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When you’ve sunk enough hours into Fallout 76, you start to realize that ammunition costs can drain your Caps faster than anything else—especially if you’re constantly restocking at vendors. Fortunately, there are several weapon choices that drastically cut down on your ammo consumption or even eliminate it entirely. Here are 17 weapons and categories of weapons that smart Wastelanders rely on to stretch their ammo supply and save big.

1. The Gauss Shotgun

While it uses 2mm EC rounds, this weapon is incredibly efficient due to its massive damage output. You won’t need many shots to bring down enemies, which means fewer rounds spent overall.

2. The Gauss Minigun

Though it chews through ammo quickly, it’s energy-based and charges its damage—making each round count. Pair it with perks like Power User for better efficiency.

3. The Plasma Caster

High damage and single-shot firing make it a great alternative to automatic weapons. It helps you conserve ammo when taking out tougher targets without full spray-and-pray tactics.

4. The Pepper Shaker

A unique shotgun that uses multiple ammo types. If you’re resourceful with your junk crafting, you can convert excess ammo types and reduce your dependence on vendor purchases.

5. Crossbow

Bolts are craftable and retrievable. This stealth-focused weapon is a fantastic choice for ammo conservation and doesn’t rely on constant restocking.

6. Compound Bow

Much like the crossbow, the compound bow gives you a stealth advantage while saving ammo. Arrows can also be retrieved post-combat, saving Caps on production.

7. Laser Weapons with Beam Splitter

Using fusion cells, these weapons can deliver multiple hits with a single shot. Fusion cells are relatively easy to come by, and using this setup boosts damage while lowering ammo usage.

8. Flamers with Optimized Mods

While they consume fuel, modded Flamers have high burn efficiency. You’ll use less fuel per enemy, making them more sustainable in long fights.

9. Ultracite Laser Rifle

Efficient, powerful, and fusion cell-based. This weapon can last through prolonged engagements, and with the right mods, it becomes even more energy-efficient.

10. Explosive Melee Weapons

Weapons like the Shishkebab or Power Fist consume no ammo at all and are perfect for melee-centric builds. You’ll completely avoid spending Caps on bullets.

11. Bloodied Melee Builds

When combined with weapons like the Chainsaw or Super Sledge, these builds let you dish out huge damage without ever using a single round.

12. Syringer

A niche weapon, but ammo is incredibly cheap to craft. Useful in specific builds or scenarios where conserving other ammo is crucial.

13. Auto Grenade Launcher (With Ammo Weight Perks)

While it uses 40mm grenades, you can craft these in bulk. Pair it with perks like Ammosmith and Ordnance Express to keep your costs low.

14. Cryolator

Using cryo cells, this weapon has a slowing effect and decent damage. Since cryo cells are often overlooked, you can find or craft them cheaply.

15. Harpoon Gun

Ammo is retrievable and deals high damage. Great for underwater enemies and one-shot eliminations.

16. Railway Rifle

Craftable spikes and powerful shots make this an ideal choice for players looking to minimize ammo spending while still having a ranged advantage.

17. Handmade Rifle (Semi-Auto Build)

With a semi-auto configuration and ammo perks, you can turn this common weapon into a Cap-saving machine by maximizing damage per shot.

If you’re running low on Caps and don’t want to constantly burn through your ammunition reserves, choosing the right weapon is critical. Whether you focus on melee builds, energy-efficient weapons, or craft-heavy setups, there are plenty of ways to minimize spending.

As a bonus tip—if you're looking to gear up quickly without draining your wallet, some players look to buy Fallout 76 Items or check out Fallout 76 Caps for Sale through trusted sources like U4GM. It's a decent shortcut, especially if you're trying to skip the grind and jump into optimized gameplay.

By thinking strategically about your loadout, you can enjoy Fallout 76 longer without the constant pressure of managing ammo and Caps.