Abstract: A wad (4, 9) for a shotgun cartridge (20) is described. The wad (4, 9) comprises a cup-shaped member (4) and a separation member (9) located inside the cup-shaped member (4) adjacent a base of the cup-shaped member (4). The cup-shaped member (4) and the separation member (9) each comprise at least one biodegradable fibrous material.

Abstract: Disclosed is an intermediate part forming a wadding cup to be placed in the case of a cartridge for separating the explosive charge and the shot. It includes a cylindrical sleeve of outer diameter suitable for being inserted slidingly into the case, the sleeve having a front portion the end of which is open, suitable for containing the shot, and a rear portion including a cylindrical wad flush with the end of the rear portion, the intermediate part being formed of at least 95% by weight of biodegradable or decomposable materials, such as cardboard and cork. Also disclosed is a biodegradable cartridge with cup and wadding, complying with environmental rules.

Abstract: Herein we describe embodiments of a biodegradable wad having a gas sealing function, as well as methods for their use. In some embodiments, the biodegradable wad comprises at least 50% by weight of a poly(butylene succinate co-adipate) polymer. In some embodiments, the biodegradable wad comprises at least two biodegradable polymers, wherein a first biodegradable polymer comprises a polybutylene succinate adipate polymer and a second biodegradable polymer comprises a polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer. Plastic debris has a negative economic and ecological impact, and thus it is advantageous to use implements that will degrade into environmentally benign compounds. Incorporating a biodegradable wad into shotgun shells provides an effective, economical solution, provided cost is acceptable and performance is not compromised. Suitable shotgun shells utilizing biodegradable shotgun wads and methods are described herein.

Abstract: A wad for cartridge, of the type comprising a pan to hold the ammo, connected by a bracket to a base of the wad, and manufactured by injection. The wad is a single piece of water-soluble plastic that is compostable, and has a moisture content by weight of between 2% and 10% after injection without the need for subsequent treatments. The plastic material has at least a mixture of more than one polymer resin, being at least one of them a poly-vinyl alcohol resin (PVA), and a plasticizer component.

Abstract: Herein we describe shotgun shells each having a degradable wad comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer, as well as methods for ensuring that such wad degrades quickly after landing in an aquatic environment. Plastic, aquatic debris has a negative economic and ecological impact, and thus it is advantageous to use implements that will degrade into environmentally benign compounds. Incorporating a degradable wad into shotgun shells provides an effective, economical solution. Suitable degradable shotgun wads and methods are described herein.

Abstract: An ammunition capable of improving flying speed, shooting range, flight velocity, and straightness of a bullet by reducing the air resistance of the bullet due to the eddy flow of air generated at the rear portion of the bullet is provided. The wad of the ammunition includes a pressing portion having a through hole in which the cylindrical surface of the bullet is inserted, a coupling surface closely contacted to the vertical surface of the bullet, and a pressing surface extending from the through hole; and a cover portion having an inner peripheral surface which extends from the coupling surface of the pressing portion in the thrust force acting direction to cover a part of the circumferential surface of the streamlined tail portion of the bullet, and an outer peripheral surface which extends from an outer periphery of the pressing portion substantially parallel to the cylindrical surface of the bullet.

Abstract: A wad or basewad for ammunition includes an ignition chamber. The ignition chamber can be integrally formed with the payload wad, basewad, or battery cup or can be attached to the payload wad, basewad, or battery cup. The ignition chamber communicates with a primer of the ammunition to receive and contain the primer blast for at least an initial period of time. This facilitates faster initial ignition of the propellant of the ammunition, and consequently allows higher performance levels to be achieved. Other advantages regarding other applications of this invention include cleaner burning loads, greater economy, and lower perceived recoil.

Abstract: A wad for ammunition cartridges, including shotshell cartridges, includes a wad body having a series of separable fingers. A shot confinement tube is located within the wad body, surrounded by the separable fingers. The confinement tube extends longitudinally along the wad body and defines a recess in which an ammunition payload is received and is contained upon firing of the ammunition cartridge and as the wad is separated from the ammunition payload.

Abstract: A wad or basewad for ammunition includes an ignition chamber. The ignition chamber can be integrally formed with the wad or basewad or can be attached to the wad or basewad. The ignition chamber communicates with a primer of the ammunition to receive and contain the primer blast for at least an initial period of time. This facilitates faster initial ignition of the propellant of the ammunition, and consequently allows higher performance levels to be achieved. Other advantages regarding other applications of this invention include cleaner burning loads, greater economy, and lower perceived recoil.

Abstract: A muzzle loading bullet gas check has external recess and ridge system, and/or an internal locking ridge system. The preferred gas check has an opening or recess on its front end for receiving and frictionally engaging a rearwardly extending post of the bullet, the opening also preferably including an internal radial ridge for gripping the post and/or locking with an indent on the post. The barrel-interacting part of the gas check has one or more external recesses and adjacent radial ridges/edges protruding relative to the recesses, which serves to reduce the total surface area of the gas check contacting the bore. The recesses do not touch the bore of the firearm, resulting in less friction and easier loading, while the outer ends/surfaces of the ridges/edges do touch the bore to retain the bullet in the bore during handling and hunting and to effectively capture gasses after the firing explosion.

Abstract: An ammunition cartridge includes: a basewad disposed within a tube proximate the aft end of the tube; a projectile wad disposed within the tube proximate a fore end of the tube; a propellant charge disposed within a chamber formed between the projectile wad and the basewad; and a projectile disposed within the tube between a forward facing surface of the projectile wad and the fore end of the tube. The aft end of the projectile wad has a powder cup skirt formed thereon, and a chamfer is formed around an outer perimeter of a lip of the powder cup skirt. The chamfer allows the powder cup skirt to be slidably received within a skirt of the basewad to form the chamber. The chamfer provides a clearance at the powder cup skirt lip, which helps to insure undisturbed entry into the mouth of the basewad skirt.

Abstract: A closure wad is placed at the mouth of the launching end of a shotgun cartridge before the mouth is crimped down to seal the launching end of the cartridge. Both the walls of the closure cap and the walls at the mouth of the plastic envelope are crimped down together, thereby forming a substantially impermeable seal at the launching end of the cartridge. In addition, the inventive closure cap substantially reduces the detritus which is sometimes expelled when a launcher cartridge is fired.

Abstract: An ammunition cartridge includes: a basewad disposed within a tube proximate the aft end of the tube; a projectile wad disposed within the tube proximate a fore end of the tube; a propellant charge disposed within a chamber formed between the projectile wad and the basewad; and a projectile disposed within the tube between a forward facing surface of the projectile wad and the fore end of the tube. The aft end of the projectile wad has a powder cup skirt formed thereon, and a chamfer is formed around an outer perimeter of a lip of the powder cup skirt. The chamfer allows the powder cup skirt to be slidably received within a skirt of the basewad to form the chamber. The chamfer provides a clearance at the powder cup skirt lip, which helps to insure undisturbed entry into the mouth of the basewad skirt.

Abstract: A wad or basewad for ammunition includes an ignition chamber. The ignition chamber can be integrally formed with the wad or basewad or can be attached to the wad or basewad. The ignition chamber communicates with a primer of the ammunition to receive and contain the primer blast for at least an initial period of time. This facilitates faster initial ignition of the propellant of the ammunition, and consequently allows higher performance levels to be achieved. Other advantages regarding other applications of this invention include cleaner burning loads, greater economy, and lower perceived recoil.

Abstract: Projectiles and projectile systems are provided herein employing an inhibiting and/or marking substance for impairing/marking a living target. In some embodiments, the systems include a first part being non-spherical and having an exterior, a plurality of stabilizing fins secured with the exterior of at the first part, and a second part have a hollow portion containing an inhibiting substance, wherein the second part is sealed with the first part to seal the inhibiting substance within at least the hollow portion. The first part can similarly have a hollow portion such that a volume is defined by the hollow portion of the first part and the hollow portion of the second part, wherein the inhibiting substance is contained within the volume. The fins can be angled to provide spin stabilizing.

Abstract: A closure wad is placed at the mouth of the launching end of a shotgun cartridge before the mouth is crimped down to seal the launching end of the cartridge. Both the walls of the closure cap and the walls at the mouth of the plastic envelope are crimped down together, thereby forming a substantially impermeable seal at the launching end of the cartridge. In addition, the inventive closure cap substantially reduces the detritus which is sometimes expelled when a launcher cartridge is fired.

Abstract: An ammunition cartridge includes: a basewad disposed within a tube proximate the aft end of the tube; a projectile wad disposed within the tube proximate a fore end of the tube; a propellant charge disposed within a chamber formed between the projectile wad and the basewad; and a projectile disposed within the tube between a forward facing surface of the projectile wad and the fore end of the tube. The aft end of the projectile wad has a powder cup skirt formed thereon, and a chamfer is formed around an outer perimeter of a lip of the powder cup skirt. The chamfer allows the powder cup skirt to be slidably received within a skirt of the basewad to form the chamber. The chamfer provides a clearance at the powder cup skirt lip, which helps to insure undisturbed entry into the mouth of the basewad skirt.

Abstract: A projectile is provided, in accordance with the present invention that includes a gas seal, a wad absorption zone, a core hull, a mass of projectile core particles within the hull and an actuator member. The hull is a cylindrical member having an open end and made from a material, such as soft plastic, that is characterized by the ability to peel back upon itself on impact, thereby releasing the mass of core particles after impact. The actuator, is releasably fixed to the hull open end, has an exterior side and an interior side and one or more stem members projecting into the mass of core particles. Upon impact, the actuator is released from the hull open end and continues to be propelled forward, along with the core particles. When the projectile impacts a target, the hull peels backward upon itself thereby releasing the actuator and the mass of projectile core particles.

Abstract: A shot shell such as would be utilized in a shotgun or the like, wherein the cartridge forming the shell has a collapsible extension removably or permanently engaging the shot end of the cartridge, with the cartridge configured to provide a un-compressed length of, for example, 2.50 inches (the minimum length of shell for conventional automatic or semi-automatic, magazine fed shotguns. The collapsible extension is configured to be compressed when placed in a spring-fed magazine, so as to provide increased magazine capacity when compared to standard length shells, while expanding when removed by from the magazine during a loading cycle, so as to facilitate reliable placement of the shell into the breach from the magazine. The collapsible extension in the loaded cartridge of the present invention is configured to be ejected from the barrel upon firing of the cartridge. The present system thereby provides a means to increase the capacity of conventional automatic or semi-automatic (i.e.

Abstract: A shotgun cartridge includes a cartridge case having a primer, a propelling charge contained in the cartridge case disposed proximate to the primer and shot. A first wad shot grouping element has a travel direction side surface in contact with the shot and extending rearwardly therefrom. The travel direction side surface acts on a first shot mass of the shot positioned in front of the first wad shot grouping element for at least some distance after exiting a barrel of a gun to define a first shot mass pattern. A second wad grouping element has a surface with a travel direction side surface and a side surface extending rearwardly from the travel direction side surface. An exterior surface with an annular edge extends forwardly of said travel direction side surface. The second wad surface acts on a second shot mass of the shot for at least some distance after exiting the barrel of the gun. The exterior surface and the travel direction side surface cooperate to form a cup shaped portion.

Abstract: A sporting gun cartridge and wad therefor wherein such wad, generally taking the form of a shotshell wad for shotguns, for example, includes a first, forwardly oriented cylindrical portion and also a second, rearwardly oriented cylindrical portion, joining the first portion at a common partition juncture, wherein the side wall of the first portion is scored to provided a series of expandable and separable wall segments, spaced from the forward end of such first portion, whereby to afford relief from impaction of shot disposed within said first portion under firing conditions.

Abstract: An ammunition cartridge has a tube extending along a central longitudinal axis from an aft end to a fore end. The tube has an interior surface and an exterior surface. A metallic head has a sleeve portion secured to the tube along an aft section of the tube and has a centrally-apertured web portion spanning the sleeve portion so as to form a base of the cartridge. A basewad is contained within the tube and is separately formed therefrom. The basewad is located proximate the aft end of the tube. The basewad has a generally cylindrical exterior surface engaging the interior surface of the tube, an aft surface contacting the metal head, an interior surface. The interior surface extends from a generally forward-facing inner portion, forward and outward to a generally inward-facing fore portion so as to define a skirt portion of the basewad between the exterior surface and interior surface. At least one projectile is carried within a fore volume of the tube. A propellant charge is located aft of the projectile.

Abstract: The present invention is a multidisk shell and wad for use in a multidisk shell. The wad consists of a wad base, a cushioning section attached at a first end to a top section of the wad base, and at least three alignment arms attached to a second end of the cushioning section. The cushioning section is interposed between the projectile mass and the wad base. The preferred cushioning section comprises a hollow outer cylinder and at least one inner cylinder of polymeric plastic material. Thus, there are at least two concentric cylinders providing the cushioning between the disks and the expanding propellant charge. These at least two concentric cylinders and are attached at first ends to the top side of the wad base. The wad has at least three spatially separated alignment arms having proximal ends and distal ends for maintaining the alignment of projectiles as they travel through the gun barrel.

Abstract: A sabot pressure wad has a unitary sabot portion and an integrally formed pressure wad portion. The sabot portion has a payload receiving compartment which may receive a payload, such as a cylindrical slug, with an interference fit. The pressure wad portion has a gas seal and a shock absorbing device, such as a plurality of chevrons. A separating disc may be positioned between the gas seal and the sabot portion. The gas seal, the separating disc, and the sabot portion all have substantially the same outer diameter. The sabot pressure wad may be a single piece injection-molded part, and may be received within a shell casing along with the payload. The sabot pressure wad remains attached to the payload upon discharge from a firearm until impact with a target.

Abstract: A shotshell wad for use in a shotgun shell is provided. Three discs are disposed within a generally cylindrical tubular wail, and define a gas seal section, a middle section, a shot cup extension section, and a shot cup section. The third disc, which separates the shot cup extension section and the shot cup section, is detachably connected to the tubular wall such that when the shotshell is fired, the third disc breaks away and travels rearward relative to the rest of the shotshell wad to a position adjacent to the second disc. A plurality of fingers are defined by a plurality of lateral cuts through the tubular wall in the shot cup section extending from a point in the shot cup section to the forward end of the tubular wall. The tubular wall also includes a plurality of circumferential cuts passing therethrough substantially at the point where the plurality of lateral cuts terminate. The plurality of circumferential cuts extending through a section of each of the plurality of fingers.

Abstract: The combination of a shot sleeve and a shot cup base form a universal shot wad that precisely fixes an adjustable volume for the shot column of a wide range of shot shell loads. The shot sleeve is a generally tubular member with an open end and a closed end. The inside of the shot sleeve is substantially smooth adjacent to both the open end and the closed end and has a plurality of substantially parallel, inwardly projecting, first ribs circumscribing the inside between the smooth portions.The shot cup base is a second tubular member and also has an open end and a closed end. A plurality of substantially parallel, outwardly protruding, second ribs circumscribe an outside of the shot cup base. The volume of a shot receiving portion is controlled by inserting the shot cup base a desired distance into the shot sleeve such that the two sets of ribs interengage.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pre-molded aft seal for an armor piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) projectile, comprising a plastic sleeve made from a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane and thermoplastic polyester elastomer, and effective to seal an APFSDS projectile from combustion products, the plastic aft sleeve further comprising an outwardly flanged first portion having a radius of curvature of from about 0.1 to 5 inches; a constantly decreasing diameter second portion; and an inwardly flanged substantially conical third portion connected to the second portion by a curved portion having a radius of curvature of from about 0 to 0.25 inch.

Abstract: A one piece shot cup (also commonly known as a shot pouch) designed especially for use in protecting the bore of a shotgun barrel when shooting hard shot made of a material such as tungsten or non-annealed steel. The cup is characterized by the use of shield members located opposite and outwardly of equally spaced tear lines which are defined by narrow areas of substantially weakened wall structure extending longitudinally of the cup. The shield members are connected to the wall structure of the tubular member only adjacent its closed rear end portion and are otherwise separate and free thereof. Portions of the tubular member extend between the circumferentially spaced shield members. The shield members prevent the shot, which ruptures the tear lines, from damaging the bore of the shotgun barrel. They also aid in holding the shot in an improved aligned relation to thereby improve the shot pattern.

Abstract: The invention provides a universal shotgun shell wad that may be used by manufacturers to assemble a variety of shotgun shells with a wide variety of shot and powder loadings. Shotgun shells of the invention use casings of the type known in the art including a base forming a cavity for a powder primer and an outer wall forming the exterior of the shotgun shell and carrying shotgun shell wad. Such shotgun shells are provided with a shotgun shell wad comprising an outer plug and an inner plug. The outer plug has a bottom shaped to form a powder chamber within the casing of the shotgun shell and a shot-carrying sleeve extending upwardly from the bottom surface and has an inner surface portion with a plurality of engagement surfaces spaced along its length. The inner plug has a closed bottom with at least one engagement surface on its outer periphery shaped for mating with the plurality of engagement surfaces on the inner portion of the outer plug.

Abstract: A pellet orienting member has a groove extending along a diameters of a disc for receiving a plurality of shot pellets of a first layer. The pellet orienting member may include at least one support surface adjacent to the first groove adapted to contact at least one shot pellet from a second layer. The pellet orienting member may have an additional, or second, groove on a second side extending along a second diameter. Either or both grooves may contain a separator in the groove. The groove may be of differing sizes and shapes, or may even be two depressions.

Abstract: A pellet orienting member has a groove extending along a diameters of a disc for receiving a plurality of shot pellets of a first layer. The pellet orienting member may include at least one support surface adjacent to the first groove adapted to contact at least one shot pellet from a second layer. The pellet orienting member may have an additional, or second, groove on a second side extending along a second diameter. Either or both grooves may contain a separator in the groove. The groove may be of differing sizes and shapes, or may even be two depressions.

Abstract: A photo-degradable, molded, high strength plastic shotshell component having a degradation composition comprising as its combination of active ingredients linear polyethylene having a melt index of 0.1 to 5.0 and an ethylene-vinyl acetate-carbon monoxide terpolymer, the ratios by weight of which to said linear polyethylene is approximately 0.115:1 to 0.261:1 The ethylene-vinyl acetate-carbon monoxide terpolymer in its preferred composition has about 65% by weight of ethylene, 25% by weight of vinyl acetate, and 10% by weight of carbon monoxide.

Abstract: Two-element wad with pneumatic damping designed for the cartridge industry formed by two interchangeable elements connected to each other and which consist of a case and a damper-shutter. The case incorporates a series of foldable flaps and a valve that regulates the damping and injects air. Both the case and the damper-shutter have crosssectional walls and a convexo-concave shape that can absorb radial deformations to the symmetry axis of the wad. The damper-shutter has a four-fold action: it withstands the flexion and deformation of the material, the friction against the walls, and the compression of the air contained in the damper-shutter.

Abstract: A firearm barrel cleaning cartridge that includes a hollow, cylindrically-shaped, closed back, and open front shell casing, at least one expandable, generally hemispherically-shaped, rearwardly-facing, and removable wiper, a propellant, and at least one wad. The hollow, cylindrically-shaped, closed back, and open front shell casing contains an internal chamber. The at least one expandable, generally hemispherically-shaped, rearwardly-facing, and removable wiper is contained laterally in the hollow, cylindrically-shaped, closed back, and open front shell casing and divides the internal chamber into a plurality of internal sub-chambers. The propellant is contained in a first internal sub-chamber of the plurality of internal sub-chambers.

Abstract: Propellant pressure forces generated within the bore of a gun barrel are lied to a projectile through a self-adjusting obturator to prevent projectile blow by of propellant explosion products. The propellant forces are transmitted through a body of shock-absorbing fluid in the obturator protectively isolated from surfaces of the barrel and projectile by a non-porous, flexible enclosure wall deformed into sliding contact with the barrel bore during projectile launch for preventing propellant pressure loss.

Abstract: An armor piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot kinetic energy projectile includes a pre-molded plastic aft seal sleeve to protect the sabot from damage from the propellant and replaces both the RTV and the protective sheath of conventional designs. The seal is manufactured from thermoplastic polyurethane or thermoplastic polyester elastomer.

Abstract: Ammunition cartridges are disclosed comprising means for reducing recoil fed to a weapon on discharge of a cartridge. The recoil reducing means comprises non-supportive material between a propellant charge and an end plate of the cartridge in which energy can be absorbed. In a preferred embodiment, the recoil reducing means may comprise one or more toric, air-filled bodies of resilient material.

Abstract: An otherwise conventional shell is provided with a load consisting of a plurality of axially stacked disks. The disks separate during flight and each strikes the target with a substantial portion of the initial momentum imparted to the disks thereby contributing to the stopping power of the load. In alternative embodiments, individual disks are scored so that on impact, the disks shatter into many smaller fragments, each capable of penetration into the target to impart additional wound trauma to the target. Disks may be made of lead, ceramic, or other dense material. Alternatively, plastic or a relatively soft elastomeric material is used when a non lethal but debilitating load is appropriate such as in crowd control situations.

Abstract: A shotgun shell includes a sabot with a tubular portion extending from a e, a chamber disposed within the tubular portion in communication with an opening in the base, a load of shot disposed within the tubular portion around the chamber, and a valve disposed between the chamber and the opening to control the flow of propellant gases into and out of the chamber. The valve can be a choke with a flow constricting orifice that delays pressurization and depressurization of the chamber. Alternatively, or in addition to a choke valve, a movable valve member can be disposed between the chamber and the opening to seal with a valve seat in order to capture high pressure propellant gases which, upon emergence of the sabot from the gun barrel, will assist in creating a highly dispersed shot pattern at close range. Also disclosed are a number of ways in which the sabot can be modified to control the stiffness of the tubular portion in order to change the shape of the shot pattern to suit specific applications.

Abstract: A method for loading a muzzle loading firearm with a projectile. The projectile including a bullet; a gas check member; and a pin or cavity affixed to the bullet and a mating member affixed to the gas check member for frictional attachment of bullet to gas check member. The bullet has a diameter less than the bore of the firearm to minimize scoring or deformation of the bullet during the loading procedure; to facilitate loading; and to improve the ballistics of the bullet; and the gas check member being constructed of resilient plastic material and having a diameter exceeding the diameter of the bore for holding the bullet in place within the bore over the charge. The gas check member attaches by the mating attachment members to the bullet rearward of the maximum diameter of the bullet to prevent any interference between bullet and bore as the bullet obturates during firing.

Abstract: A multiple projectile cartridge for a muzzle loading firearm which comprises a plurality of projectiles, a plastic cup sized to fit into a bore of the muzzle loading firearm containing the projectiles and a top wad inserted into and retained in the open end of the cup by a retaining means in the tubular portion of the cup. The tubular portion of the cup includes several spaced longitudinal slots extending from the open end toward the base of the cup defining petals therebetween. The retaining means preferably includes a radial peripheral groove adjacent the open end of each of the petals of the tubular portion of the cup. The periphery of the top wad engages this groove to retain the top wad in place and in turn retain the shot load in the shot cup when the cartridge is inserted into the bore of the muzzle loading firearm.

Abstract: A propellant gas sealing device for gun munitions includes a piston attached to the rear of a projectile by a separable connecting device, and a piston that isolates the projectile from the propellant charge. A low pressure seal carried by the piston is designed to ensure the gastightness between the piston and the gun chamber, and a high pressure obturator carried by the piston is designed to ensure the gastightness between the piston and the gun barrel.

Abstract: A water resistant shotshell has an internal moisture seal to preclude moisture intrusion into the propellant charge. The seal is at least one flexible tapered lip on the plastic shot wad which is compressed against the inside surface of the shotshell tube over the powder charge. The preferred embodiment is a two piece shot wad having a shot cup portion and a wad portion. The wad portion has a central disk portion and a tubular rim terminating in a pair of opposing flexible lips which provide a dual moisture seal.

Abstract: A projectile for firearms and for muzzle loading firearms, in particular, said projectile including a bullet; a gas check member; and a pin or cavity affixed to the bullet and a mating member affixed to the gas check member for frictional attachment of bullet to gas check member. The bullet has a diameter less than the bore of the firearm to minimize scoring or deformation of the bullet during the loading procedure; to facilitate loading; and to improve the ballistics of the bullet; and the gas check member being constructed of resilient plastic material and having a diameter exceeding the diameter of the bore for holding the bullet in place within the bore over the charge. The gas check member attaches by the mating attachment members to the bullet rearward of the maximum diameter of the bullet to prevent any interference between bullet and bore as the bullet obturates during firing.

Abstract: A tracer wad for a cartridge comprises a shot holder consisting of four quadrants defining between them a tubular member, a tracer element holder and a conical recess leading to a bore for directing ignited propellant onto a tracer element held in the holder to ensure reliable ignition of the tracer element on firing of the cartridge. A flexible skirt portion ensures a good gas seal between the wad and the barrel of a firearm when the cartridge is fired. When the wad leaves the barrel, the quadrants are peeled back and the tracer element leaves the holder to follow the trajectory of the shot.

Abstract: A sabot comprising a substantially cylindrical body having an outside diameter, a receiving end, and a loading end located opposite the receiving end. The outside diameter is complementary to the inside diameter of the rifled bore in which the sabot is positioned during use. Located between the receiving end and the loading end of the sabot is a partition. Formed at the receiving end is a mouth for a receiving chamber. The receiving chamber extends from the receiving end to the partition. Formed at the loading end is a lip for a cupped recess. The cupped recess extends from the loading end to the partition. Annularly disposed about the cylindrical body and positioned between the receiving chamber and the loading end is at least one lubricating groove.

Abstract: A novel cartridge for conventional shot gun and other weapons, suitable for training and other applications, and containing a thin-walled ball encapsulating a substance to be ejected upon the ball hitting the target, provided with a folded fan enclosure for the ball and its holder within the cartridge which, upon expulsion of the ball-holder-fan unit upon firing, causes the ball to separate and continue to the target, while the folded fan segments spring open in free flight into an air-resistant disc and then pinwheel with the holder harmlessly to the ground within a short distance of the gun.

Abstract: The invention uses a pair of curved opposed diagonal bars between the wad and cup. The bars (deformable resistance members) buckle in the radial direction and end up basically flat between the wad and cup to give surprisingly and unexpectedly high amounts of collapse (80% or more). This allows the space between wad and cup to be decreased significantly without sacrificing cushioning.

Abstract: A shot-gun cartridge includes a main wad which is biodegradable. The wad is preferably formed from a composition including synthetic resin natural starch and chemically active prodegradents.

Abstract: A sabot for a shotgun shell provided with a recess in its base upon which opellant gases may act to radially expand and flatten the sabot thereby enhancing the dispersion of shot. In alternate embodiments the recess may be conoidal, parabolic, pyramidal, or an involute surface resembling a cone. The recess may also be comprised of multiple overlapping layers. Each recess provides a unique shot pattern for short-range antipersonnel engagements. In other embodiments, the foregoing recesses are provided with grooves to facilitate petalling of the recess and flattening of the sabot during and after launch. In another embodiment, the recess is filled with propellant and capped with a consumable plug to delay ignition of the propellant charge, further enhancing shot dispersion.