1. Introduction: The New Menace and the Previous Weapon
FPV drones carrying explosives (grenades, RPGs, explosives) signify a serious battlefield risk.Conventional air protection and digital warfare (EW) programs are sometimes too sluggish or uncapable to neutralize small, quick, low-flying drones.On this setting, 12-gauge shotguns have reemerged as a final line of protection .
Shotguns are:
Straightforward to amass
Straightforward to make use of
Low-cost
Easy
Efficient at brief vary
Historic fight expertise (e.g., World Conflict I trench warfare) and up to date battlefield studies affirm:12-gauge shotguns are efficient in opposition to small UAVs inside shut vary.
2. 12-Gauge Shotgun Effectiveness by Engagement Vary
Shut Vary (0–30 meters)Highest effectiveness zone.
Shot cloud stays dense, deadly.
Most drones could be disabled by 1–3 pictures.
Exams affirm:
Commonplace birdshot hundreds (No. 1–3) can harm rotors and electronics .
Tungsten or hardened lead shot will increase kill chance .
⚡ Crucial Danger: Taking pictures too shut (<15m) could cause explosive detonation close to the shooter. Quick cowl is obligatory after firing.
Even when drone was hit on a distance of 15-20 meters, it nonetheless has sufficient inertia and velocity to fly one other 10-15 meters and detonate near a soldier.
Medium Vary (30–45 meters)Operational zone for devoted anti-drone hundreds.
Birdshot spreads and loses vitality; precision and ammo selection grow to be very important.
Greatest options:
Tungsten shot, measurement No. 1-6 (~2.75mm).
Magnum shells (12/76mm or 12/89mm) when accessible. However excessive recoil makes consecutive pictures sluggish and troublesome.
Full choke barrels to tighten unfold .
Subject studies present 60%–80% chance of disabling FPV drones at 40–50 meters with applicable hundreds.
Lengthy Vary (50–100 meters)Low chance engagement.
Shot unfold too broad; vitality too low.
Solely doable with specialised ammo and prolonged barrels (650mm+).
Some navy shotguns (e.g., Benelli M4 A.I. Drone Guardian) try and push efficient vary to ~75 meters, however it shoud be verified in discipline exams on actual drones.
At excessive distances, engagement precedence shifts to heavier weapons or EW (if it’s efficient).
Specialised Ammunition and Weapon Setup
Photograph from USInfantryman1 Telegram channel.
Specialised Anti-Drone LoadsNorma AD-LER 12/76: tungsten No.6 shot, ~350 pellets. In improvement (2025)
Looking lengthy vary tungsten rounds. Costly however have one of the best outcomes.
SkyNet A-4 Web Rounds: deploys internet to entangle drone rotors (no current exams if effectiveness).
Tekhkrim “Perekhvat”: net-rounds with aramid fibers (broadly marketed however effectiveness isn’t confirmed)
⚡ Web rounds: nonetheless in improvement, supply decrease minimal danger of collateral harm, however efficient principally in opposition to hovering or sluggish drones on brief distaces.
Hand-made wired buckshot rounds. Must be efficient as much as 40 meters however there’s no sufficient exams or details about actual world use.
Choke SelectionFull choke (tightest constriction) advisable for drone engagements.
Will increase shot density at medium-long distances .
Prolonged “tactical” chokes often have cylyinder (no constriction), so they aren’t appropriate for anti-drone use.
Pink dot sigtsRed dot sights (holographic sights) advisable for fast goal acquisition .
Massive discipline of view fashions most popular (e.g., Eotech).
⚡ Notice: Optics should stand up to excessive recoil forces from 12-gauge hundreds.
Army Use
Ukrainian Armed Forces issued shotguns (e.g., HG-105, Hatsan BTS-12) particularly for counter-drone protection .
U.S. Marines prepare with Benelli M4 shotguns for drone interdiction.
Russian Armed Forces difficulty semi-automatics (MR-155, Saiga-12) for trench protection .
Devoted navy fashions:
Benelli M4 A.I. Drone Guardian: gas-operated, purple dot sight, tactical choke, optimized for anti-drone engagements. No actual world expertise as of 2025.
Shotguns are built-in into platoon-level air protection programs.
Really helpful Shotguns and Configurations
Shotgun Kind: Semi-Computerized vs. Pump-Motion
Semi-automatic shotguns most popular:
Sooner follow-up pictures
Minimal handbook motion wanted
Crucial in opposition to a number of drone assaults
Pump-action shotguns:
Easier, cheaper, extra rugged
Slower fee of fireplace
Operator have to be expert to take care of excessive fee of fireplace and dependable reloads
Really helpful when assets or reliability constraints exist.
✅ Subject Observe:Elite items prioritize semi-automatic fashions when accessible (Benelli M4, Beretta 1301).
Ukrainian and russian forces use something they’ll get from traditional double barreled shotguns to trendy field fed semi-autos.
Journal CapacityLarger capability crucial: 7–10 rounds minimal.
Tubular journal extensions accessible (+2, +4 rounds).
Field-magazine shotguns (Saiga-12, Molot Vepr-12) permit 8–20 spherical fast reloads.
Benefits:
Fast sustained hearth in opposition to drone swarms.
Quick re-engagement if first shot misses.
Ammunition SelectionIdeal load-out for FPV drones:
Principal shells: Tungsten No. 1-6 (~2.75mm), heavy payload (32–36g).
Different: Magnum shells (12/76, 12/89) with heavy lead or metal shot (No. 1–3).
Think about: specialised ammo which continues to be in improvement by many corporations.
✅ Really helpful:
Tungsten birdshot rounds.
ChokesFull choke customary for drone engagements. ❗ Test if it’s OK for metal or tungsten birdshot.
Interchangeable chokes permit mission-adaptive configurations.
Sights, Optics and AccessoriesVent rib is advisable.Pink dot sights advisable.
Tactical sling for weapon retention.
Facet-saddle or buttstock shell holders for quick reloads.
✅Tsukorok (or analogues) drone detector permits soldier to be prepared for drone assault.
Conclusions and Sensible Suggestions
Principal Findings12-gauge shotguns stay a crucial last-resort protection in opposition to FPV drones.
Most efficient vary: 30–50 meters.
Specialised ammunition (tungsten, specialised rounds) considerably will increase effectiveness.
Semi-automatic shotguns with prolonged magazines and full chokes ship greatest outcomes.
Sensible Ideas for Subject Use
Preserve excessive readiness posture: drone assaults happen with minimal warning.
Depart automotive and put together firearms when drone assaults.
Practice extensively on shifting airborne targets (sporting clays advisable).
After firing, instantly search cowl to keep away from blast radius of detonated drones.
Future TrendsExpansion of devoted navy anti-drone shotguns (Benelli M4 Drone Guardian, modified Saiga-12 programs).
Improvement of good chokes and specialised high-density hundreds.
Rising use of transportable radar and early-warning programs to cue shotgun operators.
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