Tarkov Ammo and Weapons Guide: Penetration, Damage and Recoil
Whether a round gets through armor comes down to its penetration value. On every hit the game compares that number with the armor's resistance and turns the gap into a probability. The figures on this page come from the data for all 200 ammo types in the game, run through the game's own penetration formula.
How much penetration each armor class needs
At full durability, an armor's resistance is roughly ten times its class. Penetration chance starts above zero about 15 points below that value and climbs fast. Once penetration matches the resistance, the chance is 90%.
| Armor class | Chance starts at | For 50% | For 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 16 | 27 | 31 |
| 4 | 26 | 37 | 41 |
| 5 | 36 | 47 | 51 |
| 6 | 46 | 57 | 61 |
Because the window is that narrow, a few points matter a lot. 5.45 PS (28) gets through a fresh class 4 plate 3% of the time, while 5.45 BT (37) does it 55% of the time. Worn armor shifts the whole table down: against class 4 at half durability, 31 penetration is already enough for a coin flip.
Cash ammo from traders stalls at class 5
The Flea Market stays locked for your first levels, so early on most of your ammo comes from traders, barters, crafts or raids. These are the best rounds you can buy with cash in the common calibers:
| Round | Trader | Penetration | Damage | Class 4 (%) | Class 5 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.45x39 PS | Prapor 2 | 28 | 56 | 3 | 0 |
| 5.45x39 BT | Prapor 4 | 37 | 54 | 55 | 1 |
| 5.56x45 M855 | Peacekeeper 3 | 31 | 54 | 13 | 0 |
| 5.56x45 M856A1 | Peacekeeper 4 | 38 | 52 | 65 | 3 |
| 7.62x39 PS | Prapor 3, quest unlock | 35 | 61 | 38 | 0 |
| 7.62x39 PP | Prapor 4 | 41 | 59 | 91 | 13 |
| 9x19 AP 6.3 | Peacekeeper 3 | 30 | 52 | 9 | 0 |
| 9x19 PBP | Prapor 4 | 39 | 44 | 76 | 5 |
| 7.62x54R T-46M | Prapor 3 | 41 | 82 | 91 | 13 |
The percentages are against armor at full durability. Nothing on this list reliably beats class 5. The rounds that do are not sold for cash: 5.56 M855A1 and 7.62x39 BP can be crafted at Workbench level 3 and bartered from Ref, and outside of raids 5.45 BP only comes from a Workbench level 3 craft. 5.45 BS (54 penetration) is not on any trader, barter or craft list at all, so raids are the only source.
What switching ammo does on the same gun
The AK-74 family takes 13 different 5.45 rounds. As penetration goes up, damage drops and recoil goes up:
| Round | Penetration | Damage | Recoil effect (%) | Class 4 (%) | Hits to an unarmored thorax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP | 9 | 76 | -3 | 0 | 2 |
| PS | 28 | 56 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| BT | 37 | 54 | +5 | 55 | 2 |
| BP | 45 | 48 | +7 | 95 | 2 |
| BS | 54 | 45 | +10 | 97 | 2 |
| PPBS | 62 | 37 | +15 | 98 | 3 |
The thorax has 85 HP, so a two-hit kill on an unarmored thorax needs 43 damage per round. PPBS falls short. 5.56 has the same split: M995 (42 damage) needs three hits on an unarmored thorax, M855A1 (49 damage) needs two. High-damage rounds like HP can't even get through class 3 soft armor.
The stock does most of the recoil work
The median stock in the game cuts recoil by 19.5%, across 292 stocks. The 164 muzzle devices (brakes, compensators and flash hiders) have a median of 8% and top out at 20%. Suppressors have a median of 5% and cost a median 13 ergonomics. The best of the 61 foregrips only takes 3.5% off recoil, and their median contribution is 4 ergonomics. Put a foregrip on for ergonomics, not recoil.
Ergonomics and weapon weight decide how fast you aim down sights and how quickly your arm stamina drains while aiming.
Which ammo should I use as a new player?
5.45 PS, sold by Prapor at level 2, gets through class 3 armor 66% of the time and fresh class 4 only 3% of the time. The first real step up against class 4 comes at trader level 4: 5.45 BT, 5.56 M856A1, 7.62x39 PP and 9x19 PBP.
How much penetration do I need for an armor class?
At full durability, about ten times the class gives you a 90% chance: 41 for class 4, 51 for class 5. Anything 15 or more points below ten times the class never gets through.
Is higher damage ammo better?
Only against unarmored targets. 5.45 HP does 76 damage, but with 9 penetration it can't get through class 3 armor. Against armored players penetration comes first, because damage only counts once the round is inside.