Fired Shotshell Components

The construction and components of shotshells are described in depth in Module 5.

Shotshells may be comprised of a number of components:

• Card (paper) or fiber disks
• Plastic wadding components
• Lead, steel, bismuth, or tungsten alloy shot pellets
• Shotgun slugs
• Shot buffer materials (granular plastic particulate)

Wadding Material

The examination of shot wads frequently revolves around a comparison of remaining observable physical characteristics to an unfired laboratory reference standard.

By examining wadding materials, the examiner may be able to determine

• the gauge of the shotgun,
• the manufacturer or marketer,
• a range of possible shot sizes based on impressions in the wad,
• individual characteristics (in some cases).

Paper and fiber wadding materials are similar in appearance across brands.

Wadding materials may include the following:

• Card wad
• Shot collar
• Over-shot wad or top wad
• Under-shot wad
• Filler wad
• Over-powder wad
• Cup wad

Although older fiber and paper wads are no longer widely used, their examination presents several difficulties because they

• tend to absorb body fluids,
• swell beyond their original dimensions,
• often dry without retaining original dimensions,
• are more easily damaged than plastic wadding materials.

Plastic wads are predominately used today.

Types of plastic wadding materials include

• shot protector wad,
• shot collar,
• combination wad.

Examiners should be aware that combinations of plastic and card and fiber wadding materials have been used and continue to be found; these wadding types are not mutually exclusive.

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