SAND Raiders of Sophie Guns and Ammo Crafting Guide
Everything You Need to Know About Guns and Ammo in SAND: Raiders of Sophie
If you've been struggling to keep your firearms loaded and your trampler's cannons firing during expeditions, this SAND Raiders of Sophie guns and ammo guide is exactly what you need. Managing your arsenal is arguably the most important survival skill in this desert extraction game — run dry in the middle of a trampler fight and you're done. This SAND Raiders of Sophie guns and ammo guide breaks down every craftable weapon, every ammo type, all the crafting recipes, and the best loadouts to run whether you're a cautious explorer or an aggressive raider hunting other players across the sand.
The game is currently in Early Access, so some specifics may shift as patches roll out — but the core weapon and ammo systems covered here reflect the state of the game as of late June 2026.
Understanding the Two Weapon Categories
Before diving into recipes and loadouts, it helps to understand that SAND: Raiders of Sophie separates its weapons into two distinct categories: personal firearms carried by your character, and mounted weapons fixed to your trampler. Both need ammo, both run dry fast, and both require different crafting materials to keep stocked.
Personal firearms handle close-quarters boarding actions, defending yourself when you've jumped off your trampler, and picking off enemy crew. Mounted cannons are your primary tool for destroying or disabling enemy tramplers during vehicle combat. Neglecting either category leaves a serious gap in your combat readiness.
| Category | Examples | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Firearms | Revolver, Rifle, Shotgun, Pistol | On-foot combat, boarding, self-defense |
| Mounted Cannons | 40mm Autocannon, 80mm Cannon, 70mm Shotgun Cannon | Trampler-vs-trampler combat |
Best Starting Loadout for Personal Weapons
For players just getting started, the recommended personal weapon combo is the revolver paired with a rifle. The revolver handles short-to-medium range encounters reliably, while the rifle gives you the reach to engage enemies from trampler to trampler — a critical advantage when you want to pick off a crew member before they can man their cannons.
As your resources grow, you can branch into shotguns for aggressive close-range play or invest in the Petros Rifle, which supports dedicated attachments that extend its utility significantly.
Recommended Early Weapon Combo
| Weapon | Range | Best Situation |
|---|---|---|
| Revolver | Short to Medium | Close encounters, boarding actions |
| Rifle (M82) | Long | Cross-trampler engagements |
| Pepper Mill Shotgun | Short | Aggressive close-quarters fighting |
| Blitz 10 8mm Pistol | Short to Medium | Backup sidearm, resource-efficient |
One thing to keep in mind: neither your personal weapons nor your trampler cannons spawn loaded. Every time you load into a raid or expedition, you have to manually pick up ammo from the green box near your loadout rack and load your weapons before heading out. Skipping this step is one of the most common and costly mistakes new players make.
All Personal Ammo Crafting Recipes
Crafting ammo happens at two locations: your trampler's Workshop (unlocked via the Tech Tree) or a Fort Crafting Bench. Basic ammo recipes are available immediately, but the more powerful high-velocity rounds and slug variants require a Tier 2 Trampler Workshop or a Fort bench to produce.
Prioritizing that Workshop upgrade early is strongly advised — basic rounds will eventually feel underpowered against better-geared opponents, and you don't want to be stuck with them when tougher threats show up.
Standard Personal Ammo Recipes
| Ammo Type | Ingredients | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8x21mm | 5 Scrapped Ammo + 5 Scrap Metal | Common pistol round |
| 9x42mm | 5 Scrapped Ammo + 5 Scrap Metal | Standard revolver ammo |
| 12ga | 5 Scrapped Ammo + 5 Fabric Straps | Basic shotgun shells |
| 11x54mm | 1 High Grade Gunpowder + 25 Scrap Metal | Expensive; loot Scrapped Ammo to offset cost |
| 8x21 HV | 20 Basic 8x21mm + 2 Coral Dust | Tier 2 required; major stopping power upgrade |
| 9x42 HV | 10 Basic 9x42mm + 2 Coral Dust | Tier 2 required; converts existing stock |
| 12ga Slug | 10 Basic 12ga + 2 Metal Rods | Tier 2 required; tighter spread, harder hit |
Coral Dust is the critical ingredient for high-velocity rounds. It isn't always easy to stockpile, so prioritize gathering it whenever you're out on a Voyage expedition. The HV variants represent a meaningful jump in damage output — worth the investment once you've unlocked Tier 2 crafting.
The 11x54mm round deserves special mention for its cost. At 25 Scrap Metal per batch plus High Grade Gunpowder, it's one of the pricier recipes in the game. Always loot Scrapped Ammo from the environment whenever you have the chance to keep your production costs manageable.
All Mounted Cannon Ammo Recipes
Your trampler's cannons use an entirely separate class of ammunition — heavier shells designed specifically for vehicle-on-vehicle combat. Keeping these stocked is just as important as keeping your personal weapons loaded, arguably more so since your trampler is your primary combat platform.
Mounted Cannon Shell Recipes
| Shell Type | Ingredients | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| 40mm Autocannon Shell | 2 Scrapped Ammo + 2 Scrap Metal | Most material-efficient per batch |
| 80mm Cannon Shell | 5 Scrapped Ammo + 2 Scrap Metal | Heavy single-hit damage |
| 70mm Shotgun Cannon Shell | 5 Scrapped Ammo + 5 Fabric Straps | Spread damage at close range |
The 40mm Autocannon Shell is the clear winner for resource efficiency at just 2 Scrapped Ammo and 2 Scrap Metal per batch. If you're planning extended raids or aggressive PvP sessions, stock up heavily on these. The 80mm shells hit harder per shot but cost more per batch, making them better suited for targeted strikes rather than sustained suppression fire.
For trampler loadout placement, community reports suggest running the 40mm Autocannon on the front for rapid burst fire during approach and the 80mm Cannon on the rear to deliver heavy blows when an enemy tries to flank you — though your specific blueprint layout may affect what's practical.
Craftable Weapons: Full Recipe List
Beyond looting firearms from shipwrecks and monuments, you can craft them directly at the workbench. This is a useful fallback when expeditions aren't supplying enough drops to keep your crew armed, but crafting weapons does consume resources you could otherwise spend on ammo or trampler upgrades. Only craft firearms when looting genuinely can't keep up with demand.
Weapon Crafting Recipes
| Weapon | Ingredients | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Any white rarity weapon | 25 Scrap Metal | Cheapest entry point |
| Green tier Shotgun or Revolver | White version + 25 Scrap Metal | Upgrade path from white |
| Pepper Mill Shotgun | 4 Metal Rods + 4 Fabric | Unique: uses Fabric instead of Weapon Parts |
| M82 Rifle | 4 Metal Rods + 4 Weapon Parts | Strong long-range option |
| Blitz 10 8mm Pistol | 4 Metal Rods + 4 Weapon Parts | Same recipe as M82; pick based on ammo supply |
The Pepper Mill Shotgun is worth highlighting because it's the only craftable weapon that substitutes Fabric for Weapon Parts. When your Weapon Parts supply runs low — which happens often — the Pepper Mill becomes your most accessible crafted firearm. Keep that in mind when you're planning a loadout and resources are tight.
Attachments and Explosives
The Petros Rifle supports two dedicated attachments, but there's an important catch: you must already have the base rifle in your inventory before you can craft either attachment. You can't stockpile them in advance.
| Recipe | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Scope for Petros Rifle | 1 Petros Rifle + 2 Optic Lenses + 2 Weapon Parts |
| Silencer for Petros Rifle | 1 Petros Rifle + 5 Metal Rods |
| Time Bomb | 2 Fabric + 2 Gunpowder |
Optic Lenses are relatively uncommon, so treat them as a priority loot target during Voyage expeditions if you're building toward a scoped Petros setup. The Silencer is the cheaper option and only costs Metal Rods beyond the base rifle — a solid choice if you want to stay stealthy without burning scarce materials.
The Time Bomb at 2 Fabric and 2 Gunpowder is a low-cost way to add explosive utility to your kit without eating into your Weapon Parts reserves.
Ammo Management Tips That Actually Matter
Having the recipes is only half the battle. Here are the practical habits that separate players who always have ammo from players who run dry at the worst possible moment:
- Load your weapons immediately after spawning. Ammo spawns in the green box near your loadout rack. Don't leave the starting area without picking it up and loading everything.
- Use the cannon kit trick. Pick up a cannon kit from storage, then interact with your storage box while holding the kit to bulk-transfer cannon ammo directly into it. This avoids the tedious one-at-a-time loading process.
- Loot Scrapped Ammo constantly. It's the base ingredient for almost every ammo recipe. Treat it like currency and grab it whenever you see it.
- Stock 40mm shells in bulk. They're the cheapest mounted round to produce and the most practical for sustained fights.
- Aim for enemy trampler legs first. Immobilizing an opponent's trampler lets you dictate the range and angle of the fight, which stretches your ammo further since you're not wasting shots on a moving target.
- Upgrade to Tier 2 Workshop early. HV rounds and slugs are locked behind it, and the power gap between basic and advanced ammo is significant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where does crafting happen in SAND Raiders of Sophie? A: Crafting takes place at two locations — your trampler's Workshop bench (unlocked through the Tech Tree) and Fort Crafting Benches found in the world. Basic ammo and white-rarity weapons are available from the start, while advanced ammo variants like HV rounds require a Tier 2 Workshop or a Fort bench.
Q: What's the best early loadout in this SAND Raiders of Sophie guns and ammo guide? A: For personal weapons, start with a revolver for short-to-medium range and a rifle for long-range engagements. On your trampler, community reports suggest a 40mm Autocannon up front for rapid fire and an 80mm Cannon at the rear for heavy hits — though your blueprint layout will influence exact placement.
Q: How do I get high-velocity ammo rounds? A: HV rounds (8x21 HV and 9x42 HV) require Coral Dust and are crafted by converting your existing basic ammo stock. They're locked behind Tier 2 crafting, so prioritize that Workshop upgrade. The 12ga Slug variant uses Metal Rods instead of Coral Dust and follows the same Tier 2 requirement.
Q: Should I craft weapons or focus on looting them? A: Looting should always be your primary source of firearms. Crafting costs resources — particularly Metal Rods and Weapon Parts — that you'll also need for ammo and trampler upgrades. Only craft weapons when your loot drops genuinely can't keep your crew armed, or when you specifically need a weapon type (like the Pepper Mill Shotgun when Weapon Parts are scarce).