Kar98k vs M24 in PUBG Mobile: Which Sniper to Carry

The short answer to Kar98k vs M24 is that the M24 is the slightly better rifle. Its bullet travels a little faster, the pause between shots is a little shorter, and it reloads with a magazine. The Kar98k is the one you will actually find in most matches, and a headshot from it ends a fight just as well. Take the M24 when you see one, but never walk past a Kar98k while you wait for it.

How you find each rifle

Both are bolt-action sniper rifles that fire 7.62mm rounds, and both spawn as normal loot on the ground. The difference is how often.

The Kar98k is the bolt-action you meet most. Loot a few compounds on a classic map and in many matches one turns up, often early enough to shape your whole plan.

The M24 is rarer. Older guides still call it an airdrop weapon, but it has been ordinary ground loot for a long time. You cannot plan on finding one, so treat it as a lucky upgrade.

The AWM is the one that comes only from airdrops in classic matches. Its ammo, .300 Magnum, arrives in the same crate and nowhere else, so every missed shot is gone for good.

What changes when you shoot

Their damage is close enough that the enemy's armor decides the result, not the rifle. As the game has long been balanced, a headshot from either one takes down a player wearing a level 2 helmet, while a full-health player in a level 3 helmet survives it. A body shot alone does not take down a player who wears a vest.

The real differences are in the handling:

• Bullet speed. The M24's bullet is a little faster. At long range you lead a running target slightly less and hold a little less above the head to allow for drop.
• Time between shots. After each shot the bolt has to be worked before the next one. The M24 does this a little quicker, which matters when the first shot only breaks a helmet.
• Reload. The Kar98k is loaded by hand, one round after another. The M24 swaps a whole magazine.

None of these gaps is large. A player who knows the Kar98k's drop by heart will outshoot a player holding an M24 for the first time.

Reloading and attachments: where they really part

The Kar98k has no magazine slot. It holds five rounds, and the only attachment that speeds up its reload is Bullet Loops. The M24 takes magazines: an Extended Mag gives it extra rounds, a Quickdraw Mag gives a faster swap, and the Extended Quickdraw Mag gives both.

The rest is shared. Both take the sniper muzzles and any scope up to the 8x. A suppressor is the best muzzle for either one, because a shot the enemy cannot place is worth more than a little less recoil. If you only find a flash hider or a compensator, put it on anyway.

So when you swap a dressed Kar98k for a bare M24, move the muzzle and the scope across. The Bullet Loops stay behind, and the M24 will want a magazine.

Which one suits the way you play

• You play solo and loot fast. Carry the Kar98k you find. One clean headshot is all a solo fight needs, and the slower rhythm costs nothing when nobody is there to revive the target.
• You play in a squad. The M24's quicker second shot earns its place. Knock one player, and the next shot is ready sooner for the teammate who runs over to revive.
• You are still learning to snipe. Stay with one rifle for a while. Drop and lead feel slightly different on each, and switching every match throws away what your hands have learned.

Whichever you pick, pair it with an assault rifle or an SMG. A bolt-action is no help when someone pushes the building you are in. Our guide to the best guns in PUBG Mobile covers good second weapons.

Is the AWM the best sniper in PUBG Mobile?

On paper, yes. What sets the AWM apart from the other two is that its headshot takes down a full-health player even through a level 3 helmet. In the last circles, when everyone left has good armor, that is a real advantage.

But you cannot choose it. It arrives in an airdrop or not at all, other squads run to the same crate, and its ammo is limited to what the crate holds. Build your habits on the Kar98k and the M24, and treat the AWM as a bonus. If you get one, drop your other bolt-action and keep your rifle for close fights.

If the slow rhythm of a bolt-action does not suit you at all, a semi-automatic marksman rifle may. See DMR or bolt-action in PUBG Mobile for that choice.

Habits that matter more than the rifle

• Aim before you peek. Put the crosshair at head height on the spot where the enemy will appear, then step out, shoot and step back.
• Hold your breath while scoped. The hold breath button steadies the sway for a moment, long enough for one careful shot.
• Move after every shot. You cannot fire while the bolt cycles, so spend that moment behind cover, and do not reappear in the same window.
• Practice drop in the training ground. Shoot the far targets with an 8x until you know how high to hold without thinking.

A missed shot tells everyone nearby where you are. If the first shot misses and the target has seen you, change position before you try again.

Frequent questions

Is the M24 better than the Kar98k?

Slightly. It has a faster bullet, a shorter pause between shots and a magazine. In real matches the gap is small, and the rifle you have practiced with is the better one for you.

Which does more damage, the Kar98k or the M24?

Their damage is so close that it rarely changes a result. The enemy's helmet level and whether you hit the head decide far more than which of the two you hold.

Where can I find an M24 in PUBG Mobile?

It has no fixed place. It spawns as ordinary loot, more rarely than the Kar98k, so areas with many buildings simply give you more chances. Do not choose your landing spot for it.

Can the Kar98k kill with one shot?

Yes, with a headshot on a bare head or on a level 1 or level 2 helmet. A full-health player in a level 3 helmet survives one headshot from it.

Sniper skins and UC

Both rifles have many skins, and a skin changes only the look: a painted Kar98k hits exactly like a plain one. If you want one, or the Royale Pass, you need UC. On Mas4Games you can get PUBG Mobile UC loaded to a global account by player ID, or as a UC code that you redeem yourself. For a top-up by ID the store asks only for your player ID, never your password, and the help center has live support if you get stuck.