The Shotgun In Modern Combat - Drone Defense

guntech said:
All the drone would have to do is stay 150 yards away and use it's camera until it wants to do a high speed maneuverable attack.

You will have better luck against zombies.
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In the end, in order for it to hit you, the drone has to come straight at you. At that point the aspect ratio is zero which makes for a super easy shot. There are shots in skeet that are quite similar, so it's an easy thing to practice.

Close in, even a small drone will be twice the size of a clay.

I've shot pigeons by the hundreds and they fly up to 60 mph and they jink and dodge when they know they are being shot at. They aren't that difficult to hit. It just takes some practice.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
In the end, in order for it to hit you, the drone has to come straight at you. At that point the aspect ratio is zero which makes for a super easy shot. There are shots in skeet that are quite similar, so it's an easy thing to practice.

Close in, even a small drone will be twice the size of a clay.

I've shot pigeons by the hundreds and they fly up to 60 mph and they jink and dodge when they know they are being shot at. They aren't that difficult to hit. It just takes some practice.
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Assuming you even know there is a drone watching you...
 
P12 said:
Not to nitpick, but wouldn't you want that light to be at the front of the handguard rather than in the middle and have the front sight behind it?
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I imagine it like making hand shadow critters but in this case it is the front sight projected on the target
 
guntech said:
Assuming you even know there is a drone watching you...
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FPV drones are pretty loud. You'd hear it from quite a distance.

The bomber/surveillance type drones are quieter but still pretty audible from a decent distance. I did some experiments with my little sub 250g drone and it can easily be heard from 500+ feet up.
 
Elite forces test Benelli’s counter-drone shotgun

Elite forces test Benelli’s counter-drone shotgun
By Dylan Malyasov Apr 4, 2025 Modified date: Apr 4, 2025

Benelli Armi S.p.A., a subsidiary of Beretta and the world’s largest shotgun manufacturer, has introduced its latest innovation in counter-drone technology—the M4 A.I. Drone Guardian—during a demonstration at ISOF Range in Nevada.
The weapon is designed to provide frontline units with a reliable, last-resort option against small unmanned aerial systems, including quadcopter-style first-person view (FPV) drones.
According to a press release from Beretta, “Alongside Beretta, the company has been invited to ISOF Range in Nevada this week to present its M4 A.I. Drone Guardian Counter-UAS shotgun to an exclusive group from the international SOF community.” The company describes the new system as “combat-proven” and “offering unmatched reliability in all operational environments.”
The M4 A.I. Drone Guardian features a patented Advanced Impact (A.I.) system that utilizes a longer and wider cone inside the barrel. This proprietary design is intended to increase range, impact force, and precision against aerial targets. Benelli says the system is optimized for effective use from 0 to 50 meters, with the potential to reach 100 meters under favorable conditions.
According to the company’s official product description, “Its primary purpose is to serve as a ‘last resort’ weapon against small quadcopter FPV drones on the battlefield or to quickly neutralize spy drones.” It also functions as a personal defense weapon for individual operators or as part of a squad-based drone defense capability.
The demonstration at ISOF Range was held for an audience drawn from elite international special operations forces, reflecting growing demand for low-tech, high-reliability counter-UAS solutions. As small drones become increasingly common in reconnaissance, targeting, and explosive delivery roles, armed forces worldwide are seeking flexible tools to defeat them at close range—especially in cluttered environments where electronic jamming or kinetic interceptors may not be practical.
Benelli emphasized that the shotgun’s design allows for rapid deployment in complex environments, including urban areas and dense terrain, where drones are difficult to detect and neutralize using traditional methods. The company framed the M4 A.I. as both a practical countermeasure and a force multiplier for tactical units operating in drone-saturated combat zones.
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CV32 said:
Elite forces test Benelli’s counter-drone shotgun
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Honestly, I LOL at the notion of a special "counter drone" shotgun. It's nothing more than a label to justify massively increased pricing. As if the shotgun hasn't long ago attained the peak technology for goose hunting etc. Any old 12ga with removable chokes would be just as effective as the latest and greatest "anti drone" model. The ammo is what will make the difference really.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
Honestly, I LOL at the notion of a special "counter drone" shotgun. It's nothing more than a label to justify massively increased pricing. As if the shotgun hasn't long ago attained the peak technology for goose hunting etc. Any old 12ga with removable chokes would be just as effective as the latest and greatest "anti drone" model. The ammo is what will make the difference really.
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Agree wholeheartedly.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
Honestly, I LOL at the notion of a special "counter drone" shotgun. It's nothing more than a label to justify massively increased pricing. As if the shotgun hasn't long ago attained the peak technology for goose hunting etc. Any old 12ga with removable chokes would be just as effective as the latest and greatest "anti drone" model. The ammo is what will make the difference really.
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I would argue that most semiautomatic sporting shotguns aren't suitable for field use, and certainly not an environment like Ukraine.
 
I'm gonna go ahead and disagree. Commercial model shotguns were successfully used throughout Vietnam war.

"Rugged" means heavy and nobody wants to carry more weight. A long barrelled shotgun with a choke will be the most effective anti-drone weapon. A short, heavy, mil spec shotgun will not be nearly as effective and will get left behind due to its weight.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
I'm gonna go ahead and disagree. Commercial model shotguns were successfully used throughout Vietnam war.

"Rugged" means heavy and nobody wants to carry more weight. A long barrelled shotgun with a choke will be the most effective anti-drone weapon. A short, heavy, mil spec shotgun will not be nearly as effective and will get left behind due to its weight.
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No autoloading shotgun issued during Vietnam can really be called successful, nor indeed were all the models of pumps used satisfactory.

Even today, many if not most semi designs can't even get through a training class without choking, so they're not going to handle frontline conditions well.
 
870P said:
No autoloading shotgun issued during Vietnam can really be called successful, nor indeed were all the models of pumps used satisfactory. Even today, many if not most semi designs can't even get through a training class without choking, so they're not going to handle frontline conditions well.
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It doesn't have to be a semi. The Ithaca 37 was a well regarded tool in some pretty awful conditions through multiple conflicts.
 
CV32 said:
It doesn't have to be a semi. The Ithaca 37 was a well regarded tool in some pretty awful conditions through multiple conflicts.
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Great guns but a semiauto is preferable for anti drone work.
 
870P said:
Which is why I'd previously mentioned that most sporting designs aren't suitable for battlefield use.
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I am not convinced the purpose designed combat semis aren't an order of magnitude better to justify their cost, weight, etc for the role of shooting down drones. I have seen Russians using double barreled, hinge action shotguns in the role, and I doubt the Ukrainians are picky either if they have to choose between having something and going without.
 
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