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what is best tss alternative  stoeger 3020 to 40 yds

If I didn't want to pay the price for TSS, I would definitely look at the NEW Verdict Ammo .. they have a copper coated lead number 5 ... called JUROR ... I'm thinking about trying some of these myself...

Lead 5s never made sense to me in 20ga, Hevi shot mag blend or 7s.  Longbeards seem hit or miss in 20ga.

So many patterns on youtube to look through now but dominated by TSS.

Someone needs to come up with a tungsten plated lead maybe?  With the price of it now alternatives will be coming.

Hopefully federal will reintroduce the hw15 with a better wad option


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Quote from: davisd9 on January 26, 2026, 09:57:33 AMHopefully federal will reintroduce the hw15 with a better wad option


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They could bring back the old Federal HW 7 and I would be happy ... Glad I still have a small stock of these in 20 ga.

Last I looked there is finally some separation in price between the h15 and TSS, the 15 is around the price TSS was, while it is quite good it still doesn't approach TSS as far as patterns, maybe an h15 in 7.5 or 8 shot?

the heavyweight 7's were the best 20g shell made prior to tss in my opinion. I have 3 left but would gladly purchase any that someone wanted to part with

I have done well with longbeard 6's in a 20g but liked the heavyweights better. Haven't used 20g since I started loading my own 410 shells but with the price hike on tss shot ill probably be just using whatever I have once I run out of 410

Quote from: Greg Massey on January 26, 2026, 10:07:15 AM

Quote from: davisd9 on January 26, 2026, 09:57:33 AMHopefully federal will reintroduce the hw15 with a better wad option


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They could bring back the old Federal HW 7 and I would be happy ... Glad I still have a small stock of these in 20 ga.

They would sell great considering the current TSS prices They were a very good round.

I would love to see the HW 7's comes back again. A friend of mine is fixing to give the Verdict Juror load of lead 5's a go to see what they will do. My guess is around 120 in the ten at 40 yards. That is plenty with fives for shots inside of 40 yards, but folks will possibly struggle to come to grips with that after the present days of 300 in the ten with TSS - LOL

I am hoping that Salt Creek will work up a load for the 20 gauge with the TSS/Lead dual load. They have it in the 12 (half an ounce of TSS and 1 1/8 ounce of lead fives for a 1 5/8 ounce payload), just have not put out a 20 gauge load with it yet.

Depending on the gun and choke Winchester LB's

The Verdict at 1.5oz is promising, still don't understand 5s over 6s?

Pellet count is king generally speaking.


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My bet is on most companies coming out with a blend of tss/lead quickly, especially for sub guages. The ban on lead for waterfowl contributed to the tss movement and this will likely lead to someone inventing a better, cheaper mousetrap. Likely some new heavier than lead substitute material that works better than bismuth. Necessity is the mother of invention and we may all be even happier on the other side of this. That's as optimistic as this pessimist can get

Some sort of 15 gr/cc #7.  Before everyone tries to reinvent the wheel, first remember 18 gram tss #9 is what reinvented the wheel.  The 20 ga wasn't even considered a viable option until the advent of fed hw7 and certainly wasn't mainstream until tss came along.  The honest answer is if you don't want to pay for it, trade for a 12 ga and have a viable gun. 

If I wasn't shooting TSS in my 20ga I'd probably give the Hevi 13 #7's a try

Longbeard Xr will do the job.

The Federal #7 Heavyweights were great 20 gauge ammo. The longbeards are great lead, but if you compare them to TSS you will be very sad. They should give you a 35 yard gun with the right setup. But make no mistake, you can't beat a 12 gauge if you shoot lead. It's just physics, you can't fight science. Z

a twelve gauge

Quote from: the Ward on January 27, 2026, 09:36:27 AMa twelve gauge

Agreed.  With TSS prices rising, the 20 and 410 are becoming obsolete in the turkey woods unless you want to keep them inside 30 yards ethically.  Many jumped on the TSS bandwagon a few short years ago and now not so much.  With a 12, you have plenty of choices for cheaper ammo that will get you to that magical 40-yard mark and slightly beyond.  If you have stocked up on 20 TSS, you'll be OK for a few years, but I don't see TSS shot coming back down.  Good luck with your search.

I still think lbxr is the best lead load if you're wanting maximum distance but I've only ever gotten the #6 to pattern well to 40 yards with a 20 gauge. Granted they don't have the stopping power so I would be careful not to stretch it beyond 35-40. They shoot well through a .570 tight wad

You got 3 options.

1, Call them into 35 yards not 40 and shoot any 20 gauge turkey load you want.

2, Pay the inflated TSS prices and be good to 40

3, Get a 12 Gauge and shoot any turkey load you can get your hands on out to 40 yards.

I'm going to make a guess and say most people on this forum all started with a 10 / 12 gauge and still have them. Federal HW 7 - 20 gauge and people on this forum got me to try a 20 gauge. From that point on I was hooked.
TSS and seeing the results and patterns /  reading on this forum got me hooked on Sub gauges in both 410 and 28 gauge, for the last few years I have REALLY enjoyed the 28 ga... But I never waited until I needed turkey shells to buy turkey shells.

So I have a good stock of old Federal 12 ga. 2oz. number 5 and 6 shot and plenty of sub gauge TSS to never have to buy and more shells period.. Alone with Long beards in 12 and 20 ga.

Ive been experimenting with #7 nickel plated lead.  Seems very promising.

Quote from: Brian Stewart on January 28, 2026, 12:56:49 PMIve been experimenting with #7 nickel plated lead.  Seems very promising.

Should be a good load.
I sometimes hunt with 7.5 hard lead 1 1/8th oz trap loads in my close barrel in an old double, patterns good to about 33yds, head/neck penetration to 35.

A heavier load of your 7's should be good past that

Quote from: crow on January 28, 2026, 01:23:16 PM

Quote from: Brian Stewart on January 28, 2026, 12:56:49 PMIve been experimenting with #7 nickel plated lead.  Seems very promising.

Should be a good load.
I sometimes hunt with 7.5 hard lead 1 1/8th oz trap loads in my close barrel in an old double, patterns good to about 33yds, head/neck penetration to 35.

A heavier load of your 7's should be good past that

I agree 7.5 lead works great in a double barrel setup for the close range barrel. Have killed multiple toms with prairie storm pheasant loads

Went from 12 ,to 20. Now trying 410.
If your good enough u can get em in close ans still use your TSS