Ammo types: when to use buckshot? AP?

[Econ]

I am still early in the game - 9 hours played, at the starter hub. I've mainly been using the Viper SMG and pistol due to ammo availability but just read the shotgun is good against mutants. Should I use buckshot - they seem rather tanky, so wonder if I should use slugs on the invisible ones (bloodsuckers)?

I'm trying to save AP ammo for the later game, as I guess enemies get more armour then. But any targets I should switch to AP for in the early game?

Is there any way to tell from the main screen the ammo type loaded - is AP the lower white dot? It's not so clear to me yet if I just look at an image of the ammo box,

While I am at it, I've been using single shot mode to conserve ammo (a single fight with mutants can exhaust my primary ammo). But if ammo is not an issue, I suspect semi-auto should be the default. Is that right?

[dgresevfan]

Based on the older games, Slugs are for humans wearing armour. Darts. if they still exist in Stalker 2, are similar but with better accuracy/armour penetration.

I would say buckshot for mutants is generally always best. I'm not sure how accurate this is to the sequel.

[Wraith]

buckshots definitely for mutants
and try to explore for a better shotgun for more damage

I found the SPSA-14 while exploring and it definitely handle the early game mutants way better then the other early game shotguns

I'm on the hardest difficulty and bloodsucker aren't really a problem anymore
The bloated HP on chimera on the otherhand...

For AP just look at the armor of your enemy.
Are they wearing exoskeleton helmet then AP is the way to go.
Can easily turn 4 shot into a 1 tap
For human enemy semi auto all the way if you can keep tapping those heads

[Naraius]

Originally posted by Econ:

I am still early in the game - 9 hours played, at the starter hub. I've mainly been using the Viper SMG and pistol due to ammo availability but just read the shotgun is good against mutants. Should I use buckshot - they seem rather tanky, so wonder if I should use slugs on the invisible ones (bloodsuckers)?

I'm trying to save AP ammo for the later game, as I guess enemies get more armour then. But any targets I should switch to AP for in the early game?

Is there any way to tell from the main screen the ammo type loaded - is AP the lower white dot? It's not so clear to me yet if I just look at an image of the ammo box,

While I am at it, I've been using single shot mode to conserve ammo (a single fight with mutants can exhaust my primary ammo). But if ammo is not an issue, I suspect semi-auto should be the default. Is that right?

If you can, avoid mutants, you can also drag them into anomalies to save ammo. Fighting mutants is pointless at this point cause no profit. Top dot is weakest ammo, in the hud you have a bullet counter and a photo of the box.

[Wraith]

Originally posted by Naraius:

If you can, avoid mutants, you can also drag them into anomalies to save ammo. Fighting mutants is pointless at this point cause no profit. Top dot is weakest ammo, in the hud you have a bullet counter and a photo of the box.

unless you get one of those missions to kill mutant for money.

Much easier then finding a specific artifact lol