woodsruner38,
I don’t lube the cushion wads, but use them as they came from Alcan and Circle Fly. My RMC hulls inside dimentions allow for the use of 16 Ga. components and I'll get some PGS' from BPI to try. Re better patterns: Do you remember the plastic strips used in Winchester Super X shot shells. They were one of the first attempts at shot protection before one piece plastic wads. You might try putting a plastic strip inside of the hull and on top of the cushion wads to help protect from the scrubbing effects of the shot as goes down the barrel.
