First pattern session with TSS

crenshawco · Post by **crenshawco** » May 28th, 2013, 6:44 pm

Well several weeks ago I decided to take on TSS hand loading for a little off season entertainment. I ordered all my components and shot and I had just been waiting to have a little time to load some shells and maybe even load my first few with a friend who has been loading for a little while now. This Sunday I had some time and couldn't wait anymore so I went ahead and loaded 3 shells on my own. Today I went and shot twice at lunch. I am shooting a 870 compact 21" 20 gauge. Shots were at a lasered 40 yards.

First 3 roll crimps

Shot one was with a RSF .570
224 in the 10". 233 in the 20"

Shot two was a Carlsons .575
288 in the 10". 169 in the 20"

I plan on shooting both chokes a couple of more times to get a better sample of patterns but which of these two is the better hunting pattern in your opinion?

GLS · Post by **GLS** » May 28th, 2013, 6:48 pm

my preference is the first. Nice job roll crimping, btw. 1 5/8??

Post by **CamoMan4025** » May 28th, 2013, 7:37 pm

That second pattern is awesome!

hookedspur · Post by **hookedspur** » May 28th, 2013, 7:41 pm

Yes Sir

Post by **redarrow** » May 28th, 2013, 8:15 pm

That .570 is rocking for sure. Getting ready to place an order for my goodies in the next week or so.

crenshawco · Post by **crenshawco** » May 28th, 2013, 8:20 pm

redarrow wrote:That .570 is rocking for sure. Getting ready to place an order for my goodies in the next week or so.

Just realized I had the 2 chokes mixed up in the pics. Just edited it to fix it though

pedro · Post by **pedro** » May 28th, 2013, 8:30 pm

Nice tubes and patterns!

Post by **hoobilly** » May 28th, 2013, 9:00 pm

When I reload ,I will have 2 tubes set up.

one for the even killing patterns, and a tight shooting one that will blow the minds of all the "turkey" killers around here.

your off to a great start!

Johndoe · Post by **Johndoe** » May 28th, 2013, 9:17 pm

Those numbers are good. Is that the 1 5/8oz #9s load. If so it will do better. Polish the barrel and clean the choke real well. I have a couple patterns of 260/280+- with that load and gun.

Spuriosity · Post by **Spuriosity** » May 28th, 2013, 9:57 pm

Great job. I prefer the first pattern for hunting.

crenshawco · Post by **crenshawco** » May 29th, 2013, 6:06 am

Johndoe wrote:Those numbers are good. Is that the 1 5/8oz #9s load. If so it will do better. Polish the barrel and clean the choke real well. I have a couple patterns of 260/280+- with that load and gun.

Thanks for the replies.

Yep it is the 1 5/8oz #9's. I polished the barrel this year before turkey season and its probably had 8 or 9 shots through it since then. I bore snaked the barrel between shots. I am going to probably polish the barrel again before I shoot next time. I really just don't think my 870 shoots as well as some others. I was getting lower pellet counts with Fed HWT 7's than other people with the exact same setup as well. I am going to keep working toward 250/250 though. Which choke are you shooting to get the 260/280 patterns?

gophert · Post by **gophert** » May 29th, 2013, 6:40 am

Indian Creek .562.....your search will be over

sent from Tim's Tweaked Out Evo LTE

el diablo · Post by **el diablo** » May 29th, 2013, 6:50 am

gophert wrote:Indian Creek .562.....your search will be over

sent from Tim's Tweaked Out Evo LTE

Strong prediction from Gophert! lol I would have to agree on the .562. Also, may want to fire a couple more through the RSF it is awful close to your 250/250 split you are wanting.

gophert · Post by **gophert** » May 29th, 2013, 7:05 am

el diablo wrote:
gophert wrote:Indian Creek .562.....your search will be over

sent from Tim's Tweaked Out Evo LTE
Strong prediction from Gophert! lol I would have to agree on the .562. Also, may want to fire a couple more through the RSF it is awful close to your 250/250 split you are wanting.

LOL....I have found that when I post in short direct incomplete sentences, I sound more credible.

And you are right...that RSF .570 should be giving you a better number. I have never patterned my RSF with the 1 5/8 load. My daughter shoots it with her 1 1/4 load and has had great success, but we have only patterned it at turkey heads however.

sent from Tim's Tweaked Out Evo LTE

crenshawco · Post by **crenshawco** » May 29th, 2013, 7:11 am

I was hoping you would respond Gophert because I have seen several of your posts talking about the IC's. Did you ever get the .570 IC and pattern it? I am going to shoot the RSF again after I polish the barrel again, but if it doesn't get to what I'm looking for I think IC is next on my list.

Johndoe · Post by **Johndoe** » May 29th, 2013, 9:04 am

I also never got good numbers from the FHW #7s. I shot many chokes. My best choke is a 585 Trulock in that gun. I was shooting the RSF and thought I could sacrifice some 10" numbers to get better 20" numbers and all went up.

John

crenshawco · Post by **crenshawco** » May 29th, 2013, 9:55 am

Johndoe wrote:I also never got good numbers from the FHW #7s. I shot many chokes. My best choke is a 585 Trulock in that gun. I was shooting the RSF and thought I could sacrifice some 10" numbers to get better 20" numbers and all went up.

John

Do you have the ported or non-ported?

gophert · Post by **gophert** » May 29th, 2013, 10:04 am

crenshawco wrote:I was hoping you would respond Gophert because I have seen several of your posts talking about the IC's. Did you ever get the .570 IC and pattern it? I am going to shoot the RSF again after I polish the barrel again, but if it doesn't get to what I'm looking for I think IC is next on my list.

No, I have not got my hands on the IC .570, but I think it would be right in line with 275/250 with that load. Which to me, is PERFECTION! I've probably shot just about every popular choke out of this 870 21" and it's just my observation that the IC's shoot the most consistent out of my gun. Any of these chokes however will kill a turkey dead. I know what my pattern looks like at 20 and I know what it looks like at 60. I think you really have to match your choke to whatever your hunting conditions are. I hunt 95% fields. Because of that, I better have a load/choke combo that will reach out and touch one. However, up until just this year I had never shot one over 30 yards. I pulled the trigger on a bird at 50 yards this year because he had hens with him and would not give me the time of day. If I had not known exactly what my gun was capable of, I would have never pulled the trigger.

That IC .562 shoots 300/230. I decided that was close enough to perfection.

Johndoe · Post by **Johndoe** » May 29th, 2013, 12:03 pm

It is not ported.

BrentM · Post by **BrentM** » May 29th, 2013, 1:08 pm

Crenshaw try the Carlson's .585 flush fit for $14 before you order an Indian creek. It did really well in my 870

pedro · Post by **pedro** » May 29th, 2013, 2:19 pm

Gophert said it well. Match your pattern to your hunting. It is nice to know that I can reach out or change equipment and get a open pattern for close distance. This year I was able to take some long shots, only because I know TSS can do that with my set up.

crenshawco · Post by **crenshawco** » May 29th, 2013, 2:36 pm

Thanks again for all the replies.

I went ahead and ordered a Trulock .585 to try it out. I can get the Carlson's cheap locally so I may try their .585 in the next day or so. If those don't work it will be the Indian Creek next. At least I've got plenty of time before next season and I can get some practice loading shells. I made up a couple more last night and its getting easier and easier already

bigdoc · Post by **bigdoc** » May 29th, 2013, 4:17 pm

I started loading Tss close to the end of Tn. season, I killed 2 birds with my 20ga. so I know you are having fun playing with the loads and chokes.Good luck!!!!

GOLD HUNTER · Post by **GOLD HUNTER** » May 29th, 2013, 9:32 pm

tubecaller10 · Post by **tubecaller10** » May 29th, 2013, 11:35 pm

I've had good luck with the IC .555 in a remo 21" barrel but gophert talked me in to wanting a .562. Only problem is IC told me they were not making any more .562 in Remo until end of the summer....

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