Tarkov Ballistics Chart

Escape from Tarkov is built on one of the most realistic ballistics systems in modern gaming. Unlike traditional shooters where bullet travel is often instant and uniform, Tarkov simulates real-world bullet physics, including velocity, drop, penetration retention, and armor interaction. This system adds depth, challenge, and immersion to every firefight.

The Tarkov Ballistics Chart is a vital tool that helps players understand how different calibers and ammunition types behave after firing. Whether you're engaging at long range on Woods or in close quarters on Factory, knowing your bullet’s performance helps you land effective shots, penetrate armor, and choose the right ammo for the job. This guide explores the core components of Tarkov’s ballistics system and how you can use the chart to improve your raid success.

Tarkov Ballistics Chart

The Tarkov Ballistics Chart explains how bullets behave after firing, simulating real-world physics in EFT’s hardcore environment.

Key Ballistics Factors:

• Velocity: Faster rounds have flatter trajectories, reducing bullet drop and making long-range engagements easier.
• Bullet Drop: Gravity pulls the bullet down; lower-velocity rounds (pistol calibers, subsonic ammo) drop faster.
• Penetration Retention: Bullets lose penetration power over distance, especially lower-velocity rounds.
• Fragmentation Chance: Some rounds may fragment upon hitting soft targets, dealing additional damage.
• Armor Interaction: Rounds with insufficient penetration will cause blunt damage but often fail to kill armored targets.

Examples:

• M995 (5.56x45): High velocity (1013 m/s), flat trajectory, retains pen over distance.
• 9x19mm PST GZH: Lower velocity (396 m/s), significant drop at range, low pen retention.
• Subsonic Ammo (e.g., 9x39mm): Quiet, high damage, limited effective range due to drop and velocity.

Practical Implications of the Ballistics Charts:

• Learn your ammo’s zeroing and effective engagement ranges.
• Use high-velocity rounds for long-range sniping (e.g., M61, SNB).
• Reserve low-velocity, high-damage rounds for CQB.
• Understand bullet drop for scoped weapons, especially on Woods, Lighthouse, and Streets.
• Some players use offline raids to test drop compensation at various distances, refining muscle memory for live raids.

Conclusion

In Tarkov, success is not just about firepower—it is about understanding how your bullets behave once they leave the barrel. The ballistics chart provides the knowledge you need to adjust for bullet drop, choose the right ammo for the distance, and counter enemy armor effectively.

By mastering Tarkov’s ballistics, you gain a critical edge in every engagement. Whether you're sniping from 200 meters or pushing through a corridor, knowing your ammo’s velocity, penetration, and drop behavior ensures that every shot you take is calculated—and deadly. Use the ballistics chart as your guide, and turn your understanding into survival.