Abstract: 1. A flechette cartridge comprising an external cartridge casing, an internal flechette projectile having protruding stabilizing surfaces, a plurality of individual sabot segments encompassing said projectile and intermeshing with the said protruding stabilizing surfaces to align said projectile with the bore of the firearm in which said cartridge is fired, said projectile-sabot segmented unit having an axial length greater than the axial length of the protruding stabilizing surfaces on said projectile thus supporting the forward portion of the projectile against buckling as the unit proceeds down the bore of the firearm, said sabot segments when intermeshed with said projectile forming a circle of diameter equal to or greater than the diametric circle encompassing the said protruding stabilizing surfaces, explosive means to propel said projectile and suitable means to support said projectile and segmented sabots against thrust of the powder gases and to obturate said powder gases.