Advanced Ballistics Concepts will introduce a line of ammunition called SKYNET and SKYNET+. The new ammunition will be available in 12 gauge through 40mm. It appears that when fired, the projectile breaks apart and deploys a net of some type.

Of course, this is not the first ammo labeled as being anti-drone. Snake River Shooting Products released 12 gauge loads that claim to be for the same purpose.

Nor is this the first (very) niche ammunition product introduced by Advanced Ballistics Concepts. The company has endeavored to produce ammunition that breaks into chunks, but remain tethered with wire. According to the company, the ammunition is “designed to compensate for most if not all of the typical marksman’s error caused by Last Second Twitch.” The company defines Last Second Twitch as “the combined negative reactions of the body and mind.”

Currently, the company produces three kinds of ammunition that use its Wide Envelopment Bullet design. They are referred to as:

• Less-Lethal
• Semi-Lethal
• Fully-Lethal

I pause at the seemingly marketing driven names. Seriously, semi-lethal? It reminds me of the Black Death bit from the Holy Grail:

The company’s suggestions on the use of the ammunition and how to mix the various levels in your magazines is a bit questionably as well. For example, using their “Smart Stack” method, the company recommends using a less-lethal, then semi-lethal and then a fully-lethal load so you can employ non-deadly force from your firearm when lethal force is not warranted. Of course, this does not take into account how quickly someone may pull the trigger in the a violent confrontation.

We’ve seen cases where police officers have confused two entirely different weapons (handgun and TASER) in a stressful encounter. How much easier would it be to fire one too many rounds when deadly force is not appropriate?

Looking at the company’s S.K.I.P. Stack method, I can see potential problems in the legal aftermath of any defensive shooting. S.K.I.P. stands for “Systematically Kill the Intended Person.” In a questionable shooting, a prosecutor might refer to that as malice aforethought.

Maybe the anti-drone ammo is good…for something….but I have concerns about the company’s overall mission. There is no MSRP information on the new loads. However, the fully-lethal .45 ACP rounds retail for nearly $200 for a box of 50 rounds ($188.95 to be precise.)

Are they attempting to develop effective ammunition for self-defense, or just use hyped up marketing to make a buck? What do you think?