Tarkov Weapons & Ammo Guide: Penetration is Everything

Every round has a penetration (pen) value that decides which armor it can defeat. Rule of thumb: a round reliably penetrates an armor class once its pen is roughly (class × 10). So you need ~40 pen to consistently beat Class 4 armor, ~50 for Class 5.

If pen is too low the round gets stopped by the plate: you can land dozens of body hits and still not kill, only chipping the armor's durability. That's why in Tarkov the right ammo kills, not the priciest gun. Any round is lethal to an unprotected head, but for body shots pen is essential.

Reliable, affordable picks for beginners in each main caliber:

• 5.45x39 (AK-74 family): BS is the strongest (~51 pen); BT is cheap and effective (~45); PS is the budget pick (~39).
• 7.62x39 (AKM): BP is the reliable choice (~47 pen); PS is a cheap start (~35).
• 5.56x45 (M4 / HK416): M855A1 is balanced (~44 pen); M995 is the strongest but pricey (~53).
• 9x19 (MP5 and pistols): AP 6.3 (~45 pen) or PBP (~44) — ideal for SMGs.
• 12 gauge (shotguns): flechette or slugs vs armor; buckshot vs unarmored targets.

As range opens up, fire semi-auto in controlled single shots — your accuracy and ammo efficiency go way up. Use full-auto only in very close encounters; at distance full-auto throws off recoil and wastes ammo.

Hold your breath with Shift while aiming to reduce sway. Recoil drops noticeably with parts like a muzzle brake, foregrip and stock, plus high ergonomics.

You don't need an expensive, complex build. Start with a cheap but reliable receiver (e.g. the AK-74N); add a muzzle brake and foregrip for recoil, and a simple red dot for close-to-mid range. A flashlight helps on night raids.

Prioritise the balance between recoil and ergonomics; then pick optics by map: a 1x red dot for tight, indoor fights, a 3-4x scope on open maps. Use our weapon modder to attach parts, see stats live and share your build.