Welcome to my ultimate 2000+ word guide demystifying ammo selection for new Tarkov players. As a hardened veteran with 1000+ PMC raids, I have the hard-earned knowledge to elevate your survival rate through smart ammo choices.
This extensive article explores all key ammunition attributes in detail with expert tips tailored to fledgling PMC operators. You will gain the tactical insight to assemble combat-ready weapons to assert dominance across raids.
Why Proper Ammo Selection Matters
Ammo determines damage output and protection penetration. Yet choosing ideal rounds seems bewildering for Tarkov newcomers between trader offerings and loot. This section illustrates why optimizing ammunition matters through statistic impact in firefights.
Any PMC would take a meta HK or M4 over a banged-up AKS-74U. But hardcore veterans know one truth – the deadliest guns are useless without proper ammo.
I have shredded clueless PMCs wearing 500K+ loadouts using humble Veprs and SKS rifles loaded with high damage rounds. Their expensive protection means nothing against unblocked damage to unarmored limbs.
By memorizing ammo stats rather than chasing vaccine stims, you too can drop thick-skinned chads wielding exotic firearms. Soon this knowledge becomes second nature – you will breeze through ammo decision-making to terrorize your servers.
Now let us transition from why to what – an in-depth exploration of ammunition attributes in Tarkov.
Armor Penetration – Defeating Body Armor
Ammo penetration indicates its raw stopping power against armored targets by specifying the highest tier reliably defeated. This crucial statistic determines capability facing geared enemies across firefights.
Penetration ratings scale from 0-100+ with higher values enabling bullet defeat of thicker class tiers. As an example, mediocre HP ammo scratches class 2 soft armor at only 10 penetration. Meanwhile Igolnik laughs at class 6 protection rated for assault rifle fire thanks to 87 armor piercing rating.
Another nuance is that penetration percentages deliver probabilities of defeating higher rated defenses. To illustrate, 7N39 Igolnik penetrates level 6 Ceramic only 50% of impacts – the rest bounce off thick plates based on random chance.
As a beginner lacking elite ammo access, stick with budget rounds exceeding 30 penetration like PS 7.62×39. This penetration tier pressures the majority of medium threats wearing tier III protection in early wipe raids.
Once unlocked at trader loyalty LL3 and LL4, consistent armor destruction requires packing specimens like BP 7.62×39 (Class 5), BS/BT 5.45 (Class 4) and M856A1 5.56 (Class 4). Tarkov scales late game Time-to-Kill around defeating these armor tiers.
Of course, exclusively equipping highest penetration ammo is an expensive habit. The table below outlines top budget, mid-tier and premium armor piercing rounds across common calibers to mix based on means:
| Caliber | Budget Ammo | Mid-Tier Ammo | Premium Ammo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.45×39 | PS (32) | BP (45) | BS/Igolnik (87) |
| 7.62×39 | PS (30) | BP (48) | SNB (69) |
| 5.56×45 | M855 (28) | M856A1 (37) | M995 (57) |
| 7.62×51 | M80 (43) | M62 (51) | M61 (69) |
Now that you understand the importance of ammo penetration, let‘s explore delivering damage against unprotected opponents.
Stopping Power – Maximizing Damage Output
Damage values indicate how rapidly ammunition eliminates unarmored targets through health loss. This blocking stat simulates kinetic energy transfer or flesh wounding capacity.
Higher damage rounds quickly drop targets even through partial blocked shots given random fragment chances. By contrast, low damage bullets require prolonged exposure necessitating precise aim under fire stress.
For example, while 5.56 M995 penetrates tier 5 reliably, it only delivers 35 damage needing 10+ rounds stopping unarmored foes. Alternatives like M855A1 balance 37 penetration with higher 56 damage for quicker kills if you expose limbs or score face taps.
At 30+ penetration, prioritize at least 40+ damage rifles rounds for PMC combat since full-auto mag dumps must eliminate before they fire back or find cover. Shotguns word differently with high damage per pellet at shorter ranges.
Of course you sacrifice reliably penetrating thicker armor chasing maximal damage. Few rounds offer both extreme statistics. For destroying unprotected players while threatening medium armor like troopers, 7.62×39 BP ammo provides exemplary well-rounded values.
Refer to the comparison chart below when balancing damage, penetration and affordability needs:
| Caliber | High Pen | Balanced | Max Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.45×39 | BS (40) | BP (49) | RIP (~70) |
| 7.62×39 | SNB (72) | BP (48) | RIP (~85) |
| 5.56×45 | M995 (35) | M856A1 (56) | RIP (~70) |
| 7.62×51 | M61 (86) | M62 (79) | RIP (~116) |
As the table shows, certain balanced ammunition provides penetrating power alongside increased damage output. Let us next explore how recoil enables consistently applying firepower.
Controlling Recoil
Besides armor stats, properly landing shots determines combat effectiveness. Here recoil (measured in arbitrary units) indicates how wildly your weapon bounces upon firing.
Excessive recoil scatters shots away from targets even in short bursts. Compensating muzzle rise mid-fight remains extremely difficult, especially for beginners. Reduced recoil also speeds follow up headshots against wounded opponents.
Luckily, intelligent ammo selection minimizes recoil facilitating faster aim stabilization between rounds. As an example, firing BT in 5.45 rifles induces 29 vertical kickback versus BP ammo’s 24 points – an 18% reduction!
At moderate 30-40 penetration values, prioritize ammo with recoil under 35 units in full-auto weapons. Of course, semi-automatic platforms better tolerate harder kicking ammo types since shooters manually re-align each fire.
Practicing control and building mechanical skill still remains mandatory for Tarkov firearms mastery. But equipping low recoil ammunition enables beginners to land accurate shots earlier during progression.
Now that we have covered defense penetration, damage and recoil thresholds, let‘s unbox another vital ballistic factor – velocity.
Velocity – Extending Reliable Range
Muzzle velocity measures a bullet‘s speed typically listed in meters per second (m/s). Faster projectiles traverse shorter times of flight towards targets showing flatter trajectories and lowered gravity dropoff.
In practical combat terms, equipping higher velocity ammo extends your reliable engagement range before requiring holdover or lead compensation. Slower rounds lead targets less and demonstrate inferior flight stability especially beyond 150m distances.
For example. .366 AP slugs leave VPO bolt-action rifles at around 457 m/s velocity. But 7.62×51 M61 blasts from SR-25s at nearly double that rating – 869 m/s! Thus M61 demonstrates substantially less drop and drift requiring half the leads on strafing PMCs past 100m.
Of course extremely high velocity specialty ammunition costs premium prices and requires mastery of high-caliber weapons viable for long distance shooting.
As a beginner focusing CQB fights under 100 meters, prioritize penetration and damage first while favoring velocity ratings exceeding 600 m/s as a secondary bonus. Opportunities for precision marksmanship arrive later after gathering sufficient experience moving tactically under close pressure.
Let‘s now dig deeper into subtle ammunition traits that impact weapon functionality besides ballistic output.
Reliability, Durability and Heat
Other obscure attributes heavily influence handling including misfire chance, barrel wear and heat buildup rates. These contribute to potential malfunctions threatening combat effectiveness.
Reliability – Quality percentage indicating round failure chance caused by primer issues or feed faults. Poorest ammo suffers 4% misfires while modern offerings mostly eliminate this except for "dud" legendary occurrences.
Durability Burn – This value represents barrel life degradation that accelerates weapon jamming measured by points of endurance damage per shot. Corrosive Soviet bloc rounds like 7N6 wear parts down twice as fast as fresh Western production causing jams.
Excess Heat – Certain ammunition when fired in rapid succession overheats firearm actions eventually inducing extractor failures or blown casings inside chambers. Watch for +temp values accelerating heat buildup through prolonged volleys.
As a beginner lacking advanced malfunction recovery technique, stick with affordable ammunition exceeding 99% reliability while minimizing excessive durability and heat impact. Play it safe by avoiding exotic specialty ammo until accumulating extensive troubleshooting practice.
For example, 7.62×39 T-46M tracers seem incredible lighting targets ablaze. But their temperamental combustion exacerbates failures to feed and extraction issues resulting in maddening jams.
Now let‘s pull these insights together into coherent guidelines for choosing starter ammunition until trader loyalty unlocks better offerings.
Matching Ammo to Weapons, Budgets and Threats
While we have explored disparate ammunition attributes in detail, properly aligning these to current gear represents the ultimate outcome for success. Follow these best practices when selecting rounds:
Available Weapons Platform – Match caliber while considering firearms mechanics. Automatic rifles benefit most from recoil reduction while bolt guns emphasize penetration for one-tap playstyles.
Protected Targets – Ratchet up penetration for thick-skinned threats like chads in tier 5+ protection. But drop down closer to damage specialization facing unarmored low levels.
Engagement Distances – Longer range shootouts demand prioritizing higher velocity rounds with flatter trajectories while CQB fights highlight stopping power.
Shooting Skill Level – Newcomers lacking recoil control or re-acquisition speed lean towards damage for 1-3 shot kills before opponents can react while veterans emphasize sustained DPS output.
Wealth Limitations – Balance budget against ammo price and availability through traders vs flea only as the wipe progresses. Pay for premium performance only when your skill ceiling utilizes specific advantages.
Situational Context – Certain high profile rounds like Igolnik and RIP trade armor penetration and flesh damage for overspecialization. Adapt ammunition towards current objectives and spawn conditions.
While initially daunting, memorizing ammunition characteristics eventually becomes second nature after extensive exposure across raids. Soon you rapidly evaluate offerings and equip specialized rounds for the task at hand just as iconic operators fine tune precision weapons.
Let‘s recap key lessons before wrapping up this exhaustive Tarkov ammunition guide tailored for aspiring newcomers.
Summary – Top Ammo Tips for Beginners
- Analyze armor penetration values first when selecting ammunition followed by expected damage output
- Control recoil and extend engagement range through lower kick and high velocity ammo respectively
- Consider weapon reliability impacts from exotic ammunition potentially inducing jams
- Match ballistic capabilities to targets, wealth, gear and situational factors in the zone
- Run budget rounds exceeding 30 penetration to pressure medium tier troopers and unprotected hostiles
- Learn to read ammo tables fluently cross-referencing statistics like sleep efficiency data
- Embrace failures and experimentation determining niche applications for specialty ammunition in your raids
This definitive guide only skims the surface when it comes to obsessive ammunition mechanics. But by learning these key techniques, you will inflict damage efficiently during fights. Expect your survival rate and stash value to skyrocket soon!
For any other questions comment below or find me in-game as Deadlyslob. Happy hunting stalkers!