I have reloaded shot shells for 45+ years now and have had to take many of them apart.
More often than not under pressure from the wad and the crimp the powder will be "clumped". No reason for concern.
This wad design is used in nearly all gauges of Federals "promotional" [ read that cheap] shot shell loads like the Top Gun, Field and target, etc...
This wad is designed to be used with all different shot loads by the amount of pressure used to shorten the wad post for the required room needed to crimp the shell.
The post is left taller for light loads and it is shortened for heavy loads.
There are articles in magazines and on line about this wad in Federal shotshells.
Gone are the days of the old Federal Pushion-Cushion wad in Federal shotshells except for the premium target loads.
