what is everyone using in there turkey gun? I have been looking at Federal, Winchester and Remingtons Hevi-shot loads....wondering if the cost is worth it or just stick with a lead shot?

Used only lead until last year, Rem Hevi-shot last year was very impressive patterning in my Win 1300 and I don't think I'll be going back to lead.

Over the years I've used a mess of different loads, even the expensive "Custom" loads by Nitro but for the past 2 years I've used Winchester Xtendeds and they have performed extremely well and actually rival the "Custom" loads...Turkeys just drop when hit with a load of 3" #6's...no floppin...no nothin...

I wasn't hunting turkey before tungsten shot came on the scene, so I don't have a lot of experience with killing turkeys. All I know is that each one I have shot with a version of hevi-shot did not even flop. All have been taken within 30 paces.

If you plan on, or need to do a lot of shooting at 50+ yd.'s, you might need the hevi-shot loads. I can see where if you've got to hunt in open country, you might consider it. Where I hunt it's unusual to get a shot beyond 30 yd. That being said, I've killed a turkey stone dead at 52 yd.s with #4 lead (mis-judged the range in the rain).
Since then I bought one box of Win Xtended Range after trying them. I have the X-R shell as my second shot in the magazine. I haven't needed it yet.

Put a piece of tin at about 40 yds. Shoot it with lead and Hevi-shot. The lead will stick in the tin. The Hevi-shot will blow right on through. You can kill them with lead, but you can kill them farther with Hevi-shot.

I did the same test except I used masonite. My test was Winchester 3" mag's 2 oz. of #5 lead vs. Heavy shot 1 5/8 oz. #6. In my gun the lead gave me both better patterns and penetration. For me the lead is cheaper and works as well.

what is your setup...gun/choke?

Remington 11-87 12 ga. 24" barrel with a Wright's choke (.660)

I have a Benelli SBE with3 different turkey chokes. I tried federal 3 1/2" 5 shot, the equivalent in Winchester and always got better patterns with the Winchester. I tried Rem. hevi shot and even got a special choke for the load and didn't get that good a pattern. Last year I tried the newer federal flight control high velocity 3 1/2" no. 5 shot and got the best patterning with it. Consistent patterning is the most important to me. Harder hitting Hevi Shot doesn't work for me if the pattern isn't tight.