Pattern your turkey gun with different lead and TSS loads on the cheap.
Long have turkey hunters spent untold kegs of powder, lead, and even some TSS trying to determine nothing more than what their shotgun likes best. Long have they burned piles of cash in relative vain, when they could have employed a better option (if only it’d existed). Well, now it does.
A Turkey Shotgun Patterning Idea Is Born
Today, it’s possible to pattern your shotgun with numerous turkey loads for a fraction of the cost. It saves quite a bit of time and a lot of money. It’s called Pattern Pros.
Several years ago, Ryan Burnett, who is the co-founder of Pattern Pros, was shooting with a friend who worked together to strike up a genius business venture. They bought some new shells for duck hunting, but these didn’t pattern as well as they’d hoped. In 2022, years of painstakingly expensive patterning culminated in an idea.
“We went back-and-forth and produced a variety pack of shotgun shells,” Burnett said. “We started on the waterfowl side with eight different shells — three of each in a box of 24. That allows you to try out a bunch of different shells and find the best pattern and the best cycling shell for your setup.”
By 2023, the brand, Pattern Pros, was born. And by 2024, it launched turkey load lineups. It started with five turkey loads in an offering.
“Again, that allowed you to try a bunch of different shells and find the best patterning shell for your turkey gun setup,” Burnett said. “We’ve tested so many different gun-choke-shell combinations, and they’re almost limitless. So, you don’t know what works best for you until you actually pull the trigger and find out.
“This allows you to accomplish that and not spend a ton of money buying a bunch of different shells,” Burnett continued. “When you buy your hunting ammo, you know, without a doubt, it works for your setup. You go to the woods being more efficient than you ever have before.”
A Turkey Hunter’s Ethical Duty
From an ethical standpoint, turkey hunters have a duty to ensure their shotgun is as effective as possible. In the past, hunters got a pass for not patterning as often due to high costs. Now, there really is no excuse for not trying at least five, 10, or even more shell offerings to see what performs best with your rig.
Additionally, hunters are able to test and see how loads do at various yardages. This too helps them pick and choose what performs best at various distances. They can also better understand their selected pattern at 20-, 30-, and 40-plus yards, which unveils effective range, potential “flyers” that can hit other objects close to the target, and more.
Scenarios That Prove the Need for Patterning Turkey Shotguns
There are numerous scenarios that prove the need for patterning turkey shotguns. Most, if not all, of these are avoidable with plenty of affordable range time.
“When it comes to actually pulling the trigger, being ethical is something that, I think, a lot of people take for granted,” Burnett said. “They think whenever they pull the trigger that it’s game over. A lot of people don’t understand what’s happening to the shot at different distances.
“You think it was a miss, but you actually put one BB in them,” Burnett said. “The bird flies off a couple hundred yards away and piles up in the brush. You never find them, or even look for them, and all that does is feed the coyotes. So, allow yourself to be far more ethical and efficient when you go to the woods.”
Maybe there are some “flyers” in your shotgun pattern, but you don’t know it. You shoot at one bird, but another gobbler is nearby. One or two of those “flyers” just happen to snag that unintended turkey, too, and it becomes a big problem. You’re hunting in a one-bird state, or maybe a one-bird-per-day bag limit, and now there’s trouble. If you’d have found a pattern without a pattern of strays, or known to wait until the birds separated more, it might’ve ended differently.
“We’re showing people that all gun-choke-shell combinations are not the same — whether it’s the biggest name in the business, or not,” Burnett said. “Yeah, you bought the most expensive shell, but that doesn’t mean anything, and it doesn’t mean those are going to be an effective pairing. Find out for yourself and know that, when you pull that trigger, the bird is going to die.
Sometimes, the gun itself is off — purposely. From a factory standpoint, the point of impact isn’t always dead-on, and most hunters never know it.
“A lot of guns are purposely off,” Burnett said. “For instance, Benelli shotguns tend to shoot high. If you don’t know that, you’ll shoot over its head. Or you won’t be nearly as effective at understanding proper holds.”
Patterning Packages Available to Turkey Hunters
Pattern Pros offers patterning packs in 12-gauge, 20-gauge, and .410 shotgun. In 12-gauge, try the TSS Turkey Pattern Pack ($86.99), 3 ½-Inch TSS Turkey Patterning Pack ($88.99), TSS/Lead Pack ($45), 3-Inch Lead Turkey Pack ($24.99), 3 ½-Inch Lead Turkey Pattern Pack ($24.99), or the Custom Pattern Pack (price varies).
The 20-Gauge with TSS and Lead (priced at $42.50) includes four different shells, including Epic Shotshell 3-inch 1 3/8oz (1/2oz #9 TSS, 7/8oz #5 nickel-plated lead), Salt Creek 3-inch 1 1/4oz ( 3/8oz #9 TSS, 7/8oz #5 nickel-plated lead), Migra Hybrid 3-inch 1 1/2oz (50% #9 high-density tungsten, 50% #5 nickel-plated lead), and Federal 3rd Degree 3-inch 1 1/2oz (40% #7 TSS, 40% #5 lead, 20% #6 FliteStopper lead). Another 20-gauge offering (priced at $24.99) for 3-inch lead shot shells include Winchester XX #5, Hevi Magnum #5, 6, and 7, Remington Nitro Turkey #5, Remington Premier #6, and Winchester Longbeard XR #5.
Those patterning a .410 shotgun should try the 3-Inch Turkey Pattern Pack for $49.99. These include Salt Creek Cold Turkey TSS #9, Remington Premier TSS #9, Herter’s TSS #9, Boss Tom TSS #9, and Federal Premium TSS #9. Of course, there will soon be custom options available to TFT members with input from a recent survey asking them what patterning packs they’d like to see.
(Note: Other offerings other than those noted above are available but are currently out of stock. Check the Pattern Pros website for news on when certain patterning combinations become available again.)
Is Lead or TSS Dead?
For years, TSS has reigned over the turkey ammo world. Some thought lead was dead. But in fact, it’s now TSS that might experience an early grave. (At least, temporarily.)
Of course, neither TSS nor lead are expected to completely die in the projected future. Both will continue production on assembly lines. However, there’s currently a period of transition back to lead, which wouldn’t likely be happening without rising prices of tungsten.
“More guys are transitioning back to lead due to the price of TSS,” Burnett said. “TSS is obviously the most expensive. We work with pretty much every major ammo manufacturer in the country, along with a bunch of smaller ones.”
Partnering with Turkeys for Tomorrow (TFT)
Recently, TFT and Pattern Pros partnered to determine, once and for all, what turkey loads people want to test in their shotguns.
“It will be all lead options,” Burnett said. “People will pick what shells they would like to see in a pack. Using that info, we’ll create a new lead pattern pack that’s in partnership between Pattern Pros and Turkeys for Tomorrow (TFT).
“It’ll have 12- and 20-gauge options,” Burnett continued. “It’s exciting and allows us to broaden horizons, give TFT flocks patterning options, and all turkey hunters the ability to test with lead.”
As noted, TSS prices are through the roof. Burnett projects, by next year, the material, and therefore the ammo, will be virtually unattainable. So, the lead packs will become much more prevalent.
“We’re getting back to the roots of turkey hunting, especially when it comes to ammo,” Burnett concluded.
We’re getting back to the roots of wild turkey conservation, too.
Support TFT
Established in 2021, TFT is new to the landscape, but it’s driven by highly trained professionals with decades of conservation experience. To support TFT, and the complete body of wild turkey research and conservation it’s leading, become a member today. An Adult Annual Membership is $50, multi-year Team Turkey Membership is $250, and Life Membership is $2,500. Every dollar counts in the fight for wild turkey preservation.
Great concept, wish I had access to this type offer last year when I setup a 410. Hope they decide to add the 28 gauge to their offerings ( I just bought one to start setting up). Lots of people are looking at them since more manufacturers are offering 3″ shell compatible guns. Patterning is the ethical thing to do !