Most pistols in Rust fire one bullet per click. The Prototype 17 fires three. It is a Cobalt-made sidearm with burst fire built in, an 18 round magazine and the fastest fire rate of any pistol in the game. Up close, one trigger pull puts 120 damage into whoever is in front of you.
The catch is that you can never craft it. This Prototype 17 Rust guide covers the real stats, how burst mode works, every place it drops and the drop chances, the best ammo and attachments, how it compares with the Semi-Automatic Pistol, M92 and Python, and why recycling one is the only way to get a Burst Module.
What Is the Prototype 17 in Rust?
The Prototype 17 is a burst fire pistol that Facepunch added in the Prototype 17 update on 3 November 2022, the same patch that brought the casino Caboose train car. In the lore it is a sidearm Cobalt had built for its security forces, which is why it only turns up in high tier military loot. In the game files it is pistol.prototype17 with item ID 1914691295 (see our Rust item IDs list).
It looks like a modern polymer handgun with glowing tritium night sights. The item description sums it up: a prototype pistol with a built-in 3 round burst fire mode, strong in close quarters. It takes every pistol round and every pistol attachment.
Because it can’t be crafted, the P17 is a gun you get from fighting high tier content, then use until you die with it. In our Rust weapons guide it sits with the pistols, above the Revolver and level with the best sidearms for close range.
Prototype 17 Stats
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Damage (Pistol Bullet) | 40 per bullet, 120 per burst |
| Headshot multiplier | 2x (80 per bullet) |
| Magazine | 18 rounds (22 with an Extended Magazine) |
| Rate of fire | About 533 RPM |
| Aim cone | 0.75° |
| Reload / draw | 2.9 s / 0.5 s |
| Fire modes | 3 round burst (default) or single shot |
| Stack size / despawn | 1 / 40 minutes |
| Craftable / researchable | No / No |
A naked player has 100 HP, so one full burst to the body (120 damage) kills, and two headshots do the same. Against a player in a metal facemask and chest plate you need two or three bursts, which is why aim matters more than spam.
A few guides quote 667 RPM, but current item data lists about 533 RPM, which is still faster than the Semi-Automatic Pistol and the M92 at 400.
How Prototype 17 Burst Fire Works
Every click in burst mode fires three bullets in quick succession. Recoil climbs during the burst, so the first bullet lands where you aim and the next two drift up. That makes burst mode deadly inside about 30 metres and wasteful past it.
- Switch modes with M, the default fire mode key (
+firemode). You can rebind it in your key settings or with a bind in the F1 console, see our console commands guide. - Burst for close fights, doorways, roofs and monuments.
- Single shot for longer range, scientists at a distance and saving ammo.
- Six full bursts empty an 18 round magazine, so count your clicks and reload behind cover.
Where to Find the Prototype 17 in Rust
There is no Prototype 17 blueprint. It isn’t on the tech tree, you can’t put it in a research table, and Outpost and Bandit Camp don’t sell it. Some item sites show a recipe with Burst Modules in it; that hidden recipe only exists so the recycler knows what to give back. These are the sources:
| Source | Chance | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Drop (airdrop or Supply Signal) | ~18% | Full |
| Elite Crate | ~2% | 10-20% |
| Underwater Lab elite crate | ~2% | 10-20% |
| Heavy Scientists (M249, Spas-12, minigun and flamethrower types) | ~1.6-2% | Full |
| Bradley APC crate | ~0.9% | Full |
Supply Drops are by far the best bet. Roughly one airdrop in five or six has a P17, and it comes at full condition. Elite crate P17s spawn badly damaged, so you’ll want a repair bench nearby. Heavy Scientists at the oil rigs, Cargo Ship and the Launch Site Bradley drops are rarer but come with plenty of other loot; see our scientists guide for where each type spawns.
Best Prototype 17 Ammo
| Ammo | Damage | Per burst | Speed | Recipe (per craft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pistol Bullet | 40 | 120 | 300 | 10 metal frags + 5 gunpowder, WB1 |
| HV Pistol Ammo | 40 | 120 | 400 | 10 metal frags + 10 gunpowder, WB2 |
| Incendiary Pistol Bullet | 44.8 | 134 | 225 | 10 metal frags + 10 gunpowder + 5 sulfur, WB2 |
Because the P17 is a close range gun, the normal Pistol Bullet is the best value. HV ammo flies faster but does no extra damage, and incendiary rounds do a little more but are slow and cost sulfur. It shares ammo with the Semi-Automatic Pistol, M92, Revolver, Python, Thompson, Custom SMG and MP5.
Prototype 17 vs Other Pistols
| Pistol | Damage | Magazine | Fire | How you get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prototype 17 | 40 | 18 | 3 round burst, ~533 RPM | Loot only |
| Semi-Automatic Pistol | 40 | 10 | Semi, 400 RPM | Craft at WB2 |
| M92 | 45 | 15 | Semi, 400 RPM | Loot only |
| Python Revolver | 55 | 6 | Semi, heavy recoil | Craft at WB2 |
| Revolver | 35 | 8 | Semi | Craft at WB1 |
Inside 20 metres the P17 is the best pistol in Rust. A single click does what takes the Semi-Auto three clicks, and the 18 round magazine lets you fight two players without reloading. Past mid range the M92 is easier to land shots with, and the Python hits harder per bullet. If you have both an M92 and a P17, keep the P17 for building fights and the M92 for open ground.
Prototype 17 Attachments
The P17 takes every normal pistol attachment. These are the ones worth using:
- Weapon Lasersight: 20% tighter aim cone, 50% better hip fire and much less sway. The best pick for a gun you mostly hip fire up close.
- Holosight: 20% tighter aim cone with a clean red dot for aimed bursts.
- Extended Magazine: 18 rounds becomes 22, one extra burst plus a spare round.
- Silencer: hides your sound and muzzle flash but cuts bullet speed and range.
- Muzzle Brake: halves recoil but costs 15% damage, which drops a burst below 100 HP. Skip it.
- Flashlight: fine at night, though the tritium sights already glow in the dark.
You can’t fit a Burst Module to the P17, because it already has burst built in.
Prototype 17 Recycle Value and the Burst Module
| Output | Monument recycler (60%) | Safe zone recycler (40%) |
|---|---|---|
| High Quality Metal | 3 | 2 |
| Burst Module | 2 | 1 |
| Semi Automatic Body | 60% chance | 40% chance |
| Metal Pipe | 60% chance | 40% chance |
The Burst Module is a weapon attachment that turns a semi-auto gun into a 3 round burst weapon, with about 20% faster fire rate and 20% less recoil. It fits the Semi-Automatic Pistol, M92, Semi-Automatic Rifle, M39, Custom SMG, Thompson, MP5 and LR-300. A burst M39 or Semi-Auto Rifle is a strong mid range setup, so a spare P17 is often worth more in the recycler than in your hotbar. Recycle at a monument recycler for two modules instead of one.
Prototype 17 Tips
- Keep it in burst inside buildings. One click at a doorway kills a naked player and badly hurts an armoured one.
- Switch to single shot past about 30 metres so you don’t waste two bullets a click.
- Repair elite crate P17s before you fight with them; at 10-20% condition they break fast.
- Call airdrops. A Supply Signal is the most reliable way to farm one, and it can roll other good loot too.
- Hold a spare for the recycler if your group runs burst M39s or Semi-Auto Rifles.
Prototype 17 Rust FAQ
How do you get a Prototype 17 in Rust?
You loot it. The Prototype 17 has no blueprint, so it comes from Supply Drops (about 18%), Elite Crates and Underwater Lab elite crates (about 2%), Heavy Scientists (about 1.6 to 2%) and the Bradley APC crate (about 0.9%).
Can you craft the Prototype 17 in Rust?
No. The Prototype 17 cannot be crafted or researched and is not on the tech tree. The recipe some sites show only exists so the recycler knows what to return.
How much damage does the Prototype 17 do?
The Prototype 17 does 40 damage per bullet with normal pistol bullets and 80 on a headshot. A full 3 round burst does 120 damage, enough to kill a naked player.
How do you switch the Prototype 17 to single shot?
Press M, the default fire mode key. It swaps the Prototype 17 between 3 round burst and single shot.
What ammo does the Prototype 17 use?
It uses all pistol ammo: Pistol Bullets, HV Pistol Ammo and Incendiary Pistol Bullets. Normal Pistol Bullets are the best value.
What does the Prototype 17 recycle into?
At a monument recycler it gives 3 high quality metal, 2 Burst Modules and a 60% chance each at a Semi Automatic Body and a Metal Pipe. A safe zone recycler gives 2 HQM, 1 Burst Module and 40% chances.
Is the Prototype 17 better than the M92?
Up close, yes. The Prototype 17 fires 3 bullets per click from an 18 round magazine, so it kills faster inside about 20 metres. The M92 does 45 damage per bullet and is easier to control at longer range.