US20160298943A1

US20160298943A1 - Shotgun shell assembly and method of use

Info

Publication number: US20160298943A1
Application number: US14/683,743
Authority: US
Inventors: Petrus Cornelius van Wyk
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-04-10
Filing date: 2015-04-10
Publication date: 2016-10-13

Abstract

A shotgun shell assembly having a shotgun shell, a wad with a maximum width sized to be removably inserted within an internal cavity of the shotgun shell and including a firing surface disposed at a distal end of the wad and being of a material harness different than a material hardness of the body of the wad, and an arrow-like projectile with a firing position along a projectile loading path that includes the arrow-like projectile disposed within the internal cavity of the shotgun shell and with the proximal end of the arrow-like projectile abutting the firing surface without being encapsulated by the wad.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to ammunition for use with shotguns and rifles, and, more particularly, relates to shotgun-shell ammunition for use with projectile arrows.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various types of ammunition available to the consuming public. Some ammunition is designed for use with rifles and/or shotguns. Some users utilize rifles and shotguns, more specifically shotguns, in connection with recreational uses such as skeet, clay, and sport shooting. Skeet shooting, for example, involves throwing one or two targets—typically discs of a rock material—from one or more “trap houses” situated a distance away from shooter. The targets are thrown at set trajectories and speeds and to obtain relatively high accuracy in shooting the targets, a user must not only spend considerable time practicing, but also working his or her reaction time to the release of the targets from the trap houses.
To facilitate in helping the user practice, some known ammunition includes projectile arrows that may be embedded into the housing of the ammunition and is less lethal than typical pellets, or “shot,” used with said ammunition. Moreover, in some instances the arrows may be reusable after being fired so that the user is only replacing the “hull” of the ammunition—which results in lower overall costs experienced by the user. The ammunitions hull or shell is typically made of brass and includes a primer which produces heat that ignites the main propellant charge, e.g., powder, and fires the shot housed in the hull. Typical shells also include what is known in the art as a “wad,” which a structure used to separate the gases or main propellant charge used to fire, from the shot, so as to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of the shot.
Many known ammunitions for use with projectile arrows, however, damage the arrow and require complete replacement each time the arrow is fired. Some known wads attempt to not only protect the projectile arrow during the firing process, but also attempt to guide the arrow through and out of the barrel after the firing process. These wads are typically known as “sabots.” Many of these wads and sabots surround the arrow and follow/guide the arrow until it leaves the barrel, at which point the arrow proceeds to the target and the wad and/or sabot ends up on a neighboring ground surface. Some sabots used walls that surround the arrow while in the barrel and then break away during flight.
The above known wads have disadvantages in that there is more debris, and hence cleanup, associated with target practice. Moreover, as some of the wads can be hot when discharged from the firearm, there also some inherent safety concerns with many of the known wads when shot around the user or the viewing public. As such, users are desirous of a wad that not only protects the arrow used in connection with ammunition, but also a wad that either stays within the barrel of the firearm or the hull of the shell itself.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a shotgun shell assembly that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that utilizes a projectile arrow to not only protect the arrow from the gases generated during the firing process, but that also remains in the barrel of the firearm or the hull of the shell.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a shotgun shell assembly that includes a shotgun shell having a primer and a shell case defining an internal cavity, a wad having a body with a maximum width sized to be removably inserted within the internal cavity of the shotgun shell and with the wad including a firing surface disposed at a distal end of the wad, and an arrow-like projectile with a distal end and a proximal end, the arrow-like projectile having a firing position along a projectile loading path. The firing surface of the wad may be of a material harness different than a material hardness of the body of the wad. Furthermore, the firing position includes the arrow-like projectile disposed within the internal cavity of the shotgun shell and with the proximal end of the arrow-like projectile abutting the firing surface without being encapsulated by the wad.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the body of the wad is of a cylindrical shape.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the wad having a firing disc coupled to the body of the wad and including the firing surface, wherein the firing disc is of a circular shape and has a cylindrical shape corresponding to the cylindrical shape the body of the wad. In some embodiments, the firing surface is substantially planar and is concentrically disposed in relation to the wad of the body.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the material harness of the firing surface is lower than the material hardness of the body of the wad.
In accordance with an additional feature of the present invention, the firing surface and the body of the wad are both of a polymeric material.
In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the wad having a spherical tip that tapers upwardly from a circumferential point on the body of the wad and terminates into the firing surface. In said embodiment, the material harness of the firing surface is greater than the material hardness of the body of the wad. Furthermore, the spherical tip may be concentrically disposed in relation to the body of the wad.
In accordance with an additional feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the body of the wad having a platform with a circumferential outer diameter that defines the maximum width of the body, wherein the circumferential point on the body from which the spherical tip extends is a radial length from the circumferential outer diameter of the platform.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the arrow-like projectile having a plurality of fins that are slidably and directly coupled to an inner wall of the shell case when the arrow-like projectile is in the firing position.
In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the wad having a distal end, a proximal end, and a wad length less than approximately 1 inch that separates the distal and proximal ends of the wad.
In accordance with the present invention, another embodiment includes a shotgun shell target practicing kit that has (1) shotgun shell with a primer and a shell case having an inner wall defining an internal cavity, (2) a wad having a body with a maximum width sized to be removably inserted within the internal cavity of the shotgun shell, a distal end and a proximal end, a firing surface disposed at the distal end of the wad, and a wad inner wall spanning from the proximal end that defines a volume for housing a main propellant charge, and (3) an arrow-like projectile with a distal end, a proximal end, a plurality of fins, and a firing position along a projectile loading path that includes the arrow-like projectile disposed within the internal cavity of the shotgun shell without being encapsulated by the wad and with the plurality of fins slidably and directly coupled to the inner wall of the shell case.
In accordance with the present invention, a method of target practicing with a shotgun having the steps of (1) loading a shotgun shell, defining an internal cavity, with a wad, the wad including a body and a firing surface of a material harness different than a material hardness of the body of the wad and disposed at a distal end of the wad, (2) inserting a proximal end of an arrow-like projectile with a plurality of fins into the internal cavity until the proximal end abuts the firing surface without being encapsulated by the wad, (3) loading the shotgun shell, the wad, and the arrow-like projectile into a firing chamber of a firearm that has a barrel defining a distal opening, and (4) firing the firearm so as to discharge the arrow-like projectile from the distal opening of the barrel and leaving the shotgun shell and the wad disposed within the firearm.
In additional embodiments, the method also includes inserting the proximal end of the arrow-like projectile such that the plurality of fins are slidably and directly coupled to an inner wall of the shotgun shell.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a shotgun shell assembly, kit, and method of use, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.
Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time.
As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the shotgun shell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, side, cross-sectional view of a shotgun shell assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a wad used with the assembly of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a shell used with the assembly of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an arrow-like projectile used with the assembly of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, close-up, view of a lower portion of the assembly in FIG. 1 with the arrow arrow-like projectile depicted in FIG. 4 that is disposed within the shell in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a wad used with a shotgun shell assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional, close-up, view of a lower portion of a shotgun shell assembly using the wad depicted in FIG. 6 and the arrow arrow-like projectile depicted in FIG. 4 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an elevational front view of a target used in connection with a shotgun shell target practicing kit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a process-flow diagram depicting a method of target practicing with a shotgun in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.
The present invention provides a novel and efficient shotgun shell assembly that enables a user to increase his or her shooting accuracy and response shooting time in an efficient and effective manner. Embodiments of the invention provide a shotgun shell assembly and kit that also enable the user to engage in target practice without going to a shooting range and reduce the time associated clean-up after target practice.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, one embodiment of the present invention is shown in a fragmentary and cross-sectional view, respectively. FIGS. 1 and 5 show several advantageous features of the present invention, but, as will be described below, the invention can be provided in several shapes, sizes, combinations of features and components, and varying numbers and functions of the components. A shotgun shell assembly 100, or kit, is shown collectively in a “firing position” in FIG. 5. The assembly consists of a shotgun shell 102, a wad 104, and an arrow-like projectile 400. Advantageously, the configuration and structure of the assembly 100 results in a device that effectuates accurate discharge of the arrow-like projectile 400 in a non-destructive manner (as it relates to the arrow 400) and enables the wad 104 and shell 102 to remain within the firearm after it is fired. As with ammunition shells, the shell 102 includes a primer 118. The shell case 102 may be of a metallic, polymer, paper, or other material and primer 118 is a small charge of impact-sensitive or electric-sensitive chemical mixture that may be located in the center or rim of the casing 102.
The first example of an exemplary wad 104 used in the shotgun shell assembly 100 includes the wad 104 having a body 106 with a proximal end 108, a distal end 110, a width (represented by arrow 112), and a firing surface 200 disposed at a distal end 110 of the wad 104. The width 112 may be approximately 1/2-5/8″ or is otherwise sized to be removably inserted within an internal cavity 114 of the shotgun shell 102. In other embodiments, the width/diameter 112 of the body 106 is slightly smaller, i.e., +/−1/16″ variance, than the width/diameter separating the internal side walls, or “inner wall,” of the shotgun shell 102 (represented by the arrow 116). Advantageously, the wad 104 includes a firing surface 200 disposed at the distal end 110 of the wad 104. The “wad” is defined herein as a unitary structure that is operable to move or translate together as one or more piece of material coupled together.
The firing surface 200 is of a material harness different than a material hardness of the body 106 of the wad 104. This is beneficial for two reasons. First, when the material harness of the firing surface 200 is lower than the material hardness of the body 106 of the wad 104 with a structural configuration as shown in FIG. 2, the arrow 400 (shown in FIG. 4) is less prone to being damaged when the shotgun is fired. In one embodiment, the firing surface 200 and the body 106 are both of a synthetic fiber and a polymeric material, e.g., PVC, acrylic, polyethylene. In other embodiments, the firing surface 200 and the body 106 are of a metallic or ceramic material. In one instance, the firing surface 200 is an acrylic material having a hardness of approximately 50-70 Shore D and the body 106 is of a polyethylene material with a hardness of approximately 70-80 Shore D. Typical wads are of a hardness around 70-80 Shore D and, when fired, compress due to the compression force experienced. When used with an arrow-like projectile 400 made of a carbon fiber material as described below, results have shown that the firing surface 200, when planar—so as to provide a more evenly distributed load to the arrow 400—is preferred to be at a hardness of approximately 64 Shore D to reduce the possibility of damage to the arrow 400. The term “substantially planar” is defined as flat, +/−approximately 1/8″ in grade deviations.
With specific reference to FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the wad 104 is of a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 2 and has a firing disc 202 coupled to the body 106 of the wad 104. The firing disc 202 enables easy and efficient manufacturing of a wad that generates the required hardness and tensile strength to translate energy from the main propellant charge to the arrow 400, without structural degradation, yet also defines the substantially planar firing surface 200 of a lower material hardness. The firing disc 202 may be coupled to the body 106 using adhesive, e.g., epoxy, or other fastening means. The firing disc 202 can be seen of a circular shape and also may have a cylindrical shape corresponding to the cylindrical shape the body 106 of the wad 104 as shown in FIG. 2. In one embodiment, the disc 202 and body 106 of the wad 104 may be manufactured as one piece, i.e., coupled together, using injection molding. In other embodiments, the disc 202 and body 106 may be of two distinct pieces and coupled together as described above. As such, the wad 104 may be effectively and efficiently loaded and unloaded into the shotgun shell 102. In a preferred embodiment, the firing disc 202 is coupled to the body 106 concentrically, so as to provide an even load distribution to the arrow 400.
The wad 104 can be seen having a wad length a wad length 204 separating the proximal and distal ends 108, 110 of the wad 104. Beneficially, the wad length 204 is less than approximately 1″ to facilitate adequate insertion of the arrow-like projectile 400 into the cavity 114 and to provide enough room to permit the arrow 400 to seat correctly. In other embodiments, the wad length 204 may vary outside of approximately 1″.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, a typical shotgun shell 102 can be seen. While the present invention is directed toward shotgun shells, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that the present invention may be employed in relation to other types of ammunition having an internal cavity 114 and a wad 104 with the features described herein. The shell 102 has a distal end 300, a proximal end 302, and a shell length 304 separating the distal and proximal ends 300, 302. The shell length 304 may be generally 2-3″ and is made of a polymeric and/or metallic material.
With reference now to FIG. 4, a perspective view of an exemplary arrow-like device 400 used in connection with the assembly 100 is shown. The term “arrow-like device” is any projectile having an elongated shaft 402 with one or more fins 404. The arrow 400 has a proximal end 406, a distal end 408, and an arrow length 410 separating the proximal and distal ends 406, 408. The term “proximal end” and “distal end,” as used herein, does not necessary designate the terminal end of the referencing object; rather, said terms may also designate the “functional end” of an object or a point within approximately 1″ from the terminal end of the referencing object. The arrow length 410 may be generally 4-5″. The shaft 402 is preferably of a carbon fiber material and the fins 404 are of a polymeric material such that the arrow 400 may be reused after firing. The tip of the arrow 400 may be spherical or flat. In other embodiments, the material of the shaft 402 and fins 404 may vary.
With reference now to FIG. 5, a cross-sectional view of the assembly 100 with the wad 104 and arrow 400 disposed within the shell 102 is illustrated. Specifically, the arrow-like projectile 400 has a firing position (shown in FIG. 5) along a projectile loading path (an exemplary path is depicted in FIG. 5 with arrow 500) that includes the arrow-like projectile 400 disposed within the internal cavity 114 of the shotgun shell 102. Advantageously, the proximal end 406 of the arrow-like projectile 400 abuts the firing surface 200 without being encapsulated by the wad 104. Said differently, when in the firing position, the plurality of fins 404 are slidably and directly coupled to the inner wall 502 of the shell case 102. Unlike most known wads, the wad 104 of the present invention does not restrict lateral movement of the arrow 400 through the firing process, nor does it follow the projectile of the arrow 400 when it is discharged from the barrel of the firearm. Rather, the arrow 400 may be sized to directly couple with the inner wall 502 of the shell case 102 such that the wad 104 may remain within the shotgun after the shotgun is fired, thereby reducing the time associated with clean-up and increasing the overall safety of the shotgun. As such, the term “directly coupled” is defined as contacting or connected without any interposing solid structure.
Another reason the firing surface 200 may be beneficially of a material harness different than a material hardness of the body 106 of the wad 104 can be seen illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in FIG. 6, a wad 600 includes a spherical tip 602 that tapers upwardly from a circumferential point, e.g., point 604, on the body 606 of the wad 600 and terminates into the firing surface 608. In said embodiment, the material harness of the firing surface 608 is greater than the material hardness of the body 606 of the wad 600. In one embodiment, the spherical tip 602 is a metallic material, e.g., steel, of a hardness of approximately 20-30 Rockwell C, while the hardness of the wad body 606 is of a hardness described above. The firing surface 608 with a harder spherical tip 602 than the body 606 is advantageous in that there is an increased pressure focalized toward the longitudinal axis of the shaft 402 of the arrow 400, as opposed to a more distributed load generated from the wad 104 shown in FIG. 2 that may damage the fins 404 of the arrow if not of a lower material hardness. The harder spherical tip 602 also facilitates a more efficient energy transfer from the primary explosive, as there will be less energy losses associated with structural deformation of the entire wad 600.
As shown in FIG. 6, the body 606 can be seen having a platform 610 with a circumferential outer diameter that defines the maximum width (indicated with arrow 612) of the body 606. As depicted, the circumferential point 604 on the body 606 from which the spherical tip 602 extends is a radial length (indicated with arrow 614) from the circumferential outer diameter of the platform 610. This radial length 614 ensures the tip 602 will not damage the fins 404 of the arrow. Similar to the firing disc 202, the spherical tip 602 may be concentrically disposed in relation to the body 606 of the wad 600.
Additionally, with reference to FIG. 7, the position of the arrow-like projectile 400 in relation to the shell 102 and wad 600 along a projectile loading path may be similar to the position to the wad 104 described in relation to FIG. 5. Also similar to the wad 104 depicted in FIGS. 2 and 5, the wad 600 may also have an wad inner wall 700 spanning from a proximal end 702 of the wad 600 that defines a volume (indicated with arrow 704) for housing a main propellant charge.
With reference now to FIG. 8, the assembly shown through FIGS. 1-7 may be beneficially sold together as a “kit” to the purchasing public, with the addition of a target 800. As such, users will be able to purchase all components necessary, absent a firearm, to engage in safe and effective target practicing techniques. The target 800 may be entirely of a plastic or paper material. Alternatively, the target 800 may have a plastic or paper sheet as the outer surface and a corrugated or dampening back surface or layup that provides enough resistant forces to stop the arrow-like projectile 400 over an impact distance without damaging the arrow 400. In additional embodiments, the target 800 is made of wound strips of foam polymeric material, e.g., polyethylene.
With reference now to FIG. 9, a method of target practicing with a shotgun is depicted in a process-flow diagram that starts at step 900 and immediately proceeds to a first step 902 of loading a shotgun shell with a wad of the aforementioned characteristic(s) and component(s) for the shell and the wad, e.g., a firing surface of a material harness different than a material hardness of the body of the wad. The next step 904 may include inserting a proximal end of an arrow-like projectile with a plurality of fins into the internal cavity until the proximal end of the arrow abuts (at some point within the projectile loading path) the firing surface of the wad and without the proximal end of the arrow being encapsulated by the wad. In other embodiments, the arrow may be inserted such that the plurality of fins are slidably and directly coupled to an inner wall of the shotgun shell. When loaded into the shell, the arrow will likely be projecting outwardly from a distal end of the shell, but will be relatively stationary, i.e., resistant to lateral movement.
The process continues to the next step 906 of loading the shotgun shell, the wad, and the arrow-like projectile into a firing chamber of a firearm, most likely a shotgun. The firearm will also have a barrel that defines a distal opening as will be readily apparent by those of skill in the art. Next, in step 908, the user will fire the firearm so as to discharge the arrow-like projectile from the distal opening of the barrel and leaving the shotgun shell and the wad disposed within. Testing has shown the structural configurations and material of the above-described assembly permit the wad and the shell to be left behind in the firing chamber or within the barrel of the firearm. The process terminates at step 910. While the above described steps are preferably carried out in the above order, variations of the order of said steps can be deviated as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art.
As such, a shotgun shell assembly and kit has been disclosed that enables a user to increase his or her shooting accuracy and response shooting time in a safe, efficient, and effective manner. Additionally, the shotgun shell assembly and kit also reduce the time associated clean-up after target practice and enable many of the components of the assembly and kit to be reusable.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A shotgun shell assembly comprising:

a shotgun shell having a primer and a shell case defining an internal cavity;

a wad having a body with a maximum width sized to be removably inserted within the internal cavity of the shotgun shell, the wad including a firing surface disposed at a distal end of the wad, the firing surface of a material harness different than a material hardness of the body of the wad; and

an arrow-like projectile with a distal end and a proximal end, the arrow-like projectile having a firing position along a projectile loading path that includes:

the arrow-like projectile disposed within the internal cavity of the shotgun shell; and

the proximal end of the arrow-like projectile abutting the firing surface without being encapsulated by the wad.

2. The shotgun shell assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the body of the wad is of a cylindrical shape.

3. The shotgun shell assembly according to claim 2, wherein the wad further comprises:

a firing disc coupled to the body of the wad and including the firing surface, wherein the firing disc is of a circular shape and has a cylindrical shape corresponding to the cylindrical shape the body of the wad.

4. The shotgun shell assembly according to claim 3, wherein:

the firing surface is substantially planar.

5. The shotgun shell assembly according to claim 4, wherein:

the firing disc is concentrically disposed in relation to the wad of the body.

6. The shotgun shell assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the material harness of the firing surface is lower than the material hardness of the body of the wad.

7. The shotgun shell assembly according to claim 6, wherein:

the firing surface and the body of the wad are both of a polymeric material.

8. The shotgun shell assembly according to claim 1, wherein the wad further comprises:

a spherical tip that tapers upwardly from a circumferential point on the body of the wad and terminates into the firing surface.

9. The shotgun shell assembly according to claim 8, wherein:

the material harness of the firing surface is greater than the material hardness of the body of the wad.

10. The shotgun shell assembly according to claim 8, wherein the body of the wad further comprises:

a platform with a circumferential outer diameter that defines the maximum width of the body, wherein the circumferential point on the body from which the spherical tip extends is a radial length from the circumferential outer diameter of the platform.

11. The shotgun shell assembly according to claim 8, wherein:

the spherical tip is concentrically disposed in relation to the body of the wad.

12. The shotgun shell assembly according to claim 1, wherein the arrow-like projectile further comprises:

a plurality of fins, wherein the plurality of fins are slidably and directly coupled to an inner wall of the shell case when the arrow-like projectile is in the firing position.

13. The shotgun shell assembly according to claim 1, wherein the wad further comprises:

a distal end, a proximal end, and a wad length separating the distal and proximal ends of the wad, wherein the wad length is less than approximately 1 inch.

14. A shotgun shell target practicing kit comprising:

a shotgun shell having a primer and a shell case with an inner wall defining an internal cavity;

a wad having a body with a maximum width sized to be removably inserted within the internal cavity of the shotgun shell, a distal end and a proximal end, the wad including a firing surface disposed at the distal end of the wad and a wad inner wall spanning from the proximal end that defines a volume for housing a main propellant charge; and

an arrow-like projectile with a distal end, a proximal end, and a plurality of fins, the arrow-like projectile having a firing position along a projectile loading path that includes the arrow-like projectile disposed within the internal cavity of the shotgun shell without being encapsulated by the wad and with the plurality of fins slidably and directly coupled to the inner wall of the shell case.

15. The kit according to claim 14, wherein:

the firing surface is of a material harness different than a material hardness of the body of the wad.

16. The kit according to claim 15, wherein the wad further comprises:

a firing disc coupled to the body of the wad and including the firing surface, wherein the firing disc is of a circular shape and has a cylindrical shape corresponding to a cylindrical shape the body of the wad.

17. The kit according to claim 16, wherein:

the firing surface is substantially planar and the firing disc is concentrically disposed in relation to the wad of the body.

18. The kit according to claim 17, wherein:

19. A method of target practicing with a shotgun comprising:

loading a shotgun shell, defining an internal cavity, with a wad, the wad including a body and a firing surface of a material harness different than a material hardness of the body of the wad and disposed at a distal end of the wad;

inserting a proximal end of an arrow-like projectile with a plurality of fins into the internal cavity until the proximal end abuts the firing surface without being encapsulated by the wad;

loading the shotgun shell, the wad, and the arrow-like projectile into a firing chamber of a firearm, the firearm having a barrel defining a distal opening; and

firing the firearm so as to discharge the arrow-like projectile from the distal opening of the barrel and leaving the shotgun shell and the wad disposed within the firearm.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

inserting the proximal end of the arrow-like projectile such that the plurality of fins are slidably and directly coupled to an inner wall of the shotgun shell.