First, I'd check depth and compare it to the measurement on the block. Easy to measure the block, it locates solidly in the valley and you can plunge a caliper in to the hole and get the exact distance for your block, then add some room for oil and you'll be there. Best to be on the loose side than the tight side. If the gear was too deep and rubbing hard, that could explain the gear wear, consider yourself lucky that you didn't shear a pin.
Second, If the gear was correct, and probably even if it was wrong, if you don't have factory stock cam retainer bolts in it, pull the timing cover and check depth of the bolt in the drivers side hole. As Brent said, almost every, if not every, aftermarket bolt is too long and guess what it blocks?...the distributor feed
As far as switching to bronze, if that got eaten in 150 passes, you may not get out of the trailer with bronze, with an oil or depth problem, they get ugly even faster.
I would replace that gear regardless though, the bottom wear is one thing but those teeth are a bit ugly for me