Turkey Hunting Ammo That’s Actually Worth Your Money

Thanksgiving is the traditional time to invite Tom Turkey to your dinner table as the guest of honor. With hunting season having arrived in Georgia, however, early invitations are in order.

To ensure he remains on the guest list, regardless of the season, hunters need to carry the proper quality ammunition. Otherwise, the dinner table will feature stuffing, cranberry sauce and other fixins but not the star attraction.

At Armory Farm, we know that quality ammo can make or break your hunt. That’s why we carry premium turkey hunting loads across multiple gauges—so you can count on power, precision, and performance when it matters most.

But for this article, we’re highlighting expert picks from Wes Littlefield of ammo.com, who broke down the top-performing turkey loads by gauge, sharing both the pros and cons of each. One thing’s clear: no matter the gauge, high-quality ammo makes all the difference.

With the 12-gauge turkey load, the Winchester Long Beard XR 2 oz. #4 Shot gets the nod. Pros are trusted brand, reliable and excellent knockdown power, while cons are cost, amount of kick, and the three-and-a half-inch shells don’t work with all guns.

Next is the 20-gauge turkey load. Littlefield chose the Remington Premier TSS 3” 1-1.5 oz. #7, citing its reliability, trusted brand name, and its exclusive design for turkey hunting. Its one drawback is cost.

The same holds true for the Federal Heavyweight TSS 3”13/16 oz. #9 Tungsten Shot, Littlefield’s top choice for 410 bore turkey load.

Finally, there’s the 28-gauge turkey load. Winner, winner, turkey dinner designation goes to Hevi-Shot Hevi-18 3” 1-1.5 oz. #7 shot. It’s an innovative brand designated for turkey hunting and features high velocity turkey shells. Its only drawback is a high price tag.

Whether you’re taking Wes’s advice to the letter or shopping from your trusted ammo supplier, one thing’s for sure: choosing the right load is key to a successful hunt.