Abstract: A pellet having an external configuration capable of promoting the aerodynamic and/or terminal (penetration) characteristics of the pellet. The pellet includes a head that defines a projectile tip coinciding with an axis of the pellet, and a raised pattern centered around the projectile tip. The raised pattern comprises a plurality of legs radiating from a center of the raised pattern that coincides with the projectile tip. The raised pattern is defined by at least two tiers that are generally congruent, of different size, and converge at the projectile tip. A smallest of the tiers is superimposed on a largest of the tiers and defines the projectile tip.