I don't believe this is an uncommon problem. I have a block and have shot it a couple hundred times and am shooting throught it. I bought it primarily for broadhead practice and have painted new spots for targets on it because I shoot through it with my broadheads. It does stop my field points if they are shot into an area that has not been shot before. I highly dout that this target could take 12,000 shots like they advertise. My neighbor has had the same problem.