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. The maintenance of projectile alignment is helpful in reducing the scatter of the projectiles after they exit the gun. The at least three alignment arms are typically attached at the proximal ends to a second end of the cushioning section. The geometry of the at least three alignment arms is useful in the maintenance of the alignment of the projectile under acceleration. A preferred embodiment is a totally symmetrical configuration. Thus when the wad contains three alignment arms the arms are spaced at regular intervals of 120 degrees; four alignment arms are separated by 90 degrees; etc.