Ammunition is a major feature and item featured in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Overview
Ammunition in Redemption 2 expands upon the feature as it appeared in Red Dead Redemption; whereas the previous game simply featured different ammunition for every weapon type, Redemption 2 features several different ammo types for each category, differentiating in range, damage or accuracy.
Ammunition can be purchased from both General Stores and Gunsmiths.
Ammunition types
Sidearm Ammunition
| Image | Revolver Ammo Type | Dmg | Rng | Acc | Base Price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Revolver Cartridges - Regular | - | - | - | $1.00 for 60 | Buy or loot |
| Regular cartridges are plentiful. | ||||||
 |
Revolver Cartridges - High Velocity | +0.2 | +0.5 | - | $2.00 for 60 | Buy |
| High velocity can pierce multiple _targets. | ||||||
 |
Revolver Cartridges - Split Point | +0.2 | - | +0.5 | NA | Craft |
| Split point drain Dead Eye slower while in the chamber. | ||||||
 |
Revolver Cartridges - Express | +0.5 | - | - | $1.50 for 60 | Buy/Uncommon loot |
| Express cartridges can be made into Explosive cartridges. | ||||||
| |
Revolver Cartridges - Explosive | +1.0 | - | - | NA | Craft |
| 1 x Express Cartridge + 1 Animal Fat | ||||||
| Image | Pistol Ammo Type | Dmg | Rng | Acc | Base Price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Pistol Cartridges - Regular | - | - | - | $1.00 for 30 | Buy or loot |
| Regular pistol cartridges cost twice as much as Revolver Cartridges. | ||||||
 |
Pistol Cartridges - High Velocity | +0.2 | +0.3 | - | $2.50 for 30 | Buy |
| High velocity can pierce multiple _targets. | ||||||
| |
Pistol Cartridges - Split Point | +0.2 | - | +0.3 | NA | Craft |
| Split point drain Dead Eye slower while in the chamber. | ||||||
 |
Pistol Cartridges - Express | +0.5 | - | - | $1.50 for 30 | Buy |
| Express cartridges can be made into Explosive cartridges. | ||||||
| |
Pistol Cartridges - Explosive | +1.0 | - | - | NA | Craft |
| 1 x Express Cartridge + 1 Animal Fat | ||||||
Longarm Ammunition
| Image | Repeater Ammo Type | Dmg | Rng | Acc | Base Price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Repeater Cartridges - Regular | - | - | - | $1.50 for 60 | Buy or loot |
| Regular cartridges are plentiful. | ||||||
 |
Repeater Cartridges - High Velocity | +0.2 | +0.3 | - | $2.50 for 60 | Buy |
| High velocity can pierce multiple _targets. | ||||||
| |
Repeater Cartridges - Split Point | +0.2 | - | +0.5 | NA | Craft |
| Split point drain Dead Eye slower while in the chamber. | ||||||
 |
Repeater Cartridges - Express | +0.6 | - | - | $2.00 for 60 | Buy |
| Express cartridges can be made into Explosive cartridges. | ||||||
| |
Repeater Cartridges - Explosive | +1.0 | - | - | NA | Craft |
| 1 x Express Cartridge + 1 Animal Fat | ||||||
| Image | Rifle Ammo Type | Dmg | Rng | Acc | Base Price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Rifle Cartridges - Regular | - | - | - | $1.50 for 30 | Buy or loot |
| Regular cartridges are common. | ||||||
 |
Rifle Cartridges - High Velocity | +0.2 | +0.3 | - | $3.00 for 30 | Buy |
| High velocity can pierce multiple _targets. | ||||||
| |
Rifle Cartridges - Split Point | +0.2 | - | +0.5 | NA | Craft |
| Split point drain Dead Eye slower while in the chamber. | ||||||
 |
Rifle Cartridges - Express | +0.6 | - | - | $2.00 for 30 | Buy/Uncommon loot |
| Express cartridges can be made into Explosive cartridges. | ||||||
| |
Rifle Cartridges - Explosive | +1.0 | - | - | NA | Craft |
| 1 x Express Cartridge + 1 Animal Fat | ||||||
 |
Rifle Cartridges - Varmint | - | - | - | $1.00 for 60 | Buy or loot |
| Used with the Varmint Rifle. Lowest damage bullets for hunting small game. Same rating as Small Game Arrows. | ||||||
| |
Rifle Cartridges - Sedative Varmint | - | - | - | $0.40 for 60 | Buy |
| Used with the Varmint Rifle to sedate animals and take samples from them for Harriet Davenport (Online Only) | ||||||
| |
Rifle Cartridges - Nitro Express | - | - | - | $0.40 for 4 | Buy |
| Ammo for the Elephant Rifle (Online Only) | ||||||
| Image | Shotgun Ammo Type | Dmg | Rng | Acc | Base Price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Shotgun Shells - Regular | - | - | - | $1.00 for 18 | Buy or loot |
| Regular shotgun shells can be used in crafting Small Game Arrows. | ||||||
| |
Shotgun Shells - Buckshot Incendiary | +0.6 | - | - | NA | Craft |
| 1 x Regular Shotgun Shell + 1 Moonshine Pamphlet found at Copperhead Landing. | ||||||
 |
Shotgun Shells - Slug | - | +0.2 | +0.8 | $1.50 for 18 | Buy |
| Can be used to make Explosive shotgun shells. | ||||||
| |
Shotgun Shells - Explosive | +1.0 | +0.2 | +0.8 | NA | Craft |
| 1 x Slug Shotgun Shell + 1 Animal Fat Pamphlet found in New Austin. | ||||||
Arrows
| Image | Arrow Type | Dmg | Rng | Acc | Base Price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Arrows | - | - | - | $0.50 for 5 | Buy |
| Arrows can sometimes be retrieved from _targets. | ||||||
| |
Arrow - Improved | +0.6 | - | - | NA | Craft |
| 1 x Arrow + 1 x Flight Feather | ||||||
| |
Arrow - Small Game | -0.8 | - | - | NA | Craft |
| 1 x Arrow + 1 x Flight Feather + 1 x Regular Shotgun Shell | ||||||
| |
Arrow - Poison | +0.2 | - | - | NA | Craft |
| 1 x Arrow + 1 x Flight Feather + 1 x Oleander Sage Poison Arrow Pamphlet is sold by Fences. | ||||||
| |
Arrow - Fire | +0.8 | - | - | NA | Craft |
| 1 x Arrow + 1 x Flight Feather + 1 x Animal Fat "Sets fire to _target and surroundings." | ||||||
| |
Arrow - Dynamite | +1.6 | - | - | NA | Craft |
| 1 x Arrow + 1 x Flight Feather + 1 x Dynamite Pamphlet is found at Wapiti Indian Reservation. | ||||||
Trivia
- Explosive cartridges are the most powerful ammunition type. However, players can only carry a very limited number of them, such as 20 Rifle Explosive cartridges.
- They are ideally suited for hunting Legendary Animals, as their pelt cannot be damaged by any means.
- On the other hand, players should avoid using explosive ammunition when hunting normal animals because it will damage the pelts.
- They are an excellent alternative for opening train safes quickly and without risking side damage, such as what may occur when using dynamite.
- The most powerful shotgun ammunition is located in New Austin, meaning this is a post-game item.
- Like poison-tipped throwing knives, poison arrows guarantee certain death to all NPCs that can be damaged. This also guarantees them to flee or stagger, becoming non-violent towards the player until they succumb to the poison.
- Legendary Animals and dangerous wild animals like grizzly bears, cougars and panthers can be dealt with using one poisoned arrow/knife and they will run away from the player when hit, instead of staying and fighting back.
- Besides damage and range, high-velocity cartridges also increase the penetration power of the guns, making it possible to kill multiple enemies with a single shot.
- In the event that players wish to loot the dead bodies of enemies after a gunfight, avoid using incendiary shells, fire arrows, or fire bottles, as the burned corpses cannot be looted.
- The amount of ammunition that can be carried is increased by purchasing bandoliers (for long guns) and gun belts (for sidearms) from Gunsmiths and the Trapper. The ammo increase is cumulative, and the equipment does not need to be equipped to gain its benefits, so purchasing as many as are available is advisable.