Abstract: A practice projectile for large-caliber cannons corresponds, over a first flight trajectory portion, to a combat projectile in trajectory and target strike position. At the beginning of a second flight portion, the projectile self-destructs to prevent flight of projectile parts out of the second flight portion. This is attained by a plurality of mutually independent pyrotechnic delay charges which are triggered upon firing and, after burning down, ignite gas generators. The pressurized gas generated by the gas generators ruptures the suitable designed projectile connection. The individual projectile components are separated from each other either by the pressurized gas and/or through the static air pressure and through the residual rotation of the projectile.