A wad or shot cup having a forward cylinder portion receiving a payload and a rear cylinder portion receiving a charge of propellant. One or more latent deceleration features can be formed in a surface of the sidewall extending along the rear cylinder portion. The latent deceleration features can be spaced apart from a rearward end of the shot cup and can be deployed to form deceleration petals after the shot cup is fired from a firearm. A series of longitudinal slits can be formed in the forward cylinder portion so that a portion of the sidewall expands radially adjacent the longitudinal slits after the shot cup is fired from a firearm for urging at least a portion of the payload to exit the forward cylinder portion.
1. A shot cup for being fired from a firearm, the shot cup comprising:
a body having a sidewall, a forward portion at least partially defining an open-ended interior chamber for receiving at least a portion of a payload therein, a rearward portion at least partially defining an interior chamber for receiving at least a portion of a propellant charge therein and extending to a rearward end of the body, and an intermediate portion between the forward portion and the rearward portion; and
a latent deceleration feature located along the rearward portion of the body between the intermediate portion and the rearward end of the body, the latent deceleration feature configured to be deployed from the sidewall to an extent sufficient to impart a substantial deceleration of the shot cup configured to facilitate a separation of the payload from the shot cup after the shot cup is fired from the firearm, the latent deceleration feature comprising at least one impression formed in a surface of the sidewall spaced forwardly from the rearward end of the body.
2. The shot cup of claim 1 , wherein the at least one impression extends only partially into a thickness of the sidewall.
3. The shot cup of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the sidewall is a first surface, the sidewall comprises an opposing second surface, and the second surface is generally uninterrupted opposite to the latent deceleration feature.
4. The shot cup of claim 1 , wherein the impression comprises a cross segment, and a first leg and a second leg extending in a direction normal from the cross segment.
5. The shot cup of claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of each of the first leg and the second leg extends generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shot cup.
6. The shot cup of claim 1 , wherein the at least one impression comprises a cross segment, first and second legs extending from the cross segment, and a base line extending along the cross segment, the first leg, and the second leg, the base line being recessed with respect to the surface, and wherein the sidewall is configured for tearing along the base line in the at least one impression as the latent deceleration feature is deployed.
7. The shot cup of claim 6 , wherein each of the first leg and the second leg comprises a respective redirector feature opposite to the cross segment, and wherein the redirector feature is configured for redirecting the tearing of the sidewall at least partially away from a direction extending toward the rearward end of the body.
8. The shot cup of claim 7 , wherein the redirector feature comprises a curved portion of the base line at each end of the respective first leg and second leg.
9. The shot cup of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the sidewall is a first surface, and wherein the sidewall comprises a second surface opposite the first surface thereof, and whereof the impression comprises a base line extending therealong, the base line being recessed with respect to the first surface, and is spaced apart from the second surface of the sidewall to at least partially define a web configured for tearing along the base line as the latent deceleration feature is deployed.
10. The shot cup of claim 9 , wherein the at least one impression comprises two oblique walls, each extending between the first surface and the base line.
11. The shot cup of claim 9 , wherein the at least one impression comprises a redirector feature at an end thereof, and wherein the redirector feature is configured for redirecting the tearing of the web at least partially away from a direction extending toward the rearward end of the sidewall.
12. The shot cup of claim 1 , wherein the shot cup further comprises a series of longitudinal slits extending along a slit region of the forward portion so that the forward portion expands radially in the slit region after the shot cup is fired from the firearm for at least partially dislodging at least a portion of the payload from the forward portion.
13. A round of ammunition comprising:
a body;
a propellant charge at least partially contained in the body;
a wad at least partially received in the body, the wad comprising a forward portion defining a chamber for receiving at least a portion of a payload therein, and a rearward portion at least partially defining an interior chamber for receiving at least a portion of the propellant charge therein and having a sidewall extending to a rearward end of the wad; and
at least one latent deceleration feature located along the rearward portion of the wad and configured for deploying in response to gas pressure upon firing of the round of ammunition to substantially decelerate the wad after firing of the round of ammunition adapted to facilitate separation of the wad from the payload, the at least one latent deceleration feature comprising an impression formed in a surface of the sidewall of the rearward portion adjacent the interior chamber of the rearward portion, the impression being spaced forwardly from the rearward end of the wad.
14. The round of ammunition of claim 13 , wherein the at least one impression extends only partially into a thickness of the sidewall of the wad.
15. The round of ammunition of claim 13 , wherein the surface of the sidewall of the rearward portion is a first surface, the sidewall of the rearward portion comprises an opposing second surface, and the second surface is generally uninterrupted opposite to the at least one latent deceleration feature.
16. The round of ammunition of claim 13 , wherein the impression of the at least one latent deceleration feature comprises a cross segment and a first leg and a second leg extending in a direction normal from the cross segment.
17. The round of ammunition of claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of each of the first leg and the second leg extends generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the wad.
18. The round of ammunition of claim 13 , wherein the impression of the at least one latent deceleration feature comprises a cross segment, first and second legs extending from the cross segment, and a base line extending along the cross segment, the first leg, and the second leg, the base line being recessed with respect to the surface, and wherein the sidewall of the rearward portion is configured for tearing along the base line in the impression as the at least one latent deceleration feature is deployed.
19. The round of ammunition of claim 18 , wherein each of the first leg and the second leg comprises a respective redirector feature opposite to the cross segment, and wherein the redirector feature is configured for redirecting the tearing of the sidewall of the rearward portion at least partially away from a direction extending toward the rearward end of the wad.
20. The round of ammunition of claim 19 , wherein the redirector feature comprises a curved portion of the base line at each end of the respective first leg and second leg.
21. The round of ammunition of claim 13 , wherein the sidewall of the rearward portion comprises a second surface opposite the first surface thereof, and wherein the impression of the at least one latent deceleration feature comprises a base line extending therealong, the base line being recessed with respect to the first surface and spaced apart from the second surface of the sidewall of the rearward portion to at least partially define a web configured for tearing along the base line as the at least one latent deceleration feature is deployed.
22. The shot cup of claim 21 , wherein the impression of the at least one latent deceleration feature comprises two oblique walls, each extending between the first surface and the base line.
23. The shot cup of claim 21 , wherein the impression of the at least one latent deceleration feature comprises a redirector feature at an end thereof, and wherein the redirector feature is configured for redirecting the tearing of the web at least partially away from a direction extending toward the rearward end of the sidewall of the wad.
24. The shot cup of claim 13 , wherein the wad further comprises an intermediate partition between the forward portion and the rearward portion.
25. The shot cup of claim 13 , wherein the sidewall of the rearward portion is a rear sidewall and the forward portion of the wad comprises a forward sidewall, and wherein the wad further comprises a series of longitudinal slits extending in the forward sidewall along a slit region of the forward portion so that the forward sidewall expands radially in the slit region after the round of ammunition is fired from the firearm for at least partially dislodging at least a portion of the payload from the forward sidewall.
26. The round of ammunition of claim 13 , further comprising a region free of weakening features positioned between the rearward end of the sidewall and the at least one latent deceleration feature.
27. The round of ammunition of claim 13 , wherein the at least one latent deceleration feature deploys when acted upon by gas pressure due to combustion of the propellant charge or primary compound.
28. A shot cup for small arms ammunition, the shot cup comprising:
a body including a substantially cylindrical sidewall having a forward end and at least partially defining an interior chamber for receiving a payload therein;
a series of longitudinal slits extending in the sidewall along a slit region of the sidewall so that the sidewall expands radially in the slit region after the shot cup is fired from a firearm for at least partially dislodging at least a portion of the payload from the sidewall, the series of longitudinal slits being spaced apart from the forward end of the sidewall; and
a latent deceleration feature configured for deploying in response to gas pressure generated upon firing of the round of ammunition to decelerate the shot cup after the shot cup is fired from the firearm, the latent deceleration feature located substantially adjacent a rearward end of the body, spaced rearwardly from the longitudinal slits and comprising an indentation including at least one portion extending along the sidewall in a first direction and at least one portion extending along the sidewall in a second direction transverse in relation to the first direction.
29. The shot cup of claim 28 , wherein at least one longitudinal slit of the series of longitudinal slits extends along a longitudinal indentation formed in a surface of the sidewall.
30. The shot cup of claim 29 , wherein the longitudinal indentation comprises oblique walls extending between the surface of the sidewall and the at least one longitudinal slit.
31. The shot cup of claim 28 , wherein the longitudinal slits of the series of longitudinal slits are configured for forming respective openings in the slit region of the sidewall when the sidewall expands radially in the slit region.
32. The shot cup of claim 28 , wherein the body further comprises a rear cylinder portion, a forward cylinder portion, and an intermediate partition therebetween, and wherein the series of longitudinal slits is disposed in the forward cylinder portion.
33. The shot cup of claim 32 , wherein the series of longitudinal slits extends proximate to the intermediate partition.
34. The shot cup of claim 32 , wherein the forward cylinder portion at least partially defines the interior chamber, and the longitudinal slits of the series of longitudinal slits are in communication with the interior chamber.
35. The shot cup of claim 32 , wherein the latent deceleration feature is disposed in the rear cylinder portion, and wherein the rear cylinder portion is for at least partially receiving a propellant charge.
36. The shot cup of claim 35 , wherein the rear cylinder portion comprises a rear sidewall, and the latent deceleration is formed in a surface of the rear sidewall.
37. A wad or shot cup for a shotshell, comprising:
a body including a forward end, a rearward end and a substantially cylindrical sidewall defining a chamber in which a bullet or a series of pellets is received;
a plurality of longitudinal slits arranged about the sidewall, with adjacent longitudinal slits of the plurality of longitudinal slits being spaced apart from one another about the sidewall, the plurality of longitudinal slits defining a slit region spaced between the forward and rearward ends of the body, the slit region having a length and a number of slits arranged at a spacing sufficient to enable one or more portions of the sidewall to bulge radially outward after exiting a firearm barrel upon firing of the shotshell to facilitate dislodging of the bullet or one or more of the series of pellets from the chamber of the body, wherein each longitudinal slit of the plurality of longitudinal slits at least partially defines an opening that is configured to widen as the one or more portions of the sidewall bulge radially outward; and
a series of petals located at the rearward end of the body and configured to flare outwardly after firing of the shotshell to an extent sufficient to cause deceleration and separation of the body from the bullet or series of pellets.
38. The wad or shot cup of claim 37 , wherein the slit region is spaced from the forward end of the body by a distance of about 0.100 to about 0.200 inches.
39. The wad or shot cup of claim 37 , wherein the longitudinal slits comprise a width of less than about 0.300 inches.
40. The wad or shot cup of claim 37 , wherein the petals each comprise a series of indentations, impressions or weakened areas formed in the body to facilitate tearing of the body upon firing of the shotshell for forming the petals.
41. The round of ammunition of claim 37 , wherein the longitudinal slits comprise a width of about 0.0005 inches to about 0.0030 inches.