All Ammunition types in MW3, explained

Loadout and weapon customization are key aspects of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. While creating a class, you'll notice your gun has an ammunition slot alongside other attachments.

The ammunition attachment slot allows you to select from a wide variety of ammo types that apply special characteristics to your bullets, such as range, recoil control, armor penetration, and more. Below, you'll find everything you need to know about all the ammunition types available in MW3.

All Ammunition attachments in Modern Warfare 3

The initials of ammunition types may vary depending on the weapon class; for instance, SMGs have 9mm Frangible ammo whereas ARs have 5.56 Frangible ammo. Regardless, both ammo types are basically the same and have the same use. While these attachments buff your firing power in some way, many also have some associated cons that you must consider.

Here are all the ammunition types in MW3, including the ones that carry over from MW2:

• Frangible: Inflict a wounding effect on the enemy that slows healing or recovery time.
  • Cons: Bullet penetration and damage range.
• Hollowpoint: These crippling power rounds slow down the enemy's speed and disable sprint for a short time when you hit them in the legs.
  • Cons: Bullet penetration.
• Armor Piercing: Increase bullet penetration through objects and cover, and increase vehicle damage slightly.
• Overpressured +P: Increase flinch dealt to the enemy.
• High Grain Rounds: Increase bullet velocity and damage range.
  • Cons: Recoil control.
• Low Grain Rounds: Increase recoil control.
  • Cons: Bullet velocity and damage range.
• Hardened Rounds: Increase bullet penetration and vehicle damage (similar to Armor Piercing).
  • Cons: Damage range, bullet velocity, and recoil control.
• High Velocity: Increase bullet velocity so it hits the target quicker.
  • Cons: Recoil control.
• Incendiary: Burn damage over time and increased vehicle damage.
  • Cons: Bullet velocity, damage range, and bullet penetration.
• Round Nose: Increase target flinch and bullet penetration (similar to Overpressured +P).
  • Cons: Damage range.
• Mono: Increase vehicle damage, bullet penetration, bullet velocity, and damage range.
  • Cons: Recoil control.
• Tracer: Rounds leave a visible trail to enhance tracking. Also increases bullet penetration.
• Snake Shot: Turn your revolver into a hand-held shotgun by increasing the damage radius. Available only for the Basilisk and Tyr handguns.
  • Cons: Damage range and bullet velocity.

Related: All new weapons in MW3 and how to unlock

These are the main ammunition types you'll find in MW3 while customizing Assault Rifles, SMGs, LMGs, Battle Rifles, Sniper Rifles, etc. However, Shotguns have a completely different and unique set of ammo types which I've mentioned below:

• Bolo Shells: Devastating damage at close range thanks to increased crippling power, wounding effect, and limb damage.
  • Cons: Damage radius and bullet velocity.
• 12 Gauge Slug: Slug rounds with increased damage range and bullet velocity.
  • Cons: Damage radius.
• 12 Gauge Dragon's Breath: Deal severe incendiary damage to the target.
  • Cons: Damage range, bullet velocity, and bullet penetration.
• 12 Gauge Explosive: Slug rounds that explode on contact dealing extra damage.
  • Cons: Damage radius and bullet velocity.

Stay tuned to Pro Game Guides for more Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 content. In the meantime, head over to our article on All perks, field upgrades, & killstreak changes in MW3 launch update.