If not speed, just having something to entangle a prop would work too. It’s not that I have anything against explosives, it’s just that they are heavy and it’s just another mechanical bit that can malfunction. (However, a device that is functionally equivalent to a shotgun shell isn’t that heavy and doesn’t need complex triggering.)
Also, what I was thinking of would only really work against drones that drop munitions or against drones that are used for recon. You did get me thinking about suicide drones again though… Once a suicide drone starts their kill run, its too late and it’s hard to hit.
Since the war in Ukraine started, I have been thinking a ton about small anti-drone systems for grunts. They would need to be compact enough to carry in a pocket and be durable enough to survive trench warfare life and at least be functional 99% of the time. Manufacturing at scale would solve some cost issues, but not completely. These conditions also hamper the capabilities of such a drone, a lot.
Side thought- If a shotgun-type concept is used, there is also a novel shell design that would be perfect: