I have been doing some patterning with the little X shaped spreader, and didn't notice any wild pellets. In fact, it did nothing for my pattern- same as without. 38 and 40 thou chokes. I can see with the Polywad style, I'll be trying them in the next week or so.
I have been experimenting with RST spreader loads in my 16 gauge. They use the plastic shot cup with the integral "X" molded into the bottom of the cup.
I have not found there to be any difference between the percentage of shot within a 30 inch circle at 25 yards between the spreader loads and the standard shot cups fired through my improved cylinder choke. However, the patterns thrown with the standard shot cup wads are noticeably center dense. Where as the spreader loads throw a very uniform pattern across the circle at that distance.
For that reason I use the RST spreaders for all my woodcock and partridge hunting, and I have found them to be very effective.
Granted this is one load, in one gun, which doesn't mean a whole lot other than it might be worth experimenting with in your gun.
I have never seen the phenomenon of these spreader loads wildly throwing flyers out of the pattern, let alone opening the pattern to any significant extent.
