In Escape From Tarkov, knowing your ammunition is just as important as knowing your weapon. Every bullet type behaves differently, with unique penetration, damage, and armor effectiveness values. Using the wrong ammo can mean losing fights you should have won—while using the right one can help you drop enemies in a single burst. In 2025, with updated ballistics and armor systems, understanding ammo mechanics has never been more crucial.
This guide explains Tarkov’s ammo types, how penetration and damage interact, and which rounds dominate in the current wipe.
Caliber Basics
Each weapon in Tarkov uses a specific caliber, from the light 9x19mm pistol rounds to the devastating 7.62x51mm NATO rifle ammunition. Larger calibers tend to offer higher penetration and damage but come with heavier recoil. Choosing the right caliber depends on your weapon type, playstyle, and the armor you expect to face.
Common beginner calibers like 5.45x39mm and 7.62x39mm strike a balance between control and power, making them perfect for early- and mid-wipe combat.
Penetration vs. Damage
Ammo in Tarkov works on two key stats: penetration power and damage value. Penetration determines whether your bullet passes through armor, while damage affects how much health the target loses upon impact. High-damage, low-penetration rounds excel against unarmored enemies, but fall short when facing geared players.
Veterans often favor high-penetration rounds, as surviving armor-clad encounters matters more than dropping scavs quickly.
Ammo Types and Effectiveness
Different ammo types cater to specific purposes. For instance, AP (armor-piercing) rounds like 7.62×51 M61 shred through heavy armor, while hollow points like 9×19 RIP cause massive flesh damage but fail against even basic protection. Mixing ammo types strategically can help balance cost and performance.
Understanding which rounds dominate your chosen caliber helps optimize every firefight.
Best Rounds per Caliber in 2025
The table below summarizes the best-performing ammunition types for their calibers in the current wipe:
| Caliber | Ammo Type | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|
| 5.45x39mm | BS | High penetration, balanced damage |
| 7.62x39mm | BP | Excellent against mid-tier armor |
| 5.56x45mm NATO | M855A1 | Strong armor penetration, reliable damage |
| 7.62x51mm | M61 | Top-tier penetration for endgame PvP |
| 9x19mm | AP 6.3 | Viable pistol ammo with armor-piercing ability |
Testing and Practice
The best way to learn ammo performance is through testing. Offline raids let players experiment with different rounds against armored targets, giving a feel for how each behaves. Keeping a simple reference sheet or using in-game charts saves time when gearing up for live raids.
Practical experience quickly builds intuition about which ammo to load in every situation.
Conclusion
Mastering Tarkov’s ammo system turns good players into deadly ones. Understanding how calibers, penetration, and damage interact ensures you’re always prepared for the fight ahead. In 2025, as gear and armor evolve, knowledge remains your strongest weapon. Choose wisely, aim carefully, and let your bullets do the talking.
In Tarkov, knowing your ammo isn’t optional—it’s survival.