Russian Soldiers Turn to DIY Anti-Drone Buckshot Amidst Drone Onslaught
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has witnessed an unprecedented deployment of drones, with Ukraine reportedly fielding over a million units this year. This drone dominance has spurred a desperate need for effective countermeasures, particularly amongst Russian troops facing a constant barrage of FPV (First Person View) drone attacks. Lacking sufficient supplies of purpose-built anti-drone weaponry, Russian soldiers are resorting to creating homemade buckshot rounds for their ubiquitous AK-74 assault rifles. This trend, documented in detail on The Armourer’s Bench website and circulating across Russian social media, reflects the growing desperation of ground troops facing a relentless aerial threat.
The process, as depicted in online videos, involves filling electrical wire insulation sleeving with readily available ball bearings. A candle is then used to heat-shrink the sleeve around the bearings, creating a compact projectile. This makeshift buckshot is then loaded into modified AK-74 cartridges, with the original bullet removed and the case neck crimped around the ball bearings. Typically, seven 4.5mm (.177 caliber) ball bearings are used per cartridge. While some videos purportedly show successful drone takedowns using this improvised ammunition, the efficacy of these rounds remains questionable. Experts suggest that the limited number of projectiles and inherent inaccuracy of this method pose significant limitations.
The rise of DIY buckshot underscores the critical shortage of effective anti-drone solutions within the Russian military. While shotguns are generally preferred for engaging small, fast-moving drones, their availability is limited. Although adapters exist to convert the AK-74 into a shotgun-like weapon, or to modify its underbarrel grenade launcher to fire shotgun cartridges, these options are apparently not readily accessible to frontline troops. This has led to the proliferation of the more readily implemented, albeit less effective, DIY buckshot solution.
In contrast to the makeshift methods employed by Russian troops, Ukraine and other nations have invested heavily in purpose-built counter-drone shotgun systems. Ukraine reportedly acquired 4,000 Escort BTS12 shotguns from Turkish manufacturer Hatsan. The Italian firearms company Benelli has also reported increased demand for their M4 A.I. Drone Guardian shotgun, specifically designed for engaging small quadcopter drones. Benelli, supplying both French and Italian armed forces, uses specialized AD-LER (Anti-Drone Long Effective Range) ammunition developed by Swedish manufacturer Norma. These rounds utilize denser tungsten pellets, optimized for enhanced ballistic performance against drones.
The effectiveness of specialized anti-drone ammunition is significantly greater than the improvised Russian buckshot rounds. A single AD-LER round contains approximately 350 tungsten pellets, significantly outnumbering the mere seven projectiles in the DIY version. This drastic difference in pellet count translates to a vastly improved probability of a hit. Furthermore, the use of purpose-built shotguns ensures greater accuracy and consistency compared to the modified AK-74s. The DIY approach, while offering a semblance of a solution, pales in comparison to the dedicated systems employed by professional counter-drone units.
While the DIY buckshot approach might provide a psychological boost to Russian soldiers facing constant drone threats, its actual effectiveness is highly debatable. The inherent inaccuracy, limited range, and potential to foul the weapon’s barrel raise serious concerns. Moreover, the act of stopping to aim and fire at a drone exposes the soldier to further attacks, especially in scenarios involving multiple drones. OSINT analyst Andrew Perpetua, known for his extensive analysis of drone attack footage, observes that attempts to engage drones with shotguns often result in the soldier being hit. This highlights the inherent risk of engaging small, fast-moving drones with weapons ill-suited for the task. Ultimately, the DIY buckshot solution may offer a false sense of security, potentially increasing vulnerability rather than providing effective protection. The growing reliance on such improvised methods underscores the challenges faced by Russian forces in countering the pervasive drone threat.
