Russian anti-drone strategy: Shotguns at the frontline
The Ukrainian special forces command has released an extensive report on Russians using shotguns as anti-drone defense. Here's what the report includes.
The 30-page report, accessed by the portal hartpunkt.de, is divided into six sections. It details threats and tactics used by Russians against drones, particularly FPV drones.
The report states that the primary anti-drone measures are 12-gauge shotguns, supplemented with electronic warfare tools and passive drone detectors. The Russians reportedly assign a specialized "guard" with a semi-automatic shotgun to every unit or open vehicle crew.
This proverbial Ivan with a shotgun works alongside operators of electronic warfare systems or those with a Bułat-3/4 type passive drone detector, allowing drone detection at a distance of roughly 1 kilometre (about 0.6 miles) or less. Additionally, nearby Russians are tasked with observing the flight paths of Ukrainian drones and setting up ambushes with shooters armed with shotguns or machine guns along anticipated flight paths.
Russian anti-drone defense — its core is semi-automatic shotguns
Russians employ several civilian technologies, but according to Ukrainians, they systematically utilize two models. The first is the Molot Vepr-12, and the second is the Baikal MP-155. Both are semi-automatic designs that enable rapid fire. The Vepr-12 is magazine-fed, while the Baikal MP-155 is a classic hunting shotgun with a tubular magazine located under the barrel.
The Molot Vepr-12 competes with the Saiga-12 and is essentially an AK-style rifle reconfigured to fire 12-gauge buckshot. Structurally, it is a weapon weighing about 4 kilograms (approximately 9 lbs). With muzzle brakes and collimator sights, it becomes a highly effective tool in skilled hands. It uses box magazines that hold 5, 6, or 10 rounds, with drum magazines available that hold up to 25 rounds.
Meanwhile, the Baikal MP-155 has a maximum capacity of four rounds, plus one in the chamber. Russians reportedly also use single-shot "Rosyanka" inserts for under-barrel grenade launchers like the GP-25, a desperate measure for soldiers with an AK rifle.
Regarding ammunition, Russians reportedly focus mainly on 12/89 Ultramagnum buckshot. The 12-gauge doesn't refer to the barrel diameter but the number of spherical projectiles that could be cast from a pound of lead for a given bore size. It's currently the most popular gauge, with chamber lengths varying. The 2.75-inch (70 mm) length is the most common, producing 12/70 gauge bullets, while 3.5 inches (89 mm) is the longest for this gauge.
A longer round allows for packing more shot, increasing the chance of hitting the target with a denser lead spread. Larger shot sizes offer benefits similar to shorter rounds, as heavier projectiles are less affected by wind and deliver more energy upon hitting the target.
According to the Ukrainian report, Russians use shot with a diameter of 3.5 mm (about 0.14 inches) and a payload of 40-45 grams. When fired, it forms a spread of 150-170 pellets. Combined with a muzzle velocity of nearly 500 metres per second (about 1,640 feet per second) due to a rich powder load, it provides an effective range of 50-75 yards.
This range is good compared to the 30-yard range of commonly used 12/70 ammunition by athletes but fewer than the range of the new Beretta ammunition, which reportedly exceeds 100 yards without needing longer chambers. Notably, Ukrainians also use shotguns and soldiers experienced in shooting clay pigeons, as this proves to be the most cost-effective method for eliminating drones.
