Russians Employ Homemade AK-74 Buckshot Projectiles to Counter Drone Threats in Ukraine
Russians Employ Homemade AK-74 Buckshot Projectiles to Counter Drone Threats in Ukraine
Drones are a frequent component in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They're usually small, swift, and cost-effective. They can provide a fighter with a bird's eye view of the battlefield or serve as lethal instruments against adversaries. When they're taken down, it's just a machine that's lost, not a soldier. However, they're hard to knock out, and Russian soldiers are trying all sorts of methods, including crafting custom buckshot rounds for the AK-74 assault rifle.
These DIY AK-74 buckshot rounds started showing up on Russian Telegram channels discussing the war early this year. Journalists at The Armourer’s Bench have put together a detailed analysis on this trend.
Drones are extensively used in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and both sides acknowledge their value. After relying on imports for years, they've both increased domestic production. Ukraine claimed its production capacity could reach 4 million drones by 2025, while Russia claimed it boosted 2024 production tenfold compared to 2023.
Countering these machines might be difficult but not impossible. The optimum strategy is jamming them by selecting the right frequency, which causes the machines to lose signal and plummet. But not every soldier has access to this tech on the battlefield. Most of the time, they have a gun.
Shooting down drones with a rifle is a daunting task. Soldiers have to remain stationary, take aim, and hope for the best before the drone strikes back. A shotgun is considered a better choice due to the large scattering effect of buckshot, making it more likely to hit and destroy a drone. But not every soldier can get their hands on a shotgun.
Russian soldiers in Ukraine have developed a novel workaround: custom buckshot rounds suited for an AK-74 magazine. There are various methods to accomplish this. A Russian soldier shared a video in July demonstrating how to craft these rounds.
They first remove the projectile from a standard 5.45x39mm round. Then, they stuff several ball bearings into a wire insulation sleeve. Once filled, they warm the sleeve using a candle, shrinking it around the ball bearings. The barrel casing is then inserted, heated, and crimped into position.
This tactic seems bizarre and risky. The Armourer’s Bench observed the July video but didn't see any further evidence until November, when there was a surge of activity around the technique. Throughout November and early December, they tracked several Telegram channels sharing videos on manufacturing AK-74 buckshot rounds and methods to enhance their efficacy. There's also a video showing a soldier shooting down a drone from the sky with these rounds, but it looks staged.
AK-74s are not designed to fire rounds made from ball bearings and melted plastic. While sturdy and reliable, the balls and insulation might leave residue in the barrel, affecting subsequent shots or causing misfires.
Custom buckshot rounds for rifles are an intriguing battlefield innovation, reflecting the fear and desperation drones instill. There are numerous online videos of FPV drones causing casualties among Russian soldiers. Some drop grenades on them, others fly into their lines and explode. In one famous video, a Russian soldier takes aim at incoming drones, misses, and hurls his gun at the machine. The gun struck the drone, even if the bullets didn't, causing it to explode.
Shotguns are typically used against drones, but the harsh truth is that buckshot rarely works. Despite a wide scatter, it's challenging to hit a swift-moving target like a drone. Numerous companies are working on solutions, like buckshot loads with nets, which increase the spread of shot, enhancing the chance of downing an incoming drone.
Anyone in the U.S. can buy Skynet rounds for $39, which expand into a net when fired. A Russian company is developing a similar round modeled after a bola, aiming for the string to wrap around the drone's propellers, knocking it out of the air.
In the U.S., ZeroMark is testing a costlier solution to the problem. Its "handheld Iron Dome" aims to transform a standard rifle into an autonomous weapon that does the aiming for the soldier. The tech consists of a series of rotors attached to a standard rifle's stock and sensors along the barrel.
A soldier spotting a drone approaching would just need to aim approximately at the drone and let the machinery do the rest. ZeroMark bets that a computer can track a fast-moving target more effectively than a human. It's a more expensive way to safeguard soldiers from drones, but no less absurd than jamming ball bearings into an AK-74.
In the future, innovative technology like the handheld Iron Dome from ZeroMark could revolutionize drone countermeasures, automating aiming and protecting soldiers more effectively. However, for many soldiers on the battlefield, the only option remains using modified AK-74s with custom buckshot rounds, a makeshift solution born out of necessity.