If you are talking about turkey hunting, the only real difference it's going to make regarding killing the turkey is the amount of shot you can put into the shell. And it's usually easier to get a good pattern and efficient use of the shot in the larger diameter bore. With tss, it's not as important. I've found I can get excellent patterns with a 20 gauge with loads heavier than I want to use, so the 12 isn't likely to provide any advantage there unless you want to shoot really heavy loads. A 410 won't hold nearly as much shot and is going to be something of a handicap compared to a 20, but shooters can still get patterns that will kill turkeys just fine.

The advantage of the larger bore is much greater when shooting lead. I often load 1&1/4 oz loads for dove hunting with a 12 gauge, and most guns will pattern well with this load. You can put 1&1/4 oz into a 20 gauge, but I've found it much harder to get good patterns out of a 20 with that much shot. It can be done, but it will likely take some experimenting to accomplish it. It's easier to get good patterns if you stick with customary load sizes for that gauge, but a lot of handloaders enjoy a challenge.

A 1250 fps pellet is going to hit the game with the same effectiveness no matter what gauge gun is used. The thing that matters is how many pellets are in the pattern and how many remain as the distance increases.

No reason to use a 12ga tss imho….I shoot a 6lb 20 ga that will outperform all 12 ga lead guns that is more enjoyable to hunt with than any 12 ga tss gun.

That’s interesting. What do you consider “out perform” to mean? Higher pellet count at 40 yards in a 12” circle?

So the 20 gauge has better penetration and lethal at further distances? I wouldn’t have thought that. The 12 gauge is coming out at greater fps isn’t it?

Same velocity, same relative weight between a #9 tss and a #5 lead. The tss retains velocity longer because of decreased wind drag on less surface area. It also penetrates deeper because of the decreased surface area relative to its weight, and also because it doesn’t deform on impact like lead. It is harder than the barrel of the shotgun you shoot it out of.

Well yeah of course it will out perform 12gauge lead. But will the 20 gauge TSS out perform 12 gauge TSS?

Ah I just went back and read the original statement. He was comparing 20 TSS to 12 lead. I’m not sure why the 20 gauge TSS would be more enjoyable than the 12 gauge TSS though.

The only advantage that a 20 with tss has over a 12 with tss is that you get to carry a lighter gun. Now to an old man, that's a real advantage, but that's the only one. A 12 gauge will outperform the 20 in any test you want to run.

The density and hardness of the tss pellet is what makes it superior to lead. That causes it to penetrate better, but more importantly, to stay in the pattern better. The higher density means that the tss pellets are heavier than lead of the same size. A #8 tss pellet would weigh the same as 6.4 size lead pellet. I've seen some guys compare the weights and say that it isn't that much difference and tss isn't worth it, but it's the density and hardness that really makes the difference.

But the larger gauge will outperform the smaller. If you want the ultimate distance shotgun, develop a 3 5" 10 gauge tss load. I think some of the coyote hunters have done that.

Well yeah of course it will out perform 12gauge lead. But will the 20 gauge TSS out perform 12 gauge TSS?

Ah I just went back and read the original statement. He was comparing 20 TSS to 12 lead. I’m not sure why the 20 gauge TSS would be more enjoyable than the 12 gauge TSS though.

Do you turkey hunt? (Not being a smart butt, serious question) A 5# 20 ga with a 21” barrel is just a pleasure to turkey hunt with. It kills way further than I normally will shoot, easy to carry, relatively light recoil, super manueverable. The 12 with TSS will of course out perform, but turkey can be only so dead. That said, my even lighter 410 will kill the crap out of one…. And I hope this new 28 ga double will too. (In all fairness, I hunt with my 12 some too. I like variety.)

Y’all have all covered the high points. A thought I’ve had(probably irrelevant) but I think a longer shot string might be a bit beneficial when shooting at a turkey.(ie 3.5 12ga tss at a stationary target) I like to shoot through brush and a longer shot string might get more pellets to the bird after it’s cut through the privet or whatever else I’m shooting through. Don’t really know but I kill them with vengeance. As long as I break a wing they are sol