Currently, there are fifteen types of ammunition in Rust.
There are four varieties to most ammo: Standard, High Velocity, Incendiary, and Explosive.
12 Gauge Buckshot
—Information accurate as of: 904.83 Update
12 Gauge Buckshot shells are used by the Pump Shotgun, Water Pipe Shotgun, Eoka Pistol, and Double Barrel Shotgun. When crafting the buckshot, you craft two at a time. The Buckshot is highly similar to the more expensive 12 Gauge Slug, except Buckshot is designed for close range lethality, whereas slugs are designed for long range engagements. In Devblog 180 The cost of research for this item is 75 scrap requiring level 2 workbench.
Damage and function times
Researching
The 12 Guage Buckshot Blueprint can be researched with:
- 75 Scrap
Notes
- Crafts 2 shells at a time.
12 Gauge Slug
—Information accurate as of: 904.83 Update
12 Gauge Slug shells are used by the Pump Shotgun, Water Pipe Shotgun, Eoka Pistol, and Double Barrel Shotgun. When crafting the slug, you craft two at a time. The slug is highly similar to the less expensive 12 Gauge Buckshot, except a slug is designed for long range engagements like rifles, whereas buckshot are designed for close range lethality.
Researching
The 12 Gauge Slug Blueprint can be researched with:
- 75 Scrap
Notes
- Crafts 2 shells at a time.
5.56 Rifle Ammo
—Information accurate as of: 904.83 Update
The 5.56 Rifle Ammo is a high powered rifle cartrige that can be loaded in the Assault Rifle, LR-300, Semi-Automatic, and Bolt Action as well as the M249. It is also the type of cartridge that the Auto Turret uses.
Damage and function times
Crafting
A 5.56 Rifle Ammo can be crafted with:
Notes:
- It takes 10 seconds to craft 3 bullets.
Researching
The 5.56 Rifle Ammo Blueprint can be researched with:
- 250 Scrap
Trivia
- The 5.56's full name is the 5.56x45mm NATO.[1]
- When fired at night, 5.56 Rounds may sometimes leave a distinct yellow-tinted trace behind.
References
Explosive 5.56 Rifle Ammo
—Information accurate as of: 904.83 Update
Explosive 5.56 Rifle Ammo is a variant of the standard 5.56 Rifle Ammo. It is commonly used for Raiding, and less commonly used as ammunition for rifles and large firearms. It will do small amounts of damage to players and structures in an area and deals extra damage upon a direct hit. Small bits of shrapnel may cause bleeding, although this has not been reliably tested. It also deals relatively significant damage to Wood, Stone and Sheet Metal structures, and especially to Sheet Metal Doors; It requires less Gunpowder & Metal to destroy Sheet Metal Doors when compared to Satchel Charges. One of the few downsides of this ammunition as compared to regular 5.56 Rifle Ammo is that it is more expensive to craft, it is more difficult to find in loot crates and airdrops, as well as degrading the gun used to fire it along with the silencer, if used, faster than the standard 5.56 rifle ammo.
The community has debated on the power of the explosive ammo when paired with a Silencer, and many believe it to be overpowered, resulting in a nerf in early 2019.
Damage and function times
Crafting
Explosive ammo can be crafted once the player has gathered the following materials:
- 10 Metal Fragments
- 20 Gun Powder
- 10 Sulfur
Notes:
- It takes 10 seconds to craft two bullets.
- The round sometimes spawns a small fire entity when it impacts an object, much like incendiary ammo.
Researching
The Explosive 5.56 Rifle Ammo Blueprint can be researched at a Research Table with:
- 125 Scrap
Destruction
The following table shows the Explosive Ammo rounds needed to destroy a given component when fired from a Semi Automatic Rifle: Last Updated Jan 30 2024.
Note: Single doors and double doors need the same amount of Ammunition.
Note: Since the wall buff, the amount of rounds required to destroy a wall may be different to what is listed above: further testing required.
Handmade Shell
—Information accurate as of: 904.83 Update
The Handmade Shell is an improvised projectile with multiple projectiles, similar to shotgun ammunition. They are one of the most basic kinds of ammo, and can be crafted from the beginning. Being relatively cheap to produce, these are often the ammunition of choice for starter players until a better alternative is found.
You get a loaded shell when crafting the Eoka Pistol, the Waterpipe Shotgun or the Double barrel shotgun.
Damage and function times
Crafting
A handmade shell (2 are crafted at one time) can be crafted with:
- 5 Stones
- 5 Gun Powder
It takes 8 seconds to craft a single batch of two shells.
Appearance
The Handmade Shell appears to be a spent casing, presumably that of a shotgun. A shaped rock has been inserted in the head, implying that the pellets are pebbles instead of metal pieces as with normal shotgun rounds. The fact that the crafting recipe includes Stones supports this.
Trivia
Due to the smoothbore nature of most shotguns, unusual loadings can be produced with reasonable results, beyond the usual buckshot, birdshot and slug rounds, such as bean bags for less-lethal engagements, the "poor man's alternative" to bean bags with rock salt, lead-dust for door breaching, and flechette rounds against harder targets.
Pebbles and small rocks can certainly be loaded and shot from a shotgun, however a majority of gun owners will recommend instead the cheapest of buckshot available, in favor of drastically better projectile speed velocity and aerodynamics, and gun maintenance.
High Velocity Arrow
—Information accurate as of: 904.83 Update
The High Velocity Arrow, or HV Arrow for short, is a special variant of the regular Wooden Arrow that goes faster and is more accurate but deals less damage.The HV arrows reduces the damage by 20% when taking into account the Wooden Arrow's damage. It also requires slightly more resources to craft. Being faster in the air, HV Arrows also have improved range.
Damage and function times
Crafting
The HV Arrows can be crafted with:
- 20 Wood
- 5 Metal Fragments
Notes:
- It takes 3 seconds to craft two arrows.
Trivia
- The HV Arrow is distinguished from a normal arrow by the double quills on the back end of the arrow icon.
- HV Arrows are particularly useful for hitting fast-moving targets, or for closer combat situations. They are also useful for sniping purposes.
High Velocity Rocket
—Information accurate as of: 904.83 Update
A craftable type of ammo used in the Rocket Launcher.
Damage and function times
Crafting
A High Velocity Rocket can be crafted with:
- 1 Metal Pipe
- 100 Gun Powder
Notes:
- It takes 10 seconds to craft one rocket.
Researching
The High Velocity Rocket Blueprint can be researched with:
- 125 Scrap
Destruction
The following table compares commonly used explosive devices, in terms of the minimum amount required to destroy a given object:
ALERT: This table, at least for the high velocity rockets, is outdated. 11 HV rockets are needed to destroy a sheet metal door. There may be other inconsistencies in this table.
Trivia
- Contrary to other forms of high velocity ammunition, this type of ammunition deals less damage than ordinary rockets.
- While High Velocity Rockets are not encouraged for use in damaging structures, they serve a special function in Player vs. Player engagements and damaging vehicles.
- High velocity rockets used to be able to be salvaged at the Recycler for explosives and gunpowder. This used to provide a player with an easy way to acquire an explosive for research. This is no longer possible as High velocity rockets no longer require explosives to craft.
- Explosives were removed from the ingredients as of the Transport Helicopter Update.
HV 5.56 Rifle Ammo
—Information accurate as of: 21894 Update
The HV 5.56 Rifle Ammo can be used by all 5.56 rifles, including the Assault Rifle and LR-300. This ammo type has a higher velocity and drops off at a farther distance than standard 5.56.
Previously this article listed damage differences with the high velocity round and the standard 5.56 round, however that information is outdated. Damage between the high velocity round and the standard round is exactly the same.
Crafting
A HV 5.56 Rifle Ammo can be crafted using the following
- 10 Metal Fragments
- 20 Gun Powder
Notes:
- It takes 10 seconds to craft 2 bullets.
Researching
The HV 5.56 Rifle Ammo Blueprint can be researched with:
- 250 Scrap
Damage and function times
HV Pistol Ammo
—Information accurate as of: 904.83 Update
The HV Pistol Ammo is used by the Revolver, the Semi-Automatic Pistol, the Thompson, and the MP5A4. Like the HV 5.56 Rifle Ammo these bullets have a higher velocity and does extra damage, though only by a small amount. Now it does an extra 20% dmg in all pistol weapons
Damage and function times
Crafting
The HV Pistol Ammo can be crafted with:
- 10 Metal Fragments
- 20 Gun Powder
Notes:
- It takes 10 seconds to craft three bullets.
Incendiary 5.56 Rifle Ammo
—Information accurate as of: 904.83 Update
The Incendiary 5.56 Rifle Ammo is a variant of the regular 5.56 ammo, except it has one specialty: it can set things on fire, due to being mixed with some additional sulfur and low grade fuel covering the tip (theoretically). With an incendiary bullet, you can deal a significant amount of physical or collateral damage, though bear in mind that these bullets drop off at shorter distance than any other type of ammo in its family.
Fire Mechanics
Structure
When a structure is hit with an incendiary bullet, the directly hit structure (and sometimes nearby surrounding structures) will catch on fire. There is a moderate chance that the fire will spread, and this chance diminishes over time. There is currently only one way to extinguish the fire: destroying the affected structures.
Players
When players are hit, they will suffer the usual damage inflicted by the weapon, plus Bleeding, possibly more initial damage and a status effect causing the player to burn and rapidly lose health, making it ideal for heavily armored players (especially against Wood Armor).
Animals
It is fairly easy to kill an animal using incendiary ammo, but be careful! If the ammo ignites, it will burn the body, reducing the amount of resources the corpse will yield!
Damage and function times
Crafting
The incendiary ammo can be crafted with:
- 10 Metal Fragments
- 20 Gun Powder
- 5 Sulfur
- 1 Low Grade Fuel
Notes:
- It takes 10 seconds to craft two bullets.
Researching
The Incendiary 5.56 Rifle Ammo Blueprint can be researched with:
- 250 Scrap
Incendiary Pistol Bullet
—Information accurate as of: 904.83 Update
The Pistol Bullet is used by the Revolver, Custom SMG, Semi-Automatic Pistol, MP5A4, Python Revolver, M92 Pistol and the Thompson.
There's a small chance it will start a fire.
Damage and function times
Crafting
The incendiary ammo can be crafted with:
- 10 Metal Fragments
- 10 Gun Powder
- 5 Sulfur
- 1 Low Grade Fuel
Notes:
- It takes 10 seconds to craft three bullets.
Researching
The Incendiary Pistol Bullet Blueprint can be researched with:
- 125 Scrap
Incendiary Rocket
—Information accurate as of: 904.83 Update
Damage and function times
Crafting
Incendiary Rockets can be crafted with
- 2 Metal Pipe
- 250 Gun Powder
- 250 Low Grade Fuel
- 1 Explosives
Researching
The Incendiary Rocket Blueprint can be researched with:
- 125 Scrap
Notes
- It takes 10 seconds to craft one incendiary rocket.
- Stone, Sheet Metal, and Armored walls do not take damage from the impact of the Rocket, unlike the other variants.
- These rockets, when fired at armored walls, sometimes will spawn fire on the opposite side of the wall, making them useful for flushing enemies out of cover.
- The fire spawned by this rocket will spread if touched by a player. If a player walks into fire generated by the rocket, another fire entity will be dropped at the player's feet, although it will last a shorter time than the original flames.
- Incendiary rockets can be useful for destroying placed items, including Tool Cupboards and turrets.
Pistol Bullet
—Information accurate as of: 904.83 Update
The Pistol Bullet is used by the Revolver, Custom SMG, Semi-Automatic Pistol, MP5A4, Python Revolver, M92 Pistol and the Thompson.
Damage and function times
Crafting
The Pistol Bullet can be crafted with:
Notes:
- It takes 10 seconds to craft four bullets.
- While the Pistol Bullet's caliber is not explicitly stated, it is assumed to be 9×19mm Parabellum.[1] This is supported by Face Punch artist Thomas Butters publishing the Revolver as the 9mm revolver on his ArtStation [2] account in 2015. However, with the magazine capacity (8) of the semi-automatic pistol and it's use in the Thompson, it could potentially be .45ACP.[3] Based on 3D assets from the base game this caliber is among the most likely, however the proportions and the lack of an extracting groove on the casing for the inventory art suggests it could also be the .22 Long.[4]
Researching
The Pistol Bullet Blueprint can be researched with:
- 75 Scrap
References
Rocket
—Information accurate as of: 904.83 Update
A craftable type of ammo used in the Rocket Launcher.
Damage and function times
Researching
The Rocket Blueprint can be researched with:
- 125 Scrap
Damage
The number of rockets to kill a player with or without any type of armor is:
- Far off rocket splash damage: 2 Rockets
- Close to target splash damage: 1 Rocket
- Direct hit at any range: 1 Rocket
Damage table
The following table compares commonly used explosive devices, in terms of the minimum amount required to destroy a given object:
Resource Breakdown
A Rocket can be crafted with:
- 10 Explosives
- 150 Gunpowder
- 2 Metal Pipes
The raw materials required for crafting a Rocket from scratch are:
- 1400 Sulfur
- 1950 Charcoal
- 100 Metal Fragments
- 30 Low Grade Fuel
- 2 Metal Pipes
Recycling
When placed in a Recycler, Rockets will yield:
- 1 Metal Pipe
- 75 Gun Powder
- 5 Explosives
Trivia
- Note: There are three different types of rockets:
- The Incendiary Rocket, painted red, and has the capability to cause fires to buildings/players.
- The High Velocity Rocket, that has increased range/accuracy, however, does 40% less damage to buildings (75 damage).
- All rockets laying on the ground share the same view model.
- Rockets will not explode unless fired from a Rocket Launcher.
- The Smoke Rocket is no longer available in vanilla rust. It created a thick cloud of smoke to blind enemies, for gaining ground on offense or gaining time on defense.
Gallery
Smoke Rocket
—Information accurate as of: 904.83 Update
A type of ammo used in the Rocket Launcher. Its intended functionality is to create a wide smoke screen on contact, blinding and/or confusing the enemy. You are currently unable to craft the Smoke Rocket in Vanilla. It currently does nothing when fired.
Damage and function times
Crafting
The Smoke Rocket currently cannot be crafted by players
Trivia
Smoke screens have been integrated in modern military doctrine, both offensively and defensively, in a variety of ways. Smoke munitions have been applied by artillery on the battlefield as early as World War I.
Wooden Arrow
—Information accurate as of: 904.83 Update
The Wooden Arrow is a projectile that is shot with a Hunting Bow, Crossbow and Compound Bow. It deals more damage than the High Velocity Arrow, but has a shorter range.
Damage and function times
Crafting
Arrows can be crafted with:
Trivia
- It takes 5 seconds to craft two arrows.
- There is a chance for the arrow to break when it lands.