Start with the ammunition you can use
Check the complete ammunition name, the magazine and the weapon together. Similar-looking cartridges do not make every magazine interchangeable. When choosing between guns, include the ammunition you already have and the space required for a second supply. A weapon you can keep loaded is often the practical choice for your next encounter.
Understand what a number means
Body and head damage are different values, and full-damage range marks the point before damage starts falling off. The comparison below displays a selected community snapshot rather than claiming to measure every current weapon. Rate of fire is not a guarantee of practical accuracy. Semi-automatic fire also depends on how consistently you can fire.
Choose for your situation
Use the table to compare trade-offs, then check how the weapon feels in game. A long-range number alone does not decide a close encounter. Aim speed, recoil, your sight picture and available ammunition can all change a choice. The table intentionally avoids a single universal tier rating or an unsupported claim about which gun wins every fight.
Magazines changed in August
The August update expanded several extended-magazine options and introduced aim-speed penalties for some large magazines. It also made transferring ammunition instantaneous. Old recommendations to carry loading tools are no longer reliable. Consult the official notes for the exact affected items, then check compatibility in your inventory before planning around a magazine.