PUBG Ammo Guide: Which Bullets Fit Each Weapon?

A weapon is only useful when you carry the correct ammunition. In PUBG, the caliber appears beside the weapon in your inventory and on compatible ammo stacks, so check that label before filling your backpack. The quickest rule is simple: keep ammunition for your two equipped guns and drop stacks that do not support your loadout.

The examples below cover the main ammunition families and familiar weapons that use them. PUBG's weapon pool varies by map and can change with updates, so the in-game inventory label is the final authority when a newly added or rebalanced weapon differs.

.45 ACP

.45 ACP supports several pistols and compact weapons, including the P1911, R45, Deagle, Tommy Gun, UMP45, and Win94. These guns fill different roles, so do not judge the ammunition by caliber alone: the UMP45 is an approachable SMG, while the Win94 is a lever-action rifle designed for more deliberate shots.

5.56mm

Many assault rifles, light machine guns, and marksman rifles use 5.56mm ammunition. Common examples include the M16A4, M416, SCAR-L, AUG, M249, Mini14, and map-specific options such as the QBZ, G36C, QBU, or Mk12. A 5.56mm primary paired with a 5.56mm DMR can simplify inventory management because both weapons share one ammo reserve.

7.62mm

7.62mm is used by weapons such as the AKM, Beryl M762, Groza, Mk47 Mutant, DP-28, SKS, SLR, Mk14, Kar98k, Mosin-Nagant, M24, and R1895. These weapons range from automatic rifles to bolt-action snipers. The ammunition occupies more backpack space per round than lighter common calibers, so carry an amount that matches your fire rate rather than automatically taking every stack.

.300 Magnum

.300 Magnum is the specialized ammunition for the AWM. It normally comes with the weapon rather than as ordinary floor loot, making each shot harder to replace. If you pick up an AWM, keep its ammunition and avoid spending it on targets that a regular rifle can handle safely.

9mm

9mm is widely associated with pistols and SMGs. Examples include the P92, P18C, Micro UZI, Vector, VSS, PP-19 Bizon, MP5K, and MP9. Exact availability depends on the map. Fast-firing SMGs can consume a large reserve quickly, but carrying excessive ammunition still leaves less room for healing and grenades.

12 Gauge

12 Gauge shells feed shotguns such as the S686, S1897, S12K, DBS, Sawed-Off, and O12. Shotguns are strongest when their spread and damage profile match the distance. A modest shell reserve is often enough for a secondary shotgun; an automatic shotgun needs more.

Crossbow bolts

The crossbow uses bolts rather than firearm ammunition. It is quiet and potentially powerful, but its slow reload and projectile travel demand patience. Carry bolts only when you intend to keep the crossbow, because they otherwise consume valuable space without supporting another weapon.

How much ammunition should you carry?

There is no universal number. Consider the weapon's firing mode, your expected engagement distance, backpack level, and whether both guns share a caliber. Automatic weapons need a larger reserve than bolt-action rifles. Before leaving a loot area, keep enough room for first aid, boosts, smoke grenades, and other utility.

• Shared caliber: convenient, but one long fight can drain both weapons.
• Different calibers: separates the reserves and may make looting from defeated players easier.
• Rare ammunition: conserve it and carry a dependable second weapon.
• Wrong caliber: drop it unless you are about to switch weapons.

Attachments matter as much as ammunition for controlling a weapon. See the guide to choosing PUBG weapon attachments, or review these PUBG backpack and looting tips before your next match.