Tarkov SMG Guide

 

Tarkov SMG Guide

(last updated January 4th 2021)

 

Submachineguns

The concept of submachineguns ('smg') dates back to World War 1. A more portable automatic weapon than machineguns, which were heavy and impractical to carry. World-War 2 was the first large conflict where smgs were issued in large quantities. 

 

 

Why use submachineguns?

Extends range of pistol ammo

The basic take-away for submachineguns: What a pistol can do at 30 meters, the submachinegun can do at 100 meters.

Superior to pistols
Shooting the same ammo as pistols, it can outrange them with higher muzzle velocity and accuracy.

Cheap automatic firepower
Smgs are the weapons with the highest rate of fire.

Low recoil

Low-powered ammo + heavier mass than pistols = easy shooting and low recoil.

Versatility
Automatic fire for close combat, and accurate (for the ammo used) long range shooting on semi.

 

Ammo 

A special note on ammo selection related to submachineguns:

• Opposite of pistols, smgs can throw their entire magazine's worth of ammo at a target in close range in 2-3 seconds. 
• This creates an opportunity to multiply the effect of  low penetration ammo. 
• Because even the heaviest armored players have exposed areas on their body that can be saturated with a large burst of rounds.
  

9x18

The lightest pistol caliber in EFT. Used by soviet cold-war pistols and submachineguns. As we can see on the chart, it offers a wide selection of ammo types. Its maximum penetration is cut off below 30. This is a very low-recoil caliber, which makes for very easy to control automatic fire in an smg.

9x19

The most versatile caliber. It reaches all the way across the graph and can compete with modern armor-piercing calibers. Like the .45, the 9x19 is a very old caliber dating back to before the first World War. Stronger recoil than 9x18, however still manageable on full auto on the heavier smgs.

.45

A heavy, slow caliber with high base damage, but few armor-piercing ammo types. An ancient caliber, used in very few weapons. The weighty round's strong recoil is very soft when used from smgs, which are heavier than pistols.

7.62x25

Soviet high velocity pistol caliber. Penetration limit in the mid-20s. A common caliber used in WW2 soviet weapons. Replaced by 9x18 after the war.

5.7x28
A modern purpose-built armor-piercing caliber. Features various very hard penetration ammo types.

4.6x30

An armor-piercing caliber that is neither pistol or rifle round. A very effective ammo against armor and low recoiling.

 

 

 

 

Accuracy

Weapon accuracy is displayed as a fraction number for weapons in the stats screen. The lower the number, the more accurate the weapon. Accuracy describes a cone around the aimpoint that expands with distance and also curves with it.

• A weapon with an accuracy of 1 MOA means that it has the capability of hitting within a circle of 2.91cm (1.14 inches) at 100 meters.
  
• At twice the distance, the circle is twice as large (5.82cm | 2.29 inches).

• A human head has a width of approximately 16 cm. At 100 meters, this requires an accuracy of 5.4 MOA or less to reliably hit a head. 
• SMGs in EFT average around 5 MOA accuracy, which makes them capable of hitting a head at 100 meters with a high degree of repeatability.

 

 

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PPSH41

• PPSH41
• A Soviet smg chambered for the 7.62x25 high velocity pistol round used in the Tokarev pistol. It is a heavy weapon (well over 4 kg unloaded) and provides a very stable platform to shoot the 7.62x25 accurately at distances above 100 meters. 
• The rate of fire is very high at 1000 RPM, making it a formidable close combat weapon.
  
• It can be loaded witha 35-round stick or 70 round drum magazine.
• Does not fit glock magazines.
  

 

MP5

Everyone's favorite German weapon line is represented with 3 smgs in EFT. The MP5SD is considered a variant of the MP5, because its weapon 'root' in the game logic is the MP5 lower receiver.

• MP5

 

 

• MP5 SD
• The suppressed MP5 variant, introduced in 1974.
• Based on the same lower receiver and will be listed as an MP5 in the flea market.
• This suppressor slows down the supersonic 9x19 round to subsonic speeds.
• A scarce weapon to be encountered in a raid because of all the clicking required to assemble one.
  

 

 (no preview picture because I spent all my cash on UMPs and .45 rounds)

• MP5K
• A variant with shortened barrel, introduced in 1976.
• It features the same ballistic performance as a full-sized MP5, however the lower mass makes for heftier recoil.
• It has a 900 RPM rate of fire, compared to the 800 RPM of an MP5.
• Which gives it a tactical edge over an MP5 in close combat situations.
  

Kedr

The Kedr and its variants entered service in the 1990s. The 3 variants are the Kedr, Klin and Kedr-B. 

 

• They are chambered for the light 9x18 round.
• Very light weapon for an smg at a little over 1.5 kg. 
• The 9x18 is cheap, low-recoil, and limited in penetration power.
• Very limited modding.
  

• Kedr
• 900 RPM. Can not fire high velocity 9x18 PMM rounds.

 

• Klin
• 1000 RPM. This variant is capable of firing the high velocity PMM rounds.

 

• Kedr-B
• Suppressed variant. 900 RPM. Can not fire high velocity 9x18 PMM rounds.
• Sooo does not fit glock magazines.
  

 

Vityaz

Developed from the AKS-74U, the Vityaz is a weapon of the AK platform, chambered for 9x19. In EFT, it is represented in 2 variants, the Vityaz and the Saiga-9.

• Vityaz
• Similar in size and mass to the MP5, it can be viewed as a Russian equivalent to an MP5. It has a rate of fire of 700 RPM, which makes it very controllable on full-auto, thanks to the relatively high weight of 2.8kg loaded.
• It has a high amount of moddable parts, as most aftermarket parts for AK rifles fit on the Vityaz.
• Its downside is the slow to use and noisy fire selector switch.
• It is very accurate for an 9x19 SMG with 3.44 MOA.

 

 

 

• Saiga-9
• A civilian variant of the Vityaz, semi-auto, and with a longer barrel.
• It is the most accurate smg in Tarkov with 2.41 MOA
• The best option for long-range precision shooting with 9x19, out of the box.

PDW

A modern weapon classification. It is used for compact automatic weapons with increased armor-piercing capabilities to deal with increased appearance of body armor on the battlefield. The theory is to give vehicle crews a compact weapon that can be carried while performing other duties than direct combat

In Tarkov, 3cartridges, the 4.6x30, 5.7x28 and 9x21 are available.

The performance of these ammo types is between rifle and pistol calibers.

 

FN P90

Issued in 1990, this weapon is non-conventional design, comes with its own proprietary everything.

 

• FN P90
• Ammo performance is that of a medium-range 5.56 with lower maximum armor-piercing ammo.
• The 900 RPM ROF coupled with a large 50-round magazine size make it a very effective close combat weapon.
• Long-range accuracy puts it between smgs and rifles in accuracy and muzzle velocity.

HK MP7

The MP7 was developed for vehicle crews to have better armor-piercing weapons to replace pistol-caliber smgs. It shares the same tactical application as the P90. However the 4.6x30 has a higher armor-piercing value than 5.56 and 5.7x28 .

• High rate of fire at 950 RPM and very high performance AP.  
• The damage is very limited on the armor-piercing variants.
  
• If it is required to crack hard armor in close range without compromise, this is the weapon for it.

• HK MP7 A1
• Features a non-detachable foregrip.

 

 

• HK MP7 A2
• Identical in performance to the A1. The only 2 differences are the different color and the foregrip being replaced by a rail system.

 

MPX

A relatively new smg, it appeared in 2015. A weapon chambered for 9x19 that closely resembles an AR-15. It has similar dimensions and identical control layout. 

 

 

• MPX
• It has the most available modding parts for smgs and many AR-15 platform parts fit the MPX. 
• Can be used in the standard configuration as a weapon comparable to an MP5 in performance. It can also be modified to be shorter, down to the size of an automatic pistol. Or turned into a precision shooting smg with a very long barrel.
• A high-performance 9x19 smg, that makes modding easy for its shooter. Unlike the MP5, where modding comes with extra cost to put rail systems on it. 

MP9

Swiss smg chambered for 9x19. Very light-weight for its size (1.5kg unloaded). Two variants are in EFT. 

 

• The tactical purpose is that of a medium-recoil 9x19. The key advantages are the very light mass with only 10% more recoil than an MP5. A loaded MP5 is about a kilo heavier.
• The MP9-N variant has a staggering 1100 RPM rate of fire, which it shares with the Kriss Vector .45.
  

• MP9
• 900 RPM rate of fire.

 

 

 

• MP9-N
• 1100 RPM rate of fire. Comes with a pre-installed non-detachable foregrip.

HK UMP

HK's attempt at a cost-effective .45 caliber smg. Unlike its very successful MP5, the UMP was adopted by virtually no one, except CSGO players who need an automatic weapon in round 2. The slow velocity of the .45 round and the high trajectory make it feel like throwing rocks at your target.

• UMP
• A succesful hit causes a black limb (all ammo types base damage higher than 65), unless the target managed to outstrafe your shot in the time it takes between the bang sound and the bullet arriving at the target. 
• Legend has it, the .45 flies so slow, players have loaded into a customs map before it hits its target.
• Key advantages of the UMP is the high base damage of the caliber and very controllable full-auto fire at 600 RPM. 
• And that no one likes the gun and you get it back with insurance when you lose it.
• It is best used for long range shooting as it loses the advantage against close range targets if they are equipped with faster firing 9x19 smgs.

 

 

 

 

 

Kriss Vector

An American smg with a unique recoil mechanism. It comes in two variants, one for 9x19 and .45 each. 

• The weight is standard for a full-sized smg, and the vertical recoil is very low for both variants. 
• Modding capabilities are mid-range, with a full-length rail system on the top and a rail system for the handguard. Comes pre-installed with detachable and foldable ironsights.
• The tactical advantages are a very high rate of fire at low recoil
• It is also a very stable platform for long range shooting. However the high price of the weapon might be an issue if you intend to not use it in close combat.
  

• Kriss Vector 9x19
• 950 RPM. Uses 9x19 glock magazines.

 

 

• Kriss Vector .45
• 1100 RPM. Uses glock 43 magazines.