YouTuber Tests Russian DIY Counter-Drone Rounds

First Person View (PFV) drones in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict are one of the most dangerous threats to fighters of either side. We’ve already seen how shotguns can be a valuable last line of defense. However, it appears that many of the troops on the ground don’t have access to 12-gauge shotguns, a need that prompts improvisation. The YouTube Channel and blog The Armourer’s Bench documented the efforts of Russian soldiers trying to convert their issued rounds into “shotshells”. Another channel, Friendly Neighbourhood Rifleman, intrigued by the concept, decided to replicate and test these attempts. 

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Heat-Shrink Anti-Drone Ammunition

The first DIY approach by Russian soldiers meant to increase their chances of survival in a drone encounter, while still relying on the issued AK-74 pattern rifles, adopts subcaliber metal balls held by shrink-wrap tubing. The Armourer’s Bench documented this solution in December 2024, showing different approaches and some feedback from users.

While reports from the field seem to prove that this expedient ammunition has a certain degree of effectiveness, the details are quite scarce. The Friendly Neighborhood Rifleman, inspired by TAB’s reporting, tasked himself with replicating this last-resort load. Having more access to .223 Remington firearms than 5.45x39mm ones, FNR still infused a bit of Russian flavor in his experiment by starting with TulAmmo, steel-cased, rounds.

After briefly introducing the manufacturing process of the 20 rounds prepared for the test, FNR set drone-shaped paper targets at 10 yards and started spraying them with high-velocity BBs. Initially, with single-shot sessions to focus on the terminal ballistics rather than on the operation of the AR pistol.

3D Printed Anti-Drone Ammunition

In March 2025, TAB reported about an “updated” version of the DIY salvo rounds, this time using a 3D printed sabot instead of the shrink-wrap tubing. Allegedly, this solution results in less fouling of the barrel, while likely offering more manufacturing repeatability due to the reduced reliance on the assembly operator’s skills.

Again, the Friendly Neighborhood Rifleman brought the concept to life on American soil, this time using actual Russian calibers.

Conclusions

Both concepts seem to be relatively easy to replicate. While the results give an edge to the shrink-wrap solution, the 3D printed alternative can be iterated for its optimization fast, and lead to a more reliable manufacturing process.

FNR’s tests are at distances likely shorter than any soldier wants to be when faced by an explosive-packed drone, but the energy delivered should offer drone incapacitation at longer ranges. Probably, the single soldier relying only on these rounds for their survival would need a healthy dose of luck, but multiple shooters may sufficiently saturate the air around the unfriendly flying object.

All photos courtesy of Friendly Neighborhood Rifleman