Topic: The Best .410 Turkey Loads of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 37 times)
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Topic: The Best .410 Turkey Loads of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 37 times)
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Federal was among the first major ammo co*panies to load TSS turkey loads for the masses. Who could ever have imagined that workaday turkey hunters would be willing to pay $10 per shell? But here we are. Federal Heavyweight and the Mossberg 500 make a lovely match. The load averaged 109 hits through the good old M500. But it was less co*patible with the Stevens and Tristar shotguns. With these guns, the average dropped to 71.5 and 66.5 respectively.
On the upside, you will be able to find these loads if you need them now (they are currently available on the Federal website and several other online retailers with prices lower than the MSRP). Afterall, sometimes the best .410 turkey loads are the ones you can buy easily. It’s also worth noting that the .410 version of Federal Heavyweight does not include the Flitecontrol Flex wad.
Hevi Shot is one of the OGs of the heavier-than lead game and the co*pany is well respected by diehard turkey hunters and waterfowlers all around the country. Hevi 18 had the second best average pattern in this test behind Apex. The load performed especially well with the Stevens shotgun, averaging 118 hits. I tested the No. 9s, but there’s also a version loaded with No. 7s, if you feel like a No. 9 pellet isn’t quite hefty enough (though that’s a silly notion).
Unfortunately, like the Apex loads, this load isn’t available at many online retailers right now. So if you shoot a Stevens .410 and find some available, buy them.
Boss is best known for its copper-plated bismuth loads for waterfowl and upland bird hunting. But the Michigan-based co*pany also loads a TSS option under its Boss Tom line. Boss is a direct-to-consumer co*pany so their loads are typically a little more affordable than co*petitors’ loads. In .410, the Boss Tom loads patterned well with the Stevens shotgun (113 average) but inconsistently with the other two guns.
I tested the No. 9s (294 pellets per shell), but they also have a version loaded ⅞ ounces of No. 10s, which have a pellet count of 460 per shell. That’s substantially higher than even the Apex loads. I suspect those No. 10 loads will shoot outstanding patterns at close and middle ranges. If you wanted to set a kid up with the best .410 turkey load and gun co*bo, a Stevens 301 Turkey and Boss Tom No. 10s would be hard to beat. Plus, as of publication, both Boss load options were available on the Boss website.
As Remington ammunition continues its co*eback, it’s adding more options to its Premier line, which enco*passes top-end ammo for Big Green. The line includes a TSS load offered in 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and .410 bore.
In my testing, Premier TSS patterned nicely through the Mossberg 500 recording two patterns with 100 hits inside the 10-inch circle. It doesn’t get more consistent than that. With the other guns, the load was slightly less effective. It averaged 81 hits with the Tristar and 86 hits with the Stevens. However this is still sufficient pattern density and I’d say Remington Premier .410 TSS is a 40-yard-load with all three guns.
Your maximum range is the distance at which you can consistently put 80 to 100 pellets inside a 10-inch circle (and centered on target). With that said, I don’t reco*mend shooting turkeys beyond 40 yards with .410 loads, even if you are able to get them to pattern well beyond that range. Is it possible to kill a turkey beyond 40 yards with a .410? Absolutely. But just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you should. If you choose to hunt with a .410, you are intentionally limiting your range. Turkey hunting at its very best is a close-range game and dedicated .410 shooters know this. If you want to kill turkeys at farther distances, go with a bigger gun and heavier payload.
A TSS turkey load is filled with tungsten super shot. TSS is very dense at 18 g/cc. For reference, lead pellets have a density of 11.3 g/cc. TSS is made in smaller pellet sizes: No. 7s up to No. 10s. Smaller, denser pellets have significantly more penetration energy. And because the pellets are small, more of them are packed into a payload. This makes for denser patterns. In other words, absolutely killer turkey loads.
The best turkey load is one that patterns well through your gun and choke co*bination. Ammo for turkey hunting generally has a higher payload because pattern density is so critical (you need a lot of pellets in a small area to ensure head and neck hits). In terms of .410 ammo, payloads are typically either 13/16 ounces or ⅞ ounces.
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All of the loads in this test performed well out of at least one gun. Apex Ninja took top honors because it shot killer patterns out of all the guns. However, these days availability does play a big factor in which turkey load you shoot. So use this guide to find a load that will be a good match for your gun and then make sure you pattern it before you go hunting. Once you find the right load for your gun/choke co*bo, stick with it.
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