Sabot and shotshell combination
A sabot and shotshell combination includes a bullet, a shotshell hull, propellant, a shotshell primer, wadding, and a sabot comprising a molded member having a base portion and a plurality of petal portions each extending from a proximal base root to a distal tip, the base and petals defining a volume for accommodating a bullet. A reinforcement is at least partially embedded in the base, the reinforcement being more rigid than the molded member and having a plurality of apertures with the base portion extending through at least one of the apertures to retain the reinforcement within the molded member upon firing.
1. A sabot and shotshell combination, comprising:
a bullet having a caliber between 0.4200 to 0.5100;
a shotshell hull;
propellant;
a shotshell primer;
wadding; and
a sabot comprising:
a molded member having:
a base portion; and
a plurality of petal portions, each extending forward from a proximal root at said base portion to a distal tip and cooperating with said base portion to define a volume for accommodating said bullet in a pre-firing condition; and
a reinforcement at least partially embedded in said base portion, said reinforcement being more rigid than said molded member and having:
a fore and aft faces;
a lateral perimeter; and
a plurality of apertures with said base portion extending through at least one of the apertures and being effective to retain said reinforcement within said molded member upon firing;
wherein:
said sabot has dimensions effective to fire said bullet from a shotgun having a gauge larger than said caliber of said bullet.
2. The sabot and shotshell combination according to claim 1 , wherein:
the bullet has a nominal caliber of .44.
3. The sabot and shotshell combination according to claim 2 , wherein:
the sabot has dimensions effective to fire said bullet from a 20-gauge shotgun.
4. The sabot and shotshell combination according to claim 1 , wherein the bullet has a nominal caliber of .45.
5. The sabot and shotshell combination according to claim 4 , wherein: the sabot has dimensions effective to fire said bullet from a 20-gauge shotgun.
6. The sabot and shotshell combination according to claim 1 , wherein the bullet has a nominal caliber of .50.
7. The sabot and shotshell combination according to claim 6 , wherein: the sabot has dimensions effective to fire said bullet from a 12-gauge shotgun.