Last reviewed: 2026-04-18 by Jake Terry, FFL07/SOT3, NRA-certified firearms instructor.
You’re watching birds work decoys at 40 yards, and you need every pellet to count. The Apex TSS/S3 Steel Blend 12 gauge waterfowl shell addresses that gap by stacking 1/4 oz of Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) atop a base charge of S3 steel, creating a duplex load that delivers pattern density where steel alone thins out and energy transfer where steel pellets lose momentum. Apex Ammunition builds this 3″ shell around a 1-5/16 oz payload — BB steel for reach, #7.5 tungsten for close-range lethality — driven to 1400 fps with a non-corrosive boxer primer. The duplex architecture means your first pellets on target carry 18 g/cc density (TSS) while the bulk of your pattern maintains steel’s flight characteristics and federal compliance for non-toxic shot zones.
Built for the Box
Apex sources TSS pellets domestically and blends them with proprietary S3 steel shot inside a 3″ hull rated for smooth-bore chokes from cylinder to full. The 1-5/16 oz shot charge separates into two density tiers during flight: steel pellets form the outer pattern perimeter, tungsten pellets hold the core. At 1400 fps muzzle velocity, the load generates sufficient energy to penetrate primary feathers and bone on mallards, Canada geese, and sea ducks within ethical range. Boxer primers permit reloading for shooters who turn spent hulls into practice rounds. Each case ships 10 boxes of 25, totaling 250 rounds and approximately 30 pounds gross weight — classified DOT-regulated for hazmat shipping.
The Numbers
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Gauge | 12 Gauge |
| Shell length | 3″ |
| Shot type | Steel and Tungsten (duplex) |
| Shot size | BB (steel) and #7.5 (TSS) |
| Shot weight | 1-5/16 oz |
| Velocity | 1400 fps |
| Primer | Boxer, non-corrosive |
| Reloadable | Yes |
| Barrel type | Smooth bore |
| Non-toxic | Yes (federal compliant) |
| Rounds/box | 25 |
| Quantity | 250 (10 boxes) |
| Intended use | Waterfowl |
| Manufacturer | Apex Ammunition |
The duplex construction positions tungsten pellets for penetration on decoying birds and steel pellets for pass-shooting at the edge of effective range. Pair this load with modified or improved-modified chokes for ducks over decoys, or tighten to full for high-altitude geese. More duplex waterfowl loads are cataloged in our steel shot shells category.
Safe Handling & Compliance
Federal law requires purchasers to be at least 18 years old for rifle and shotgun ammunition, and at least 21 for handgun ammunition. Ammunition cannot be shipped to certain states, counties, and cities — review our ammunition shipping restrictions before ordering. Store ammunition in a cool, dry location away from heat sources and out of reach of unauthorized users.
- Observe the four universal rules of firearms safety: treat every firearm as loaded, never point at anything you don’t intend to destroy, keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire, and know your target and what lies beyond it.
- Verify that your shotgun chamber and barrel are rated for 3″ shells and that your choke tube is steel-shot compatible before firing.
- This product contains lead components (tungsten alloy may include trace lead). Wash hands after handling. California Proposition 65 Warning: exposure to lead can cause cancer and reproductive harm — www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
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