Abstract: A chemiluminescent tracer insert with decelerator for use with a shotgun shell to provide an aiming and training aid for shotgun shooting activities, including skeet, trap, sporting clays, hunting, law enforcement and military applications. The tracer insert can be used in shotgun shells of all gauges. The tracer insert comprises a translucent, resilient, elastic, cylindrical container in which the reactants, an oxalate and fluorescent-colored dye solution, and an activator encased in a glass vessel, are held. Ignition of the shell causes the glass vessel to break. The resulting chemiluminescent reaction causes emission of light visible to the shooter. Unattached ends of thin-flaps on the tracer insert extend outwardly when drag forces act upon them during flight, slowing the speed of the tracer insert, which makes it more visible to the shooter, thereby providing a consistent reference to enable a shooter to make corrections to his lead and/or shooting techniques.

Abstract: A tracer cylinder for use with a shotgun shell to provide an aiming and training aid for shotgun shooting sports, which also can be used for military and police applications. The tracer cylinder, which contains a liquid, is positioned in a shotgun shell above a disk-shaped piercing valve. The shell is loaded into a shotgun and fired. The forces of ignition cause the point on the piercing valve to puncture the bottom of the cylinder, and, when the cylinder is airborne, tracer liquid is released through the resulting opening by physical forces, creating a long-lasting mist or fog cloud that is visible to the shooter. The shooter is provided with a consistent and durable reference, allowing him or her to make effective corrections to his or her shooting technique. The tracer cylinder can be loaded into a shot holder, with or without shot pellets.

Abstract: A tracer cylinder for use with a shotgun shell to provide an aiming and training aid for shotgun shooting sports, which also can be used for military and police applications. The tracer cylinder, which contains a liquid, has one or more openings, each one releasably closed with a valve. The tracer cylinder is loaded into a shotgun shell and fired. After the valve in the bottom of the cylinder is released, the liquid is extracted through the opening by physical forces, creating a long-lasting mist or fog cloud that is visible to the shooter. The shooter is provided with a consistent and durable reference, allowing him or her to make effective corrections to his or her shooting technique. The tracer cylinder can be loaded into a shot holder, with or without shot pellets.

Abstract: A ballistic tracer platform for use with a shotgun shell to provide an aiming and training aid for shotgun shooting sports, which also can be used for military and police applications. The ballistic tracer platform emits light after ignition of the shell, providing the shooter with a consistent reference to make corrections to his aiming point and shooting techniques. The tracer platform can be used in ordinary shotgun shells. The tracer platform comprises a translucent, resilient, elastic, cylindrical container in which the reactants, a fluorescent colored dye and oxalate solution and an activator, are held, separated from each other prior to ignition by encasing one or both in its own glass bulb or tube. The blast from ignition of the shell causes the glass bulb(s) or tube(s) to break. The resulting chemiluminescent reaction between the reactants results in emission of light which is visible to the shooter.

Abstract: A ballistic tracer platform for use with a shotgun shell to provide an aiming and training aid for shotgun shooting sports, which also can be used for military and police applications. The ballistic tracer platform carries a tracer element, which provides the shooter with a consistent reference to make corrections to his or her aiming point and shooting techniques. The ballistic tracer platform can be used in ordinary shotgun shells. The ballistic tracer platform consists of a cylindrical structure with a coaxial cylindrical cavity in which the tracer element is disposed. The tracer element can be composed of incendiary or non-incendiary materials. The ballistic tracer platform can be modified to improve its ballistic shape, such as modifying the shape of its nose. Mass can be added to cavities formed in the ballistic tracer platform in order to adjust the weight of the device. Grooves, fins, or orifices can be formed in surface of the device to create additional spin.