Why is ammo so expensive?

[Otleaz]

Does anyone actually buy ammo? It feels weird that this part of the economy is just inaccessible?

[Coolverine]

When you see guns on the ground, walk up to em and they should have a "hold F" option to take the ammo only. Haven't been having issues with ammo in the game for a while, maybe very early on.

[MoViNg TaRgEt]

use the buket s2, its ammo is the cheapest

[Coolverine]

Originally posted by MoViNg TaRgEt:

use the buket s2, its ammo is the cheapest

Good advice, also Skif's pistol (the one that's marked as a quest item) is really good and uses the same ammo. Is also cheap to repair and upgrade.

[ImHelping]

To make people who think inconvenience is depth really excited.

Honestly even when you have over 500 spare ammo in storage, honest veterans know it is still silly. So many commando sniper squads spawning with condition red guns, so many groups that don't have enough spare ammo between them to fill a single magazine.

It gets extra Awkard when you have cash to burn, but the vendors at the closest hubs are hipsters not selling half the ammo types, even when they sell guns that use that ammo or their NPCS use guns with that ammo.

Which can catch you off guard with even the buket if you don't make sure you got a stockpile "Everyone sells 9x18-wait what do you mean they don't today? They are selling sniper ammo!"

Granted I also felt it more in CoP than most people because I tended to pick the path of peace between duty and freedom, which really gutted the ammo type sales at one of the main vendors.

[Otleaz]

Originally posted by Coolverine:

When you see guns on the ground, walk up to em and they should have a "hold F" option to take the ammo only. Haven't been having issues with ammo in the game for a while, maybe very early on.

Sure, but it would be nice to feel like I can use money for things other than upgrades. The merchant goods for sale are basically just there for decoration.

[Nite69]

You loot ammo off enemies and from exploring around the world, and then sell ammo you don't need to buy the ammo you do like, trade with them, You have rto put effort into exploring and looting why don't players understand this?

[Baron01]

Ammo is really only expensive early in the game. That is a reason I would always pick my starting weapon from the AK family as that ammo is the most common in the zone. You also have very decent weapon available in the form of Lumonx AK.
Eventually, you will amass lots of other ammo types that you would be able to switch to different weapon if you wish.

Once you get into mid-game, past SIRCAA missions, you will start seeing enemies with more advanced weapons and ammo as well. This is where economy improves as you can now pick up and sell those advanced weapons that have better weight to coupons ratio.
Any economic concerns will be gone once you enter end-game, which is signified by access to northern part of the Zone and mainly Pripyat. You will be facing mostly enemies in exo-suits with advanced weapons but that also means you can loot those armors (very low chance) and weapons to sell or use.
I can go for a loot run in Pripyat, rack up 30k repair bill and still book 40k profit as I can haul back loot that sell to vendor for 70k+. This is moment when you can start freely buying any ammo you want. The only issue is that I could not find any trader that is selling 7.62x39mm ammo. This currently seems to be drop only item, which means it is bit more rare. Good thing is quite a few enemies use RPM-74s and will give you 50+ ammo when looted.

[Sommy]

In trade, barter (derived from bareter[1]) is a system of exchange in which participants in a transaction directly exchange goods or services for other goods or services without using a medium of exchange, such as money.[2] Economists usually distinguish barter from gift economies in many ways; barter, for example, features immediate reciprocal exchange, not one delayed in time. Barter usually takes place on a bilateral basis, but may be multilateral (if it is mediated through a trade exchange). In most developed countries, barter usually exists parallel to monetary systems only to a very limited extent. Market actors use barter as a replacement for money as the method of exchange in times of monetary crisis, such as when currency becomes unstable (such as hyperinflation or a deflationary spiral) or simply unavailable for conducting commerce.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barter

[alka]

Haven't bought one round of ammo in 70+ hours. Have thousands of rounds in my stash.

Ammo is like an in-game currency.

[Strelok]

Originally posted by Otleaz:

Does anyone actually buy ammo? It feels weird that this part of the economy is just inaccessible?

Ammo is basically free in this game.

If you think it's expensive neither you're at the very beginning of the game or you still need to learn how to properly loot and sell.

[Otleaz]

Originally posted by alka:

Haven't bought one round of ammo in 70+ hours. Have thousands of rounds in my stash.

Ammo is like an in-game currency.

Isn't that boring? Why do merchants even sell ammo then?

[alka]

Originally posted by Otleaz:

Originally posted by alka:

Haven't bought one round of ammo in 70+ hours. Have thousands of rounds in my stash.

Ammo is like an in-game currency.

Isn't that boring? Why do merchants even sell ammo then?

a) I don't find looting ammo boring (or difficult - it's all over the place).
b) So that people who can't be bothered to loot ammo can still shoot guns i guess.