Abstract: A shotgun shell wad comprisesA. a downwardly opening cup having a zone adapted to receive an explosive charge, the cup having a transverse base above said zone and a depending annular skirt,B. an upright plunger carried by the base, andC. multiple circularly spaced upwardly elongated leaves carried by and projecting upwardly from the plunger to be flexed inwardly and form with the plunger a pellet chamber,D. said wad consisting of molded plastic material and the plunger tapering downwardly toward the base to deform the base centrally downwardly relative to the skirt in response to detonation of the charge.