Apocalypse Rising 2: Which Guns Go to Which Ammo Guide
Master survival with our Apocalypse Rising 2 which guns go to which ammo guide. Learn ammo types, weapon tiers, and looting locations for Dualpoint Interactive.
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GUSMANAK DISCUSSES AMMO BOXES & MAGAZINES! - Apocalypse Rising 2Table of Contents
Surviving the zombie-infested islands of Dualpoint Interactive’s massive hit requires more than just quick reflexes; it demands a deep understanding of apocalypse rising 2 which guns go to which ammo. In a high-stakes PvPvE environment where every inventory slot counts, finding a high-tier rifle is useless if you cannot identify the correct magazine or loose cartridges to feed it. Knowing apocalypse rising 2 which guns go to which ammo is the fundamental skill that separates successful scavengers from those who perish in the first firefight.
Whether you are a new player spawning with a Snubnose revolver or a veteran hunting for the elusive Operator XM177, managing your logistics is the key to longevity. This comprehensive guide breaks down every ammunition caliber in the game, matches them to their respective firearms, and provides strategic insights into which setups offer the best ammo-to-power ratio based on community reports and expert player experience.
The Fundamentals of Ammunition in Apocalypse Rising 2
In Apocalypse Rising 2, ammunition is categorized by caliber, but it is further complicated by the "class" of the weapon and the type of magazine it requires. Unlike many arcade shooters, you cannot simply pick up "Rifle Ammo" and expect it to work in every long gun. You must match the specific caliber—such as 5.56mm NATO or 7.62mm Soviet—to the weapon's chambering.
Furthermore, weapons in this game feed from two primary sources:
Magazines: Most modern firearms (like the M16A2 or MP5) require specific magazines that must be loaded with loose ammo before they can be used.
Internal Reservoirs/Clips: Older or specialized weapons (like the Mosin-Nagant or the M1 Garand) use internal magazines fed by stripper clips or loose rounds.
Understanding apocalypse rising 2 which guns go to which ammo also means recognizing the rarity of these calibers. While 9mm Parabellum is found in almost every residential house, 7.62mm NATO is often locked behind high-tier military checkpoints.
Quick Answer
To survive, always check the weapon's tooltip for its required caliber. 5.56mm NATO is the most versatile military round, while .45 ACP and 9mm are the most common civilian/police rounds. Soviet weapons use specialized 7.62mm Soviet or 5.45mm Soviet rounds, which are not interchangeable with Western NATO equivalents.
Comprehensive Chart: Which Guns Go to Which Ammo?
To help you organize your loot runs, we have compiled a master list of the most common and powerful firearms categorized by their ammunition requirements. This table is essential for players trying to figure out apocalypse rising 2 which guns go to which ammo while under pressure.
NATO and Western Military Calibers
These are typically found in Military Crates, Special Forces Cases, and Vietnam-era containers.
Ammunition Type
Notable Firearms
Common Magazine Sizes
Loot Source
5.56mm NATO
M4A1, M16A2, AUG, M249 SAW, XM177, Mini-14
20, 30, 100 (LMG)
Military Tents, NAS, Airport
7.62mm NATO
FAL, G3, M14, M60, L96A1, PSG-1, M21 DMR
10, 20, 30, 100 (LMG)
Special Forces Crates, NAS
.45 ACP
M1911, M1 Thompson, MAC-10, UMP45, Snubnose
7, 20, 30, 50
Civilian Houses, Surplus Crates
9mm Parabellum
MP5, Uzi, M9, Glock 17, Camp Carbine
15, 17, 20, 32
Police Stations, Residential
Soviet and Eastern Bloc Calibers
Soviet weapons, often referred to as "Militia" weapons in community circles, use distinct rounds that offer high stopping power but require specific looting routes.
Ammunition Type
Notable Firearms
Common Magazine Sizes
Loot Source
7.62mm Soviet
AK-47, AKM, SKS, RPK
10, 30, 40, 75
Coastal Bunkers, Mansion
5.45mm Soviet
AK-74, AKS-74U, RPK-74M, AN-94
30, 45
Mansion, Soviet Crates
7.62mm Rimmed
Mosin-Nagant, Dragunov SVD, PKM
5 (Internal), 10, 100
Sniper Towers, Bunkers
9mm Subsonic
AS Val, VSS Vintorez, OTs-14 Groza
10, 20, 30
Rare Soviet Spawns
Deep Dive: Specialized and Rare Ammunition
Beyond the standard military calibers, Apocalypse Rising 2 features several specialized rounds that are exclusive to specific weapon classes. According to player experience, these weapons are often "high-risk, high-reward" due to the difficulty of finding consistent ammo refills.
The .30-06 Springfield and Surplus Rounds
The .30-06 Springfield is a powerful round used by World War II-era surplus weapons. While it hits incredibly hard, the ammo is less common than 5.56mm NATO.
Guns that use .30-06: M1 Garand, M1903 Springfield, M1918A2 BAR, M1919A6 LMG.
Why use it? The M1919A6 offers massive suppressive fire, and the M1 Garand has one of the fastest reload speeds for a semi-auto rifle.
The Heavy Hitters: .44 Magnum and .357 Magnum
Commonly found in revolvers and lever-action rifles, these rounds provide excellent "one-tap" potential against unarmored players.
Guns that use .44 Magnum: Model 29 Revolver, Desert Eagle, Winchester 1894.
Guns that use .357 Magnum: Python Revolver, Model 94 Ranger.
Shotgun Shells (12 Gauge)
The 12 Gauge Buckshot is arguably the easiest ammo to find in the game. It is ubiquitous in civilian barns, garages, and police cars.
Guns that use 12 Gauge: Auto-5, Maverick 88, SPAS-12, Coach Gun, Lupara.
Pro Tip: The Broadside Lupara is a community-favorite secondary because it can instantly delete a player in close quarters, though its range is virtually non-existent.
Strategic Tier List: Ammo Efficiency and Weapon Power
When deciding apocalypse rising 2 which guns go to which ammo to carry in your primary slot, you must consider the "Logistics Score"—how easy is it to keep this gun firing? Based on the comprehensive ranking by veteran players, here is how the top tiers look when considering ammo availability:
S-Tier: The Logistics Kings
These weapons use the most common high-tier ammo, making them the best for long-term survival.
Operator XM177 (5.56mm NATO): Widely considered the best gun in the game. It uses common 5.56mm ammo, features an integrated laser, and has surgical accuracy.
M249 SAW (5.56mm NATO): The best LMG for general use because 5.56mm is significantly easier to find in bulk than 7.62mm NATO.
Rogue Uzi (9mm Parabellum): The highest-ranked secondary. 9mm is everywhere, and the Rogue variant has buffed stats that rival primary SMGs.
A-Tier: The Powerhouses
These guns are devastating but require more effort to keep loaded.
M60 (7.62mm NATO): Outperforms the M249 in damage and range but relies on the rarer 7.62mm NATO caliber.
PKM (7.62mm Rimmed): A beastly LMG. While Rimmed ammo was once rare, the addition of the Mosin m44 carbine has made it more common in Soviet loot tables.
L96A1 (7.62mm NATO): The gold standard for sniping. Its 100% aimed accuracy makes every rare bullet count.
The "Avoid" Tier: Ammo Traps
Some guns are "ammo traps"—they use rare calibers but don't provide the performance to justify the search.
Obras (7.62mm Rimmed): Horrible aim speed and accuracy. Even though it uses the same ammo as a Mosin, it is widely considered the worst gun in the game.
M1918 Tankgewehr (13.2mm Anti-Tank): While fun for destroying vehicles, the ammo is extremely rare and the gun forces you to crouch, making you a sitting duck.
Where to Find Ammo: Looting Guide by Region
Knowing apocalypse rising 2 which guns go to which ammo is only half the battle; you also need to know where to scavenge. The game uses a "Class-Based" loot system, meaning specific containers only hold specific classes of weapons and ammo.
Location
Primary Loot Type
Containers to Look For
Naval Air Station (NAS)
Military / NATO
Military Cases, Vietnam Crates
Regional Airport
Special Forces / NATO
Special Forces Cases, Military Tents
Coastal Bunkers
Soviet / Militia
Soviet Crates, Ammo Tins
Mansion
Rare Soviet / AK-Pattern
Soviet Crates, Mini-Boss Drops
Ashland / Hastings
Civilian / Surplus
Surplus Crates, Gun Stores
Mackinac Island
Vietnam / Surplus
Smuggler's Airstrip Safes
Pro Tips for Ammo Scavenging
Check the Magazines: Community reports indicate that finding a gun often yields its base magazine, but finding extra magazines is the real challenge. Always check "Grey Equipment Cases" for military secondaries and "Black Weapon Cases" for police-class mags.
Zombie Drops: Don't ignore the Infected. Specific zombies, like the mini-bosses at the Mansion, are guaranteed to drop high-tier Soviet rifles like the AK-74 or AKS-74U.
The "Tan Tin" Secret: Tan or Soviet equipment cases are your best friend if you run an SKS or AK. They almost always contain 7.62mm Soviet loose rounds or magazines.
Inventory Management
Always prioritize carrying ammo for your primary weapon first. A common mistake is carrying 3-4 different types of ammo "just in case" you find a new gun. This wastes space that could be used for medical supplies or food. Pick a platform (NATO or Soviet) and stick to it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mixing up 7.62mm Types: This is the #1 cause of death for new players. 7.62mm NATO (Western), 7.62mm Soviet (AKs), and 7.62mm Rimmed (Snipers/PKM) are NOT interchangeable. If your gun won't reload, check the sub-type of the caliber.
Ignoring Secondary Ammo: Your secondary (like a Tech 9 or Uzi) should ideally use a different ammo type than your primary. If both use 5.56mm (like a Mini-14 and an XM177), you will deplete your reserves twice as fast.
Discarding Magazines: In Apocalypse Rising 2, magazines are items, not just numbers. If you drop an empty magazine to save space, you won't be able to reload that gun again unless you find a new one.
Which guns go to which ammo in the military class?
Military class weapons primarily use 5.56mm NATO (M16A2, M249) and 7.62mm NATO (M14, M21 DMR). These are found in green military crates and at locations like the Naval Air Station.
Can I use AK-47 ammo in a Mosin-Nagant?
No. While both are technically 7.62mm, the AK-47 uses 7.62mm Soviet, while the Mosin-Nagant uses 7.62mm Rimmed. They are distinct rounds and cannot be swapped.
What is the best ammo type for beginners in Apocalypse Rising 2?
For beginners, 9mm Parabellum and 12 Gauge Buckshot are the best. They are found in almost every civilian building, making it easy to stay supplied while you learn the map.
Where can I find the rare 5.45mm Soviet ammo?
This ammo is best found at the Mansion or in Soviet Crates located in the Coastal Bunkers. It is used by the AK-74 family of rifles.
How do I load loose ammo into a magazine?
Open your inventory and drag the loose ammunition box onto the compatible empty magazine. You will see a loading progress bar. Once filled, you can then load the magazine into your firearm.
By mastering the intricacies of apocalypse rising 2 which guns go to which ammo, you ensure that you are always prepared for the next encounter. Keep this guide bookmarked for your next session on the islands of Apocalypse Rising 2 and stay strapped!