The video closes out SHOT Show 2026 with an interview at the Drone Round booth. Drone Round is described as a long-discussed but previously unrealized concept: dedicated anti-drone ammunition for standard rifles. The company has developed specialized 5.56 and .308 rounds intended to engage drones out to significant distances, with an effective range on some loads reaching about 100 meters. Drone Round was created by the team behind Unlimited Ammo, working in partnership with Freedom Munitions to scale production. The guests emphasize that this is not a prototype but a finalized product with real production capacity, aimed at providing a practical counter to small unmanned aerial systems using familiar rifle platforms.
Drone Round ammunition is designed to transform a standard-issue battle rifle into a long-range, high-performing shotgun-style system without any modifications to the firearm. The rounds feed from traditional magazines or belt-fed configurations, so users can simply load a dedicated magazine of Drone Round when needed. On impact, the projectile breaks into multiple projectiles, creating a shotgun-like pattern at longer ranges and higher energy than a typical shotgun. This approach allows users to keep their existing rifle platforms instead of carrying a separate shotgun or additional weapon system, while still gaining a specialized tool for engaging drones and other small aerial targets.
For 5.56, Drone Round offers two main variants: the K and the L. The 5.56 K variant contains eight projectiles and is optimized for closer engagements, with an effective range of roughly 30 to 50 meters. The 5.56 L variant uses five projectiles and is tuned for longer reach, with an effective range out to about 100 meters. The tradeoff is framed as quantity of projectiles versus distance: more projectiles at shorter range or fewer projectiles with extended reach. Both are intended to run in widely used 5.56 platforms currently fielded in conflict zones, giving users flexibility to choose the load that best matches expected engagement distances against drones.
Drone Round is also being developed for 7.62 / .308 platforms. The company plans to offer both K and L variants in this caliber, though at the time of the interview only an L version is available. Thanks to the greater case volume in 7.62, the round can deliver more energy downrange and maintain effective performance at significantly longer distances than the 5.56 versions. The team reports maintaining usable patterns and groupings at around 300 meters, which they compare to hitting a clay pigeon at that distance with a shotgun. The concept is that the projectile breaks up yet still holds a tight enough pattern at 200 to 300 meters to be practical for engaging small aerial targets.
At the time of SHOT Show 2026, Drone Round is restricted to military and law enforcement users. The company positions itself as a defense-focused effort because of the urgent need to address the growing drone threat. However, the representatives stress that they come from the commercial ammunition world through Unlimited Ammo and Freedom Munitions, and they repeatedly state a desire to bring Drone Round to the civilian market as soon as possible. They do not provide a specific timeline but say they intend to move as quickly as the regulatory and approval process allows, emphasizing that they view this capability as important for the broader American shooting community and Second Amendment supporters.
Behind the booth, the team displays several AR-15 style rifles and other personal builds used to test Drone Round. These are described as enthusiast-grade rifles rather than basic configurations, with attention to high-quality components and accessories. The hosts mention brands such as Geissele, Knights, and HK, noting that the rifles on display are personal weapons that have actually been used to fire Drone Round and engage drones during testing. The presence of these rifles is presented as evidence that the developers are active shooters who run the ammunition through real-world setups, not just theoretical test rigs, and that they enjoy building and shooting modern rifle platforms.
The discussion turns to how Drone Round behaves across different barrel lengths and with suppressors. According to the company, testing has shown minimal variation in performance whether the ammunition is fired from an 8-inch CZ Bren or an 18-inch HK 416. Grouping patterns at distance remain consistent across these barrel lengths, which is highlighted as a key design goal. The team also notes that Drone Round functions properly through suppressors without negatively affecting ballistics or patterning. This means users can run their preferred suppressed setups while maintaining the intended spread and effective range of the anti-drone ammunition, adding flexibility for various operational environments.
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