Federals 3.5" #5 great knock down and pattern for me.

I'm cheap. I started with Win Super X 3" #5. I shoot a regular full choke, and they pattern just fine to 30 yds. Never switched ammo.

I'd start on the low end and try more expensive loads if you can't get the cheaper ones to pattern.

I know guys do like to shoot 40-50 yds, but I don't generally set up where shots will be that long.

Tried Remington Hevi shot,Federal Heavyweight,Hevi 13 and Winchester Extended Range(Elite) in my SX2 in 3.5'' loads #6 and nothing patterns even remotely close to the Winchesters.All the others pattern quite well to 40 yards but the wins pattern better out past 50 than the others do at 40.

Ditto here too. Even the same gun and choke(20"barrel). I have patterened many differant brands over the years and thought I was doing good with Nitro or Hevishot. Then one day a client tried the hevishot and his gun patterened better with it and asked if I would dispose of his federal ammo or use it for target practice. For me, in my gun, it patterned better than anything else I had tried and is all I will use now.

4x5 Copper X 7 Hevi.....Nitro's for me. Expensive yes, though i have seen some Winchester Hevi's priced over $50 for 10 this year. Ammo has really gone up since I've bought any. What's $7 bucks for a turkey shell, that's the cheapest thing i buy. Had a guy asked me in Florida a couple years ago why i payed $4 for a shell and said why not this trip probably cost $1200, why skimp on shells.

I used Winchester 3" 1 3/4 oz shots and then put a tom down in good order last year.

A lot of Winchester and Nitro users.

I always stocked up when I bought turkey loads... I've got like 5 box's of every thing I shoot... Heck I still have a box of the original 10ga Rem Hevi shot and 2 box's of the original 12ga Rem Hevi shot You never know when your favorite loads is going to go away

I agree with that! Ive probably got enough turkey loads to go 20 years without buying them!

My 20 gage patterns best with Federal #6s, plain old lead. With an Undertaker choke it patterns a grapefruit at 40 measured yards, that kills just as dead as anything else on that list and the shells are cheap.