A low-impulse, non-lethal telescoping cartridge for deployment of non-lethal ordnance. The cartridge includes a payload cup containing at least one non-lethal projectile. The payload cup is telescopically mounted upon a cartridge case base. When fired, the payload cup telescopes out from the base and releases the non-lethal projectiles at a non-lethal velocity. The telescoping feature of the cartridge allows the cartridge to be fired from an automatic weapon, such as a 40 mm MK19 grenade machine gun.