Patent ID: 8651024

Claim:
An improved cartridge ammunition load, comprising: a shot casing having a first end adapted to be retained in a breach and a second end adapted to face a muzzle; a combustible propellant charge disposed at the first end of the shot casing and defining a layer; a wad disposed in the shot casing and defining a barrier between the first end and the second end of the shot casing; and a plurality of shot contained within the second end of the shot casing and retained therein, the shot comprising: five of a first shot having a first size, each of the first shots having centers of mass lying on a common plane and defining a pentagonal ring, wherein the five first shots collectively define a central interstice; and a second shot having a second size which is less than that of the first shots and having a center of mass axially aligned with a collective center of mass of the pentagonal ring of first shots.