Rust AK47
Rust AK47 complete guide: damage stats, 30-round magazine, recoil pattern (vertical pull + lateral kick), best ammo (standard vs HV vs explosive), and ranking among Rust's top weapons.
The AK47 is Rust's iconic top-tier rifle — Tier 3 crafting requirement, 30-round 5.56 magazine, highest single-shot damage of any rifle in the game. Mastering its recoil pattern is the single biggest skill ceiling in Rust PvP.
AK47 fast facts
| Tier | T3 workbench required to craft |
|---|---|
| Magazine | 30 rounds (5.56 Rifle Ammo) |
| Body damage (standard 5.56) | ~50 |
| Headshot multiplier | ~2× body damage |
| Effective range | ~80m before significant drop |
| Reload time | ~3.4 seconds |
| Aim cone (hipfire) | Wide — ADS strongly recommended |
| Attachment slots | Sights, muzzle, foregrip, light |
| Recoil profile | Strong vertical pull + lateral kick after round 4-5 |
How AK recoil works
The AK's recoil has two phases. Rounds 1-4 are mostly vertical pull — counter by pulling the mouse straight down. Rounds 5-10 add unpredictable lateral kick (left/right) on top of the vertical, plus accelerating vertical climb. Beyond round 10 the spray becomes very hard to control without practice — most experienced players burst-fire 4-7 rounds at a time rather than holding the trigger.
For visual recoil patterns of every Rust rifle (AK, MP5, Thompson, M249, LR-300), see the Recoil Patterns page.
Frequently asked questions
How many bullets does it take to kill someone with an AK in Rust?
Naked: 1 headshot or 2 body shots. Roadsign armour: 1 headshot or 3 body shots. Full hazmat: 1 headshot or 4 body shots. Heavy plate (HQM helmet + chest): 2 headshots or 5+ body shots. Practical PvP fights end in the first 3-5 rounds because hitting a moving target with more than that under pressure is genuinely hard.
Is AK47 better than LR-300?
Both are top-tier. AK has slightly higher damage per shot but harder recoil. LR-300 has cleaner, more controllable recoil but fires slightly slower and uses the same mag size. Most pros pick LR-300 for sustained fire and AK for short bursts. New players usually find LR-300 easier to learn.
What's the AK recoil pattern in Rust?
Strong vertical pull rounds 1-4, then unpredictable lateral kick after round 5. The pattern is partially randomised so you can't memorise an exact path — you learn the general shape (down-and-counter-the-drift) and react. Recoil scripts that automate this are bannable; aim training servers are the legitimate way to practice.
How do I craft an AK47?
Tier 3 workbench, 50 HQM, 1 spring, 1 metal pipe, 1 SMG body, 1 semi-automatic body. Total scrap-equivalent cost ~250-300 scrap. You also need the blueprint, which you research at a Research Table for ~125 scrap (find a default AK to research, or combine 200 blueprint fragments).
What ammo is best for AK47?
Standard 5.56 Rifle Ammo for general PvP — highest damage, default trajectory. HV (high-velocity) for long range — flatter arc but slightly less damage. Explosive 5.56 only for raiding (does explosive damage to walls/doors but is bad for combat against players). Most competitive players carry standard with a small HV stack for distance shots.
Can I fix the AK47 spray pattern with a script?
No — Facepunch's anti-cheat (EAC) bans players for using third-party scripts. The recoil is partially randomised specifically to defeat scripts. Practice on aim-training servers, learn burst-firing, and accept that the skill ceiling here is high but legitimate.