Ted: I tell myself that too. It's been a few years since I went through Zutz's book (always felt badly for his wife, driving that car) but I don't doubt the differences that plastic shot cups make over felt wads (I still have a few felt wad 20-gauge loads laying around in my gunroom and I eye them with some suspicion). If these RSTs were felt, I'd clearly try to blame them for this situation, but these are premium loads with modern shot cups. Unless RST has had a hiccup in their system at some time, I'm at a loss to explain this.
I have seen this happen to others, but I've never had this happen to me with a 12, only subgauge guns. Not hard to figure out why 12s are so successful. I had a 20 a few years ago that did this to me way too-often and I basically gave up on the gauge. 12s just do the job, day in and day out, so when you try to go away from that more lethal (but clearly more heavy) gauge you have a trade-off in lethality. 16s, with their 1-ounce loads seemed to be the best option for my needs and I've never doubted them...until lately.
