Which of the following is not part of a shotgun shell?

• A. Wad
• B. Slug
• C. Choke
• D. Bullet

Answer: (C)

A shotgun shell contains the components that create and deliver the shot or slug: a casing with powder and primer, a wad to seal and separate the powder from the payload, and the projectile itself (whether small pellets or a single slug). The choke, however, is a feature of the shotgun itself—the narrow constriction at the muzzle of the barrel that shapes the shot pattern as it exits the barrel. It isn’t loaded into the shell; it acts on the shot after it leaves the shell and travels through the barrel. A wad and a slug are valid shell components because they’re part of the payload and how the shell delivers its projectile. A bullet, while a projectile, is associated with rifles and handguns and isn’t used inside a shotgun shell. So the element that isn’t part of a shotgun shell is the choke.