Why Guns Matter
Apocalypse Rising 2 guns are essential because they are the primary way to defend against hostile players and The Infected. A weapon’s type, ammunition, capacity, attachments, and handling can all affect whether it fits the situation.
Players begin a new save with a Snubnose revolver, three Snubnose 6-round Speedloaders, a box of .45 ACP ammunition containing 24 bullets, and a Pocket Knife. This gives every new survivor a firearm, but it does not remove the need to find better equipment, ammunition, and magazines.
Firearms range from compact pistols and revolvers to rifles, shotguns, submachine guns, and machine guns. Larger weapons are generally primary guns, while smaller and more compact firearms are secondaries. Melee weapons remain useful when dealing with The Infected because they can save ammunition and avoid drawing attention.
| Starting item | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Snubnose | Revolver | Starting firearm |
| Snubnose 6rd Speedloader | Ammunition loader | Players start with three |
| .45 ACP ammo box | Ammunition | Contains 24 bullets |
| Pocket Knife | Melee weapon | Starting melee weapon |
Gun Categories
The game’s gun category divides firearms into primaries and secondaries. This is a practical distinction when building a loadout: primaries cover the typically larger firearms, while secondaries include more compact choices.
Primary firearms include assault carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, carbines, light machine guns, marksman rifles, rifles, sniper rifles, shotguns, and submachine guns. The category includes weapons such as the AKM, AUG, FAL, M1919A6, Mosin-Nagant PU, L96A1, Auto-5, and MP5.
Secondaries include pistols, revolvers, machine pistols, short rifles, compact shotguns, and compact submachine guns. Examples include the Desert Eagle, G17, M1911, Snubnose, MAC-10, MP5K, UZI, Obrez Mosin-Nagant, and Lupara.
| Category | Firearm groups | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | Assault carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, carbines | M4A1, AKM, FAL, M1 Carbine |
| Primary | Light machine guns, marksman rifles, rifles | M1919A6, M21, Mini-14 |
| Primary | Sniper rifles, shotguns, submachine guns | L96A1, Model 590, MP5 |
| Secondary | Pistols and revolvers | M9, P220, Python, Snubnose |
| Secondary | Machine pistols and compact SMGs | M93R, TEC-9, MP5K, UZI |
| Secondary | Short rifles and shotguns | Obrez Mosin-Nagant, Lupara |
Weapon lists also identify event or unobtainable firearms. Examples include the Avtomat Makarov, M1918 Tankgewehr, Santa’s Pig, Trooper M1919A6, and AN-94. A weapon’s appearance in a list does not necessarily mean it is currently available through ordinary play.
Ammo, Magazines, and Attachments
Ammunition is not universal. Different firearms use different ammunition families, so finding a gun does not guarantee that a player can keep using it. The weapon information also shows that firearms may accept different magazine capacities, while some use loose ammunition instead.
Most firearms feed from magazines. Magazine capacities can range from 8 to 700, according to the weaponry overview. Firearms that use loose ammunition usually have lower capacities.
Attachments can enhance weapon behavior. Listed attachment categories include suppressors, sights, and grips. Weapon skins can be applied to most weapons, but they do not affect weapon stats.
| Weapon | Class | Ammo | Listed capacity | Attachments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini-14 | Civilian rifle | 5.56mm NATO | 20, 30 | Suppressor, sight, grip |
| Model 94 | Civilian rifle | .44 Magnum | 11 | Suppressor, sight, grip |
| M1903 Springfield | Civilian/surplus marksman rifle | .30-06 Springfield | 5 | Suppressor, sight, grip |
| M21 | Military/police marksman rifle | 7.62mm NATO | 20, 30 | Suppressor, sight, grip |
| Dragunov | Soviet marksman rifle | 7.62mm Rimmed | 10 | Suppressor, sight, grip |
| L96A1 | Special forces sniper rifle | 7.62mm NATO | 10 | Suppressor, grip |
| M40A1 | Military sniper rifle | 7.62mm NATO | 5 | Suppressor, grip |
| Auto-5 | Civilian/police shotgun | 12 Gauge Buckshot | 5 | Sight |
| Maverick 88 | Civilian shotgun | 12 Gauge Buckshot | 8 | Sight |
| Model 590 | Military/police shotgun | 12 Gauge Buckshot | 8 | Sight, grip |
A suppressor, sight, or grip is only relevant when the weapon supports that attachment. A useful inventory habit is to check the gun’s ammunition and magazine needs before committing valuable backpack space to it.
The sources describe an intermediate rifle caliber shared by the AKM and AUG. The M1919 uses belts of full-power ammunition. Meanwhile, the Mosin Nagant uses full-power rimmed rifle ammunition, and the Lupara uses shotgun shells. These differences make ammunition compatibility an important part of weapon selection.
Notable Weapons and Where They Fit
The AKM is listed as an assault rifle and is described as a reliable automatic rifle. It is associated with military checkpoints, roadblocks, barracks edges, military tents, and ammunition cans. Its recommended role is medium-range fighting with controlled bursts.
The AUG is also an assault rifle. It uses the same intermediate caliber described for the AKM, but is presented as a rarer weapon found in dangerous NATO loot areas, including barracks interiors, airfield control towers, and military checkpoints near high-traffic towns.
The M1919 is a rare belt-fed machine gun. Its ammunition is described as scarce outside dedicated military ammunition cans, and its high-tier military locations include deep barracks rooms and fortified positions.
| Weapon | Weapon type | Ammo information | Source-listed locations or role |
|---|---|---|---|
| AKM | Assault rifle | Intermediate rifle caliber | Military checkpoints, roadblocks, barracks edges |
| AUG | Assault rifle | Same intermediate caliber as AKM | Barracks, airfield control towers, military checkpoints |
| M1919 | Light machine gun | Full-power ammunition belts | Deep barracks rooms and fortified positions |
| Mosin-Nagant PU | Marksman rifle | 7.62mm Rimmed | Listed as a Soviet marksman rifle |
| M1903 Springfield | Marksman rifle | .30-06 Springfield | Listed as civilian/surplus |
| L96A1 | Sniper rifle | 7.62mm NATO | Listed as special forces |
| Lupara | Secondary shotgun | Shotgun shells | Compact shotgun category |
| MP5 | Submachine gun | Not specified in provided weapon table | Primary submachine gun category |
Not every weapon needs the same job. A shotgun is represented by weapons such as the Coach Gun, Auto-5, Maverick 88, Model 590, and SPAS-12. Marksman and sniper choices include the M1903 Springfield, M21, Mosin-Nagant PU, Dragunov, L96A1, and M40A1.
Machine guns include the M1918A2 BAR, M1919A6, M249 SAW, M60, RPK, PKM, and RPK-74M. Assault-rifle options include the AC-556, AK-47, AKM, AUG, FAMAS, L85A1, M16A1, M16A2, AK-74, and AS Val.
Choosing a Practical Loadout
A practical loadout starts with a simple question: can you support the gun with the ammunition and magazines you have? A rare firearm without usable ammunition may be less immediately valuable than a weapon that matches supplies already in a player’s inventory.
When deciding whether to carry or use a gun, consider these source-supported factors:
- Its category: primary or secondary.
- Its ammunition type.
- Its listed magazine capacity or loose-ammunition system.
- Its supported attachments.
- Whether its weapon skin is cosmetic only.
- Whether using a melee weapon against The Infected would preserve bullets and reduce attention.
For new players, the starting Snubnose offers an immediate secondary firearm, while the Pocket Knife provides a way to engage The Infected without spending ammunition. As equipment is found, firearms such as rifles, shotguns, and submachine guns offer different class options rather than a single universal solution.
Do not treat community tier lists as official weapon rules. The available TierMaker ranking is based on community voting and a cumulative average from 10 submitted tier lists. A YouTube tier-list creator also states that their rankings are personal opinions and may contain outdated information. Use those rankings as player discussion, not as a substitute for checking weapon class, ammunition, capacity, and attachment compatibility.
FAQ
What are Apocalypse Rising 2 guns used for?
Apocalypse Rising 2 guns are the primary weapons used to defend against hostile players and The Infected. They include primary and secondary firearms, from pistols and revolvers to rifles, shotguns, submachine guns, and machine guns.
What gun does a new player start with?
A new save starts with a Snubnose revolver, three Snubnose 6-round Speedloaders, a box of .45 ACP ammunition containing 24 bullets, and a Pocket Knife.
Are all guns compatible with the same ammunition?
No. Firearms use different ammunition types. The provided weapon data includes 5.56mm NATO, .44 Magnum, .30-06 Springfield, 7.62mm NATO, 7.62mm Rimmed, and 12 Gauge Buckshot.
Can weapon skins improve gun stats?
No. Weapon skins may be applied to most weapons, but they do not affect any weapon’s stats.
What attachments can guns use?
Listed firearm attachments include suppressors, sights, and grips. Available attachments vary by weapon.