We have seen increased use of shotguns by Russians soldiers for counter drone purposes, and a new video now shows Russian troops are actually being trained on the weapon systems.

Footage shows a Russian soldier and instructor firing at clay pigeons with the aid of a shotgun. Shotguns are one of the more practical drone defense options at the infantry level. While training is a must, choosing the right load for the job would also play a huge role.

Many modern-day bird loads contain high density tungsten shot which carries more kinetic energy over a longer range compared to lead shot, and almost double the effectiveness of steel shot. For that reason, much smaller tungsten shot can be used which will allow for more BBs to be loaded into a single shell, thereby also increasing the spread density. It's not clear what types of loads the Russians are using to outfit their anti drone shotgunners.

About the Author

Will Killmore

Will Killmore is a US Army combat infantry veteran and Purple Heart recipient. He has deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan with the 172nd Stryker Brigade and 173rd Airborne Brigade. Following his time in service, he successfully pursued a certificate of journalism and has been a blogger for Funker530 since 2014. Follow Will’s bad takes on Twitter