The LR-300 in Rust is the rifle people grab when they want to win fights without spending weeks learning a spray pattern. It hits for 40 damage, fires 500 rounds a minute from a 30 round magazine, and has less than half the recoil of the AK. The catch is that you can’t craft it on official servers. You have to loot it.
This LR-300 Rust guide covers the real stats, how it compares to the AK, how the recoil behaves, where to find one, the best attachments and ammo, how to fight with it, and what it gives you in a recycler.
LR-300 Rust Stats
The LR-300 Assault Rifle (item shortname rifle.lr300) is a fully automatic rifle that fires 5.56 rifle ammo. These are its base numbers with no attachments.
| Stat | LR-300 |
|---|---|
| Damage | 40 per bullet |
| Rate of fire | 500 rounds per minute |
| Magazine | 30 rounds |
| Reload time | About 4 seconds |
| Bullet speed | 375 m/s with standard 5.56 |
| Aim cone | 0.2 degrees |
| Recoil rating | 15.9 (AK is 36.4) |
| Ammo | 5.56 Rifle Ammo, HV, Incendiary, Explosive |
| Crafting | Not craftable on official servers |
At 40 damage a bullet, the LR-300 drops an unarmoured player in about three body shots up close. Armour, range and hit location all change that, so in real fights you will usually need more.
LR-300 vs AK: Which Is Better?
This is the classic Rust rifle argument. The AK (Assault Rifle) does 50 damage per bullet to the LR-300’s 40, so it needs fewer hits to kill. The LR-300 fires a little faster and has much softer recoil, which makes it far more forgiving on full auto.
| Stat | LR-300 | AK |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | 40 | 50 |
| Fire rate | 500 RPM | 450 RPM |
| Damage per second | ~333 | ~375 |
| Recoil | Low (15.9) | High (36.4) |
| Spread | A bit wider | Tighter |
| How to get it | Loot only | Loot or craft at Workbench Level 3 |
The simple rule: run the AK once your aim is good enough to make that extra damage count, and run the LR-300 while you are still learning, or any time you just want a rifle that goes where you point it. Many good players still take the LR-300 for roaming because it wins close and mid range sprays without much effort. If you want something cheaper, the Semi-Automatic Rifle also does 40 per shot, but only fires as fast as you can click.
LR-300 Recoil and Spray Pattern
The LR-300’s recoil is its whole selling point. It climbs slowly and mostly straight up, with small side to side wobble. Pull your mouse down gently and steadily and most of a magazine stays on target at close range.
The trade-off is spread. Each bullet can land slightly off where you aimed even when you control the climb perfectly. That is why the LR-300 feels amazing up close and a bit less reliable at long range if you hold the trigger down.
Where to Find the LR-300 in Rust
The LR-300 is not in the Workbench Level 3 tech tree on official servers, so you can’t research or craft it the way you can the AK. You get it from high tier loot:
- Elite Crates at top monuments like Launch Site and Military Tunnels.
- Locked Crates, the hackable crates at Oil Rig, Cargo Ship and Chinook drops. Community loot tables rate these as one of the best single chances at an LR-300.
- Heli Crates that drop when you shoot down the Patrol Helicopter.
- Bradley Crates that drop when you destroy the Bradley APC at Launch Site.
Some modded servers turn on crafting for it, so check your server’s rules. On official and most community servers, looting is the only way.
Best LR-300 Attachments
The LR-300 takes a scope, a muzzle attachment and an underbarrel attachment. Its recoil is already low, so spend your slots fixing spread and giving yourself a clean sight.
- Holosight for a clear dot at close and mid range. The best all-round scope choice.
- Weapon Lasersight to tighten spread when you spray or hip-fire.
- 8x Zoom Scope if you plan to tap targets at long range.
- Silencer for quiet roaming and no muzzle flash. It costs a little damage and bullet speed.
A Muzzle Brake cuts recoil further, but it adds spread, which the LR-300 doesn’t need more of. Most players skip it on this gun.
LR-300 Ammo Types
- 5.56 Rifle Ammo. The standard round. Cheap to make and what you should use for most fights.
- HV 5.56 Rifle Ammo. Faster bullets with less drop, useful for long range shots.
- Incendiary 5.56 Rifle Ammo. Sets targets alight. Handy against wooden bases and deployables.
- Explosive 5.56 Rifle Ammo. A raiding round for finishing doors and walls. Wasteful in PvP.
How to Use the LR-300
- Tap at long range. Past about 100 metres, fire one or two rounds at a time so the spread doesn’t waste bullets.
- Burst at mid range. Three to five round bursts keep your shots grouped while still putting out damage.
- Spray up close. This is where the LR-300 shines. Hold the trigger and pull down gently.
- Reload behind cover. A reload takes about 4 seconds. Never start one in the open.
- Pair it with a close range backup. A Thompson or MP5A4 covers you if you run dry mid fight.
Recycling the LR-300
If you end up with a spare LR-300, a recycler returns 24 high quality metal, 2 metal springs and a 60% chance at a rifle body at a powered green recycler (16 HQM, 1 spring and a 40% chance at a safe zone recycler). That rifle body can go straight into crafting an AK; see the rifle body guide. Honestly though, a working LR-300 is almost always worth more in your hands than in a recycler.
Every force wipe resets your loot. See exactly when the next one lands.
Force Wipe CountdownWant to see how it stacks up against every other gun? Read the full Rust weapons guide and tier list, or compare it with the drop-only M249.
LR-300 Rust FAQ
How much damage does the LR-300 do in Rust?
The LR-300 does 40 damage per bullet with standard 5.56 rifle ammo. At 500 rounds per minute that works out to about 333 damage per second.
Can you craft the LR-300 in Rust?
Not on official servers. The LR-300 isn’t in the tech tree, so you can’t research or craft it. You have to loot it. Some modded servers enable crafting, so check your server’s rules.
Where do you find the LR-300 in Rust?
The LR-300 drops from Elite Crates, hackable Locked Crates, Heli Crates from the Patrol Helicopter and Bradley Crates from the Bradley APC.
Is the LR-300 better than the AK in Rust?
It depends on your aim. The AK does 50 damage to the LR-300’s 40, so it kills faster if you can control it. The LR-300 has less than half the recoil, so it’s easier to hit your shots, especially on full auto.
How many bullets does the LR-300 hold?
The LR-300 has a 30 round magazine and takes about 4 seconds to reload.
What ammo does the LR-300 use in Rust?
It uses 5.56 rifle ammo, including the HV, incendiary and explosive versions.
What are the best attachments for the LR-300?
A Holosight and Weapon Lasersight are the best all-round setup. Swap to an 8x Zoom Scope for long range tapping, and add a Silencer if you want to roam quietly.
What do you get from recycling an LR-300?
Recycling an LR-300 returns 24 high quality metal, 2 metal springs and a 60% chance at a rifle body at a powered green recycler, or 16 HQM, 1 spring and a 40% chance at a safe zone recycler.
Sources and Further Reading
- Item stats and details: Facepunch Rust Wiki, LR-300 Assault Rifle
- Loot, recycle and item data: RustHelp, LR-300 Assault Rifle
- Stats and item data: RustClash Wiki, LR-300 Assault Rifle
- When the gun was added: Rustafied, Grab your bags, the LR-300 is here
- The real rifle it’s based on: Wikipedia, LR-300