3D printing has become a key element in so many aspects of the ongoing war so it was inevitable that it would be leveraged in making this ad-hoc anti-drone ammunition. It appears that several Russian workshops have now developed 3D-printed sabots to replace the shrink-wrap tubing. It appears that this move towards 3D printed sabots is an effort to prevent the barrel being fouled by plastic from the tubing. This is an issue which has been highlighted in a number of posts including a bore scope video published by Ukrainians who tested the home-made rounds. The shrink-wrap likely disintegrates in the barrel leaving behind polymer residues whereas the 3D printed sabots seem to remain intact until they leave the barrel.
h/t Chris
As drones are now common over the battle space, we should expect to see official munitions focus on these interim “tools” developed out of necessity.
It’s amazing how quickly this kind of stuff is being developed and implemented. Military products developed by US arms manufacturers take many years to develop and have to be tested over insane temperature ranges like -55 degrees C to 125 degrees C. They also have to be rated for high humidity levels, water immersion, all kinds of vibration & drop testing, etc. Extremely expensive stuff.
These guys are in Russia and Ukraine are taking commercial grade off the shelf parts from cell phones and computers which only are rated for 0 deg C to 70 deg C and quickly cranking out cheap weapon systems in just a few months or even weeks. I have seen videos of bare circuit boards duct taped to the sides of drones. And it works!
As a kid I must have shot over a 100,000 BB’s in my Daisy guns….lol They are still useful, copper, lead and zinc type. 3D Printing came big during Covid when couch potatoes had plenty of time and free money. You designed it 3-D can make it. I have several items that I got at trade shows, the prices are inexpensive.
How is this better than a shotgun? Really?
Four or five pellets per round in a special mag I hope versus six rounds of 12 gauge number 6 or 4. I would rather lug around an extra weapon than grab the wrong mag in a firefight.