Rust Recoil Patterns – AK, MP5A4, LR-300, Thompson, M249, SMG

William Westerlund / December 27, 2025 / 5 min read

When it comes to FPS games, the most important thing we need to become better is to master the recoil models of weapons. In this guide, we will examine in detail the recoil patterns of all weapons in Rust, especially the AK spray pattern.

Rust Recoil Patterns for Key Guns

Rust Recoil Patterns

All of the game’s automatic weapons have predetermined spray patterns that you can learn. You can control where your gun will be aiming if you understand the spray pattern, even though they still have accuracy and a related cone of fire. Weapons with set patterns include:

🔫
AK Recoil Pattern

The hardest but most rewarding assault rifle recoil to master in Rust.

🎯
LR-300 Assault Rifle

Easier recoil with strong mid-to-long range accuracy.

🎮
MP5A4

Stable recoil and excellent close-to-mid range control.

Thompson

Fast fire rate with manageable recoil for early-to-mid game fights.

💣
M249

High fire rate and suppression, but difficult recoil control.

🔥
Custom SMG

Simple recoil pattern ideal for close-range combat.

When mastered, each of these, especially the top three, which are extremely potent, can be lethal.

To help you increase your accuracy, we’ll go over the pattern utilized to mitigate recoil in the sections below. Finding a server that lets you practice the patterns, nevertheless, might prove helpful.

Assault Rifle AK Spray Pattern and Recoil

One of the favorite weapons of almost everyone who plays Rust, the AK assault rifle is a deadly weapon to quickly take down your opponents.

However, it should not be forgotten that such a powerful weapon has a strong recoil.

It is very challenging to hit the first 5-8 bullets you fire at the enemy.

Therefore, the most important thing you need to do is improve yourself by training on the spray pattern of AK every day in Rust.

All you have to do is draw a flexible lightning bolt with the first bullets.

Each time you start shooting, you must complete your spray by zigzagging your mouse control downwards.

rust assault rifle spray pattern

LR-300 Assault Rifle Spray Pattern

The LR-300 is an Assault Rifle that allows you to comfortably kill long-range enemies in the rust. It has a much easier recoil model than AK.

However, it deals less damage than AK’s. In short, the LR-300 becomes a complete killing machine for your ranged enemies, especially if you have 8x scopes.

When you start shooting with the LR-300, which has high recoil and low explosion spread, you must shoot your spray slightly from the center upwards.

However, since it has control, you may need to do a little more warm-up work.

LR-300 spray pattern

MP5A4 Spray Pattern

The MP5A4 is a submachine gun shoot pistol bullets and uses 30 of the bullets used by pistols. This weapon is Thompson’s alternative and is simple to use but difficult to build.

However, it is one of the most frequently used weapons with its high hit and range rate.

Try to keep the muzzle as centered as possible as there are sharp turns in the rebound.

Fire 4-5 rounds, wait 1 second, then fire 4-5 more rounds in rapid succession.

MP5 spray pattern

Thompson Recoil Pattern

It is an extremely powerful weapon that players new to the game can access quickly. It is very easy to use, with high damage at close range and lower recoil.

We recommend that a beginner use Thompson, as it’s much easier to get used to with Thompson’s spray pattern, thanks to its low rate of fire compared to other weapons.

Not recommended for long distance use.

Thompson rust spray pattern

M249 Spray Pattern

The M249 is the least popular sub machine gun with 100 rounds in a single magazine. When you start firing, it shows a high recoil starting from the bottom and upwards. It is the weapon with the highest recoil in the game.

This gun has high recoil. In order to control it, it is necessary to fire at intervals. It is easier to use at close range.

m249 spray pattern in rust

Custom SMG Recoil Pattern

The Custom SMG is an extremely flexible, 24-gun, fast F weapon. In addition to being faster than Thompson, it is of the machine gun class. The spray pattern is extremely easy to form, as with the Thompson.

However, since the accuracy and range of the weapon are very poor, it is not recommended for long distances. Learning the spray pattern in close-range combat allows you to gain an edge over the opponent.

How to Spray Professionally in Rust?

🏋️
Warm-up and Training

Whether it’s the AK spray pattern or any other weapon, the first step is consistent practice. Train on public servers or bot servers, focusing on recoil control and gun handling. Two Tap Aim Train is especially useful for spray practice.

🎯
One Shot Method

Most players aim to master the AK. Fire the first 3-5 bullets individually to hit targets accurately before recoil kicks in. This teaches sight adjustment and aiming distance gradually.

🧠
Creating Muscle Memory

Combine warm-ups and the one shot method to learn each weapon’s unique spray pattern. Over time, this builds muscle memory. Regular, long-term training ensures your sprays become more precise with every shot.

Key Knowledge About Recoil Patterns in Rust

Rust Recoil Patterns

Among other things, Rust is a shooter in which you often use weapons to defend yourself or get kills. To be a good player, you must understand not only the Rust AK recoil pattern but the recoil patterns of all the weapons in the game.

Whether you are using a sub-machine gun or some other weapon, with a lower recoil, veteran players will tell you that the apparent easy movements made by the best competitors take time to master.

To some degree, you will need to experiment with your mouse pad and mouse sensitivity. Various Rust guns should be utilized in various ways.

From a lower range, almost anything works. But when you barely manage to see the shape of your opponent, what works for close-ranged encounters will no longer function properly.

You need to adjust and aim for the body, not just for the head. Unless, of course, you have a weapon that gives you an advantage at that range.

Spray Control Tips 

🖱️
Change Mouse Sensitivity

Adjusting your mouse sensitivity can improve precision. Rust also allows separate sensitivity for aiming down sights. Lower sensitivity may require adjusting from wrist to arm movement for better control.

💻
Upgrade Hardware

A gaming mouse with your preferred size and weight improves accuracy. Larger mouse pads allow for low-sensitivity arm movements, which top Rust sprayers often use.

🎯
Practice Bullets

Focus on the first few bullets in a spray. Use aim servers to repeatedly practice the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd shots, which are the hardest to control.

🔭
Practice Long-Range Shots

Work on longer-range shooting to tighten spray patterns and practice bullet drop. This helps control weapons like assault rifles at a distance.

Summary

Learning how to use every weapon in Rust can be highly beneficial for obvious reasons. Teams should have players who specialize in just one to three of the aforementioned weapons.

FAQs

1. What is a recoil pattern in Rust?

A recoil pattern is the predictable path a weapon’s crosshair follows when continuously firing. Understanding it allows players to control their shots more accurately, especially during full-auto bursts.

2. How does the AK recoil pattern behave?

The AK’s recoil starts vertical and gradually pulls to the right, then slightly left. Controlled bursts or pulling the mouse in the opposite direction can help maintain accuracy.

3. What is the difference between MP5 and Thompson recoil?

The MP5 has a tighter, more vertical pattern, making it easier to control at close to mid-range. The Thompson has a wider, slightly erratic pattern, which requires more mouse adjustment to maintain accuracy.

4. How can I practice recoil patterns effectively?

Use shooting ranges or offline servers to spray each weapon at a wall while observing the bullet marks. Focus on dragging your crosshair along the opposite direction of the recoil path.

5. Does LR-300 have a unique recoil pattern?

Yes, the LR-300 has a mostly vertical pattern with minor horizontal sway. It’s easier to control than the AK at long range but still benefits from controlled bursts to maintain precision.

author avatar
William Westerlund
William brings 7 years of experience writing for multiple gaming blogs. He has more than 10,000 hours played in CS:GO (CS2) and have played around in other games such as TF2 and Rust. Through his experience playing the game at a high level and dealing with skins for many years, he provides first-hand insight into the topics covered on the Tradeit.gg blog.

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