I've got to agree with Old Colonel and Rocketman. Although it is intuitively appealing, I think the deformation from MA is overstated in most peoples minds. I don't know when "back in the day" was, but I do remember Francis Sell advocating for the 20 gauge in the 1950's and achieving 75-80% 40 yd. patterns using up to 1 1/8 oz in the twenty - no plated shot, no plastic shock absorbing wad, no buffer and no plastic shot cup.