A shotgun shell designed to generate a lower and more extended pressure curve upon ignition of the powder. The shell consists of a conventional casing, primer and shot cup, the latter being made of any of a number of configurations and materials. Disposed intermediate the primer end and in covering relation to the powder is a pressure plate that conforms to the cross-sectional shape of the casing interior. The pressure plate, in preferred form, contains a plurality of apertures so that upon application of a specified relatively low pressure, the surface area of the plate which the apertures define is caused to fracture, thus reducing the pressure in the powder chamber of the casing. As a result, the increasing kinetic energy generated by the continued burning of the powder (which is normally utilized to ''''initiate movement'''' of the static shop cup) may be applied toward the ''''acceleration'''' of the shop cup since the initial movement of the cup will have been initiated by the low-pressure force occurring upon fracturing of the plate.