The Y1 Shotgun Shell is the first of its kind. It is the first self-contained lego shotgun shell, which seperates into multiple fragments (1 large 2x4, 5 small 1x2) when the shell is fired. It is designed to be used by the C3.1 Crossbow, but can also be used effectively by the C3, the C2 and C2.1. The C1 can use it somewhat effectively. When fired from the C3.1, it has an effective range of 25 feet, a horizontal radius of 1 metre (approx 3 feet), and a vertical radius of 2 metres (approx 6 feet). The shell works because of the single stud attachment that each 1x2 piece has to the 2x4, making it easy to seperate when the rubber band hits the 1x2 pieces (this not only projects the entire shell, but the shell begins to seperate). The rubber bands must be powerful on whatever gun fires this shell, or else the shell will not seperate, it will just fire. Unfortunately, the shell cannot be fired out of better gun mechanisms (such as pump and semi-auto), because a), the pump would not be able to pull the number of rubber bands needed, and b), the semi-automatic gears cannot hold enough rubberbands on each tooth to seperate a shell. However, I hope that by posting the first design for a shotgun shell, someone will find a way around this and advance the field.

 

If you are interested in building this, here is it's instructable.