Shotshell having wad with enhanced fin deployment

1. A shotshell cartridge comprising:

a casing with a head portion and a primer,

a polymer wad positioned in the casing, the wad having a rearward propellant cup portion defining a rearward cup interior, a forward shot cup portion defining a forward cup interior, a partition separating the rearward cup interior from the forward cup interior, the rearward propellant cup portion having an interior surface and a bottom;

propellant positioned in the propellant cup portion; and

shot positioned in the shot cup portion;

wherein the rearward propellant cup portion of the wad having a tubular portion with a plurality of axially extending slits defining a plurality of circumferentially arranged fins extending rearwardly in a prefiring position, each respective fin having a gusset extending axially on an inward side surface of each said respective fin and extending radially inward toward a central region of the partition, the gusset positioned such that an outward bending of each respective fin to a yield position deforms the respective gusset such that the gusset is elongated inhibiting the fin from returning to the prefiring position and thereby providing a deployed position.

2. The shotshell cartridge of claim 1 wherein the shot cup portion of the wad has a plurality of axially extending linear slit segments that are displaced rearwardly from a forward edge of the wad, the plurality of linear slit segments circumferentially spaced around the shot cup portion.

3. The shotshell cartridge of claim 1 wherein the forward shot cup portion and rearward propellant cup portion of the wad are unitary of a single polymer, and wherein the single polymer has a yield point which is exceeded when the cartridge is fired from a choked shotgun whereby each of the plurality of fins extend to at least their respective yield position and are thereby maintained in their respective deployed position.

4. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein each of the gussets of the wad partially defines a star shaped projection extending rearwardly from the partition in the rearward cup interior of the rearward propellant cup portion.

5. The cartridge of claim 4 wherein when viewed axially, each gusset of the wad is spaced intermediate a pair of the plurality of slits.

6. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the gusset associated with each fin of the wad extends substantially a length of said fin.

7. A shotshell cartridge comprising a wad with a forward shot cup portion defining a forward cup interior and rearward propellant cup portion defining a rearward cup interior, a partition separating the forward cup interior from the rearward cup interior, the rearward propellant cup portion having a rearward edge and a plurality of slits extending from the rearward edge toward the partition, the plurality of slits defining a plurality of deployable fins, the plurality of deployable fins each having a first undeployed position and a second deployed position, the partition having a star shaped projection extending into the rearward cup interior, the star shaped projection having a central projection portion and a plurality of ray portions extending radially outward from the central projection portion, each of the plurality of ray portions oriented toward and centered with a respective one of the plurality of deployable fins, each of the deployable fins movable and retainable at the second deployed position after they are rotated outwardly beyond the second deployed position, the forward shot cup portion having a sidewall with a forward edge and a plurality of axially extending linear elongate slit segments extending through the sidewall and spaced from the forward edge.

8. The shotshell cartridge of claim 7 wherein each of the plurality of axially extending linear elongate slit segments of the wad are sized such that said slit segments do not open far enough for shot pellets to escape therethrough during firing of a shotshell cartridge with the wad therein.

9. The shotshell cartridge of claim 7 , further wherein each ray portion of the wad extends to one of the plurality of deployable fins.

10. The shotshell cartridge of claim 9 , wherein each ray portion of the wad defines a gusset on each respective deployable fin, each gusset having a yield point wherein when the respective fin is rotated to a yield position, the gusset elongates and inhibits the respective fin from returning to the prefiring position.

11. The shotshell cartridge of claim 10 , wherein the rearward propellant cup portion of the wad has a sidewall with a length and the gusset on each respective deployable fin extends in an axial direction.

12. A shotshell cartridge comprising a wad, the wad comprising a forward shot cup portion defining a forward cup interior and rearward propellant cup portion with a base and sidewall defining a rearward cup interior, a plurality of slits extending from a rearward edge of the rearward propellant cup portion axially forward defining a plurality of outwardly deployable fins, a star shaped projection projecting rearwardly from the base of the rearward propellant cup portion into the rearward cup interior, the star shaped projection having a central projection portion and a plurality of ray portions extending radially outward from the central projection portion toward the sidewall each of the plurality of ray portions oriented toward and centered with a respective one of the plurality of deployable fins.

13. The shotshell cartridge of claim 12 wherein each deployable fin has a bend region and the ray portion oriented toward and centered with respect to each said deployable fin extends to a bend region of each said deployable fin, each ray portion providing a yieldable gusset whereby an outward bending of each said respective fin deforms the respective gusset such that the gusset is elongated inhibiting the fin from returning to a pre bending position.