How To Craft All Ammo Types in Rust

By Ambar Jimenez | 2025-11-25 18:32:30

The brutal world of Rust demands constant vigilance. While constructing an impenetrable base and hoarding precious resources are vital for long-term dominance, all those efforts become meaningless if you cannot defend your territory or raid rival compounds. In Rust, having a fighting chance boils down to one fundamental necessity: firepower and ammunition.Crafting your own ammo is one of the most essential skills to master early on. For players jumping into Rust now in 2025, the sheer volume of content and resources can be overwhelming. This guide cuts through the noise, detailing the crafting recipes for every single ammo type—from basic shotgun shells to devastating high-velocity rockets—ensuring you are always prepared for the next confrontation in the unforgiving wasteland.

Rust: How To Craft All Ammo Types

The Foundation: Gunpowder and Components

Before crafting most ammunition types, you must be proficient in acquiring or crafting the fundamental resource: Gunpowder. Gunpowder requires Sulfur (mined from sulfur nodes and refined in a furnace) and Charcoal (obtained from wood refined in a furnace). Mastering this initial process is key to sustaining your combat readiness.Ammo recipes are broken down by weapon class, each requiring specific quantities of materials like Metal Fragments (refined from Metal Ore), Sulfur, Low-Grade Fuel, and Explosives.

I. Shotgun Ammunition

Shotguns are crucial for close-quarters base defense and aggressive raiding. Their varied ammo types allow for flexibility, from soft breaches to anti-personnel blasts.

Ammo Type	Crafting Recipe	Utility
12 Gauge Buckshot	5x Metal Fragments, 10x Gunpowder	Standard anti-personnel round, reliable damage at close range.
12 Gauge Incendiary Shell	5x Metal Fragments, 10x Gunpowder, 20x Sulfur	Sets targets (including wooden doors/players) on fire, dealing damage over time.
12 Gauge Slug	10x Metal Fragments, 10x Gunpowder	Converts the shotgun into a single-projectile weapon, increasing accuracy and range.
Handmade Shell	5x Stones, 5x Gunpowder	Low-cost, early-game shotgun ammo using easily acquired Stones.

II. Rifle Ammunition (5.56mm)

Rifle rounds are the standard for high-tier weaponry like Assault Rifles, LMGs, and semi-automatic rifles. They are essential for mid-to-long range combat engagements.

Ammo Type	Crafting Recipe	Utility
5.56 Rifle Ammo	10x Metal Fragments, 5x Gunpowder	Standard issue, base rifle round. Your bread-and-butter for sustained engagements.
Explosive 5.56 Rifle Ammo	10x Metal Fragments, 20x Gunpowder, 10x Sulfur	Deals splash damage, excellent for damaging base walls and structures, though costly.
HV 5.56 Rifle Ammo (High Velocity)	10x Metal Fragments, 20x Gunpowder	Increased bullet speed (less drop) for superior long-range accuracy, essential for sniping.
Incendiary 5.56 Rifle Ammo	10x Metal Fragments, 20x Gunpowder, 5x Sulfur, 1x Low-Grade Fuel	Ignites targets, causing damage over time. Effective for disrupting healing and vision.

III. Pistol and SMG Ammunition

Pistol and SMG ammo is often used in early-game weapons and in high-rate-of-fire submachine guns, requiring a balance between cost and efficacy.

Ammo Type	Crafting Recipe	Utility
Pistol Bullet	10x Metal Fragments, 5x Gunpowder	Standard pistol and SMG round, cost-effective for medium-range fights.
HV Pistol Ammo (High Velocity)	10x Metal Fragments, 20x Gunpowder	Faster bullet speed, providing better long-range performance for pistols.
Incendiary Pistol Bullet	10x Metal Fragments, 10x Gunpowder, 5x Sulfur, 1x Low-Grade Fuel	Sets targets on fire, useful for sustained damage with rapid-fire weapons.
Nailgun Nails	8x Metal Fragments	Low-cost ammunition for the Nailgun, excellent for cheap, quick defense early game.

IV. Arrow Ammunition

Bows and Crossbows are invaluable early-game weapons, relying on easily sourced materials like wood and stone.

Ammo Type	Crafting Recipe	Utility
Wooden Arrow	25x Wood, 10x Stones	Standard, base arrow round. The cheapest ranged option.
Bone Arrow	25x Wood, 10x Bone Fragments	Slightly higher damage output than the Wooden Arrow.
High Velocity Arrow	40x Wood, 15x Stones	Faster flight speed, reducing arrow drop, making long-range shots easier.
Fire Arrow	20x Wood, 2x Cloth, 10x Low-Grade Fuel	Ignites structures and players, providing a cheap way to deal environmental damage.

V. Explosive Ammunition (Rockets)

Rockets are the most resource-intensive ammunition type, reserved for large-scale base raiding and destroying highly fortified structures.

Ammo Type	Crafting Recipe	Utility
Rocket	2x Metal Pipe, 600x Gunpowder, 10x Explosives	Standard rocket, used for maximum structural damage against stone and metal walls.
Incendiary Rocket	2x Metal Pipe, 250x Gunpowder, 250x Low-Grade Fuel, 1x Explosives	Deals fire damage over a large area, highly effective against wood structures and for area denial.
High Velocity Rocket	1x Metal Pipe, 100x Gunpowder	Faster rocket speed, primarily used for better accuracy against moving targets like helicopters or vehicles.
Smoke Rocket	N/A (Cannot be crafted)	Utility round that creates a smoke screen; typically acquired via loot.

Mastering these crafting recipes is fundamental to thriving in Rust. Whether you are stacking up on inexpensive Handmade Shells for early skirmishes or stockpiling Explosive 5.56 Ammo for a major raid, preparation is the difference between being the predator and the prey.

Platform(s): Microsoft Windows PC, Linux, Mac OS X

Genre(s): Survival

Developer(s): Facepunch Studios

Publisher(s): Steam, Humble Store

Mode: Multiplayer

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