Federal Black Cloud TSS shotshells are long range waterfowl loads that travel up to 1450 fps and can put dense patterns downrange for duck and goose hunting. Black Cloud TSS is a duplex load of steel pellets on top of TSS in a flight control wad. These shells have proven to be a great choice for extending your range for those tough to bring down birds.
Several choke tubes work really well with Black Cloud TSS ammo. Carlson’s non-ported Cremator choke tube is the top choice when it comes to performance with flight control wads. In this review we’ll discuss the chokes that work best with Black Cloud TSS waterfowl ammo and go into more detail of what Black Cloud TSS actually is.
Federal Black Cloud TSS Choke Tubes
These are the three choke tubes you should consider using with Black Cloud TSS ammo. They provide dense patterns downrange and work well with flight control wads.
1) Carlson’s Cremator Choke Tube
The Carlson’s Cremator choke tube is an excellent choice for hunters who need a versatile choke that can perform well with a variety of shotshell loads. This choke tube uses a unique design that consists of multiple tapers, which work together to provide a consistent shot pattern. This makes the Cremator ideal for hunting situations where you need to be able to adjust your shooting style quickly and accurately.
Carlson’s non-ported version of the Cremator choke tube has proven to work well with Black Cloud TSS ammunition and flight control wads where the fins open at the back to aid in separating the wad from the shot column. This choke and ammo combo is capable of putting 80% of pellets in a 30-inch circle at 40 yards. This is the TOP pick.
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2) Patternmaster Code Black Choke
The Patternmaster Code Black is a top-of-the-line choke tube that provides unmatched performance in long-range hunting situations. This choke tube uses a specialized constriction design that helps to control the spread of shot at longer distances. This makes it an ideal choice for waterfowl hunters who need to take shots at moving targets from a distance.
The Patternmaster Code Black works well with the newer flight control wads that feature the slits on the side for extra expansion like those found in Black Cloud TSS loads. It’s a solid option for an all-around performing waterfowl choke if you switch ammo types frequently and need something that works for most distances. Expect it to perform closer to a full choke. This is the pick for MAX range.
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3) Carlson’s TSS Choke Tube
The Carlson’s TSS choke is designed for turkey hunting and is optimized for use with TSS (tungsten super shot) shotshells. It provides a tight pattern and improved range, making it ideal for long-range shots on turkeys. It performs well with both 12 and 20-gauge shotguns and is effective with shot sizes from #7 to #10.
TSS is a dense new tungsten pellet available for waterfowl hunting and it happens to pattern really tightly with Carlson’s TSS chokes. This TSS choke can deliver 80% or more of TSS pellets in a 30-inch circle at 40 yards. TSS pellets have a density of 18 g/cc which is almost pure tungsten. For comparison, the density of lead is only 11 g/cc.
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Why the Cremator is the best choke for Black Cloud TSS shotshells
- Smooth bored choke works well with flight control wads
- The long-range Cremator paired with Black Cloud TSS gives max range with flight stopper shot
- Steel shot is rated for Carlson’s Cremator
- Cremator choke tubes can put 80% or more pellets into a 30-inch circle at 40 yards
- Carlson’s Cremator is affordable compared to other choke tubes
What is Federal Black Cloud TSS?
Federal Black Cloud TSS waterfowl loads were designed for the duck hunter needing just a little bit more range. They achieved this by increasing the speed of the shell to 1450 fps in 3 inch loads and introducing Tungsten Super Shot (TSS). They also switched to a non-traditional wad system to keep the pellets together at greater distances.
The wad is essentially a tube without the standard wad petals of most regular loads. Since the wad doesn’t open, the shot column stays together longer and increases the range. 6 flight control flaps extend on the bottom of the wad in flight to slow it down and separate it from the shot.
Inside the wad is a duplex consisting of 40% flight stopper steel pellets and 60% TSS pellets. The TSS pellets are 7 shot sizes smaller than the steel pellets in the same load, and are positioned below the larger steel pellets.
Federal Black Cloud TSS Reviews
Black Cloud TSS ammo has been available for 3 years now and the reviews have been highly positive. It’s proven itself for extending range and delivering dense patterns past 40 yards.
Steel pellets in Black Cloud TSS loads are uniform with a raised central ring for extra stopping power. Perfectly round TSS pellets below the steel shot help to increase pattern density at the long ranges these loads were designed for.
Types of Federal Black Cloud TSS Shotshells
- 12 gauge 3 inch, #7 TSS and BB steel shot, 1 1/4 oz, 1450 fps
- 12 gauge 3 inch, #9 TSS and 3 steel shot, 1 1/4 oz, 1450fps
Federal Black Cloud TSS is packaged 10 rounds per box.
TSS ammo and why it’s so effective
TSS stands for Tungsten Super Shot and is the acronym used in the hunting business today to describe the shot. TSS has a nearly pure tungsten content of 18 g/cc (pure tungsten has a density of 19.25 g/cc). It was first released as a reloading package in 2010, however it has since been phased out. Individuals in the reloading community began obtaining TSS from Chinese vendors and began selling loose shot in bulk quantities.
Because of its devastating ballistic effects, TSS ammo has gained in popularity, and what was once entirely limited to the reloading community has extended to include ammo manufacturers like Federal, Remington, and Browning, who have all come on board to sell factory loaded TSS ammo for turkeys and waterfowl.
Is TSS the best shot for turkeys and waterfowl?
TSS is the best all-around performing type of shot currently available for both waterfowl and turkey hunting. Its downrange energy cannot be matched by steel or other non-toxic pellets.
Below are some comparisons of several shot sizes types, and their ability to achieve 2.50″ of ballistics gel penetration at the listed range.
Steel BBs (72 pellets/oz) @ 1400 fps = 2.50” of ballistics Gel Penetration to 35 yds
Steel BBB (62 pellets/oz) @ 1400 = 2.50” of ballistics Gel Penetration to 41 yds
Lead BB (50 pellets/oz) @ 1300 fps = 2.50” of ballistics Gel Penetration to 83 yds
HW13 BB (47 pellets/oz) @ 1300 fps = 2.50” of ballistics Gel Penetration to 121 yds
TSS #2 (54 pellets/oz) @1300 fps = 2.50” of ballistics Gel Penetration to 163 yds
TSS #6 (139 pellets/oz) @ 1300 fps = 2.50” of ballistics Gel Penetration to 83 yds
TSS #7.5 (219 pellets/oz) @ 1300 fps = 2.50” of ballistics Gel Penetration to 57 yds
As you can see, even though TSS pellets are smaller, the greater density per pellet far outweighs the large, less dense pellets of other materials.
What to expect
When it comes to choosing the right choke tube for the Federal Black Coud TSS ammo, Carlson’s Cremator stands out from its competitors. The Carlson’s Cremator is engineered with a unique design that provides consistent and even shot patterns, resulting in better accuracy and a higher precision. Unlike its competitors, the Cremator is built with Triple Shot Technology, which ensures that the shot is evenly distributed, reducing the chances of having holes or gaps in your pattern. Additionally, the Cremator’s longer parallel section helps to reduce recoil, which in turn leads to more controlled shots and better follow ups. Overall, the Carlson’s Cremator is a top performer, delivering outstanding results that set it apart from the competition.
Bottom Line
Federal Black Cloud TSS shotshells were designed to deliver steel and TSS pellets at maximum distances past 40 yards. The flight control wad is a plastic tube without traditional petals of standard wads.
This design keeps the pellets tighter for longer, increasing downrange performance. The Carlson’s Cremator choke tube in non-ported works well with Black Cloud TSS ammo and provides dense patterns beyond 40 yards.
Black Cloud TSS ammo is capable of hitting speeds of 1450 fps in the 3 inch loads. This mix of dense TSS payload and speed makes it one of the best waterfowl ammo choices available right now.
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Last update on 2025-09-08 / Affiliate links / Product Images from Amazon Product Advertising API