Delta Force Ammo Chart
One grid, every matchup: how much of your damage gets through each armor tier, ammo tier by ammo tier. Built on the community-documented tier-gap penetration model and refreshed on every patch review.
Penetration chance: ammo tier vs armor tier
Read your ammo tier in the left column, the enemy's armor tier across the top — the cell is the share of shots that penetrate for full damage. Values follow the post-rebalance model; see methodology for sources and the [VERIFY] policy.
| Ammo ↓ / Armor → | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | Tier 5 | Tier 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 50% | 25% | 10% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| Tier 2 | 75% | 50% | 25% | 10% | 5% | 5% |
| Tier 3 | 90% | 75% | 50% | 25% | 10% | 5% |
| Tier 4 | 100% | 90% | 75% | 50% | 25% | 10% |
| Tier 5 | 100% | 100% | 90% | 75% | 50% | 25% |
| Tier 6 | 100% | 100% | 100% | 90% | 75% | 50% |
Penetration chance = share of shots dealing full damage. Blocked shots still deal a reduced share of damage and chip armor durability — the TTK calculator models both phases.
Caliber starter reference
Where each caliber usually sits. Damage numbers change per ammo type inside a caliber, so treat the tier ranges as typical loadout guidance, not gospel.
| Caliber | Typical role | Common tiers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9×19mm | SMG | 1–3 | Cheap, low recoil, struggles vs Tier 3+ armor. |
| 5.56×45mm | Assault rifle | 2–5 | Low recoil, wide ammo selection. |
| 5.45×39mm | Assault rifle | 2–5 | Similar role to 5.56, budget-friendly. |
| 7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | 3–5 | Harder hitting, more recoil. |
| 7.62×51mm | Battle rifle / DMR | 4–6 | High damage and penetration, expensive. |
| 12 Gauge | Shotgun | 1–4 | Devastating close range, tier-dependent slugs/buck. |
FAQ
What do ammo tiers mean in Delta Force?
Every round has a penetration tier from 1 to 6. The tier decides how the bullet performs against armor of each level: fire at or above the plate's tier and a large share of bullets punch through for full damage; fire two or more tiers under and most of your damage is soaked by the plate.
Which armor tier should I assume my enemy has?
In loot-based raids, assume mid tiers (3–4) are common and top tiers appear in high-risk lobbies. The chart's whole row grid exists so you can check your ammo against several likely armor levels before committing.
Is higher-tier ammo always worth the cost?
Not always. Against unarmored or low-tier targets, premium ammo wastes money, and TTK barely changes. Use the TTK calculator to see where the extra cost actually changes shots-to-kill.