Hello Jim
If I had spotted this a month ago I would have answered it then. No, I haven't shot the 212 but I used to have two 210F slug rifles and own one of the 220 slug guns.
The 210F guns had very heavy clunky triggers and it took a trigger job by a local gunsmith who works primarily on slug guns to get them to an acceptable pull and feel. They both shot to around 1-1/2" to 2" at 100 yards. One liked 2-3/4" Remington copper solids best and the other liked 3" Winchester Supreme slugs best. About 2 years ago I talked to the tech and marketing folks at Savage and was told that they had no intention of modifying the 210F to accept an Accutrigger since it would need a completely different receiver and current sales numbers and sales projections didn't justify it. They did mention that they were in the very late stages of releasing the first 20 gauge guns and they would have the Accutrigger.
As soon as the 220 came out I bought one of the first ones. It had terrible misfire and failure to eject issues and it took two trips back to Savage to get it fixed. With that said, everything I can find online shows that those early issues are firmly behind them now. The gun shoots consistent 3/4 to 1" groups with Federal 3" tipped Barnes Expanders. It is 3/4" of a pound lighter than the 12 Ga. gun, kicks a lot less and shoots at least as flat. I have taken five deer with it with one shot each at ranges to 140 yards
To Savage's credit, I damaged the barrel on my 10ML-II smokeless powder muzzleloader and even after telling them that they replaced the barrel for free, threw in the new style breech plug and a few other parts I wanted. They more than made up for the frustration of the initial issues with the 220.
If the 212 shots anything like the 220 you will love it. Just start with the recommended slugs and if none of them work to your satisfaction try some others. Since there are no industry standards on everything from internal barrel configuration, rifling twist rates etc it is amazing that any of us can find a slug that work in out particular gun. I'd hate to be an ammo maker truing to make something that worked in an industry with no standardization. The result is that I think you would be much happier letting the rifle tell you what it likes than trying to get it to shoot something you like.
Hope this helps.
Lance
