Wad and cartridge for hunting or competitive shooting

Abstract

A wad ( 10 ) for cartridges, for example for hunting or competition, comprises a lower portion ( 11 ) suitable to rest on the propellant powder of the cartridge, an upper portion ( 13 ) on which rests the projectile of the cartridge, and an intermediate portion ( 12 ), arranged to join the lower portion ( 11 ) and upper portion ( 13 ). The wad ( 10 ) comprises at least one sealing element ( 20 ), suitable to form a seal against the escape of the combustion gases generated by the propellant powder, placed in correspondence of the upper portion ( 13 ). Advantageously, the wad ( 10 ) is made of paper so as to be environmentally friendly and, at the same time, provide excellent shooting performance.

1 . Wad for cartridges, comprising:
 a lower portion, suitable to rest on the propellant powder of the cartridge;   an upper portion, on which the bullet of the cartridge is rested;   an intermediate portion, arranged to join the lower portion and the upper portion;   at least one sealing element, suitable to form a seal against the escape of combustion gases generated by the propellant powder;   
       wherein the sealing element is at the upper portion. 
     
     
         2 . Wad for cartridges, according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is an annular lip suitable to expand radially under the effect of the pressure of the combustion gases. 
     
     
         3 . Wad for cartridges, according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer contour of the lower portion comprises:
 a first profile, substantially cylindrical, with a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the cartridge; and   an externally sloping profile ending with an edge having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the cartridge.   
     
     
         4 . Wad for cartridges, according to  claim 1  comprising an additional sealing element at the lower portion. 
     
     
         5 . Wad for cartridges, according to  claim 4 , wherein the outer contour of the lower portion comprises:
 a first profile, substantially cylindrical, having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the cartridge; and   an internally sloping profile.   
     
     
         6 . Wad for cartridges according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate portion comprises a damper device. 
     
     
         7 . Wad for cartridges, according to  claim 1 , comprising, above the upper portion ( 11 ), a container ( 30 ) suitable to contain the bullet of the cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . Wad for cartridges, according to  claim 7 , wherein the container comprises a plurality of yielding elements, such as notches or grooves or weakenings or through holes or slits, suitable to make breakpoints in the walls of the container. 
     
     
         9 . Wad for cartridges, according to  claim 1 , made of paper, preferably by means of industrial moulding. 
     
     
         10 . Cartridge, in particular for a shotgun, comprising:
 a casing closed at one end by a case head inside which the primers are housed to ignite the propellant powders;   propellant powders, placed over the case head;   a wad, according to  claim 1 , placed over the propellant powders;   a projectile, such as a bullet or a plurality of shot, placed over the wad.