fast bead acquisition for quick snap shots.
• Versatility: Cycles a wide range of turkey loads (lead, steel, and tungsten) so you can match ammo to conditions.

The world of TSS is changing, and there’s no immediate answer in sight. Winchester’s new Long Beard Tungsten uses 17g/cc, not 18g/cc. 

Why?

The short answer: Manufacturability. Most commercial tungsten shot for shotshells is a sintered tungsten alloy or tungsten-polymer composite. Those processes reliably produce densities around 16.5–17.5 g/cc. Reaching a true 18 g/cc requires different alloying or processing that’s harder, more expensive, or less repeatable.

Still, lead kills. Lead is cheaper, dependable, and an excellent option for turkey hunters wanting to call birds within 50 yards.