In the face of death, the occupiers show their true essence. They throw their helmets hysterically, fight back with automatic weapons, try to escape, but get what they deserve. A forest of EW antennas on the back of one of the occupiers did not help to escape from the “penal sanctions” of the soldiers of the “Rarog” Battalion of the 24th OMBr.
For sure regular buckshot isn’t what you’d want to use, but I don’t know if there’s a term for a custom shot designed to penetrate light armor on a person but still isn’t a slug. Kevlarshot? Slugs are probably what would be used for anti-personnel though, for the reason you mentioned. Birdshot would still be useful for anti-drone though, since they need to be lightly armored to fly more easily. If you force them to armor it then that costs payload. It definitely seems like something that should be being considered in this conflict.
I know the US uses shotguns for breaching, so it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they also carried some Birdshot with them in the future. I don’t know Ukraine already carries shotguns. I haven’t seen any so I don’t think they do.
I don’t think you can custom design shot in a useful way. At least I can’t think of any way to impart a spin on shot which is what you want to get range and accuracy. I’m also not sure if that would be a good idea - short range is often an advantage - if you miss you don’t kill someone on your side you cannot see.
I just meant fewer larger pellets, which will have more force per pellet and they’d also go straighter through momentum. There’s also the option of flechette (little arrows), which I forgot about earlier. They’re not super common, but they do exist.