Crafting weapons in Rust can be a better option than spending hard-earned Scrap to get your preferred tools of war from NPCs. Submachine guns (SMGs), in particular, need an essential material called the SMG Body. However, it's easier to end up on the respawn screen than to find this item, especially with other players on the hunt for it. So, here’s a guide on how to get an SMG Body in Rust, helping you reduce resource usage as you search for it.

How to Get an SMG Body in Rust

Make no mistake, as the SMG Body is one of the rarest items in Rust. Although it’s possible to find this uncommon material in different containers, the boxes and crates that contain it are often in mid to endgame zones. Beginners or post-server wipe veterans may need to wait until they get better equipment for survivability’s sake before venturing into more difficult locations. That way, these players should have a better-than-average chance of looting an SMG Body. With that, the containers to watch out for that may contain an SMG Body are the following:

• Elite Tier Crate: 1 to 3x SMG Body
• Ghost Ship Locked Crate: 1x SMG Body
• Locked Crate: 1x SMG Body
• Military Crate: 1x SMG Body
• Oil Rig Locked Crate: 1x SMG Body
• Scientist PT Boat Dry Box: 1 to 3x SMG Body
• Scientist RHIB Dry Box: 1x SMG Body
• Treasure Box: 1 to 3x SMG Body
• Underwater Lab Elite Crate: 1 to 3x SMG Body
• Underwater Lab Tech Crate: 1 to 2x SMG Body
• Underwater Lab Yellow Crate: 1x SMG Body
• Wagon Military Crate: 1x SMG Body

Those who are brave enough, or who can travel in allied groups within the same Rust server, can enter monuments teeming with hostile scientists. Some of these enemies can drop an SMG Body, though the chances are lower than finding it inside the aforementioned containers. Concentrate on defeating the following scientists for a chance to receive an SMG Body:

• Arctic Scientist: 1x SMG Body
• Cargo Ship Scientist: 1x SMG Body
• Excavator Scientist: 1x SMG Body
• Heavy Scientist: 1x SMG Body
• Heavy Scientist With Flamethrower: 1x SMG Body
• Heavy Scientist With Minigun: 1x SMG Body
• Military Base Scientist: 1x SMG Body
• Military Tunnel Scientist: 1x SMG Body
• Naval Scientist: 1x SMG Body
• NVG Scientist: 1x SMG Body
• Outbreak Scientist: 1x SMG Body
• Patrol Scientist: 1x SMG Body
• PT Boat Scientist: 1x SMG Body
• RHIB Scientist: 1x SMG Body

Alternatively, purchase an SMG Body from the Travelling Vendor NPC for 60x to 125x Scrap. However, as the merchant’s name implies, players must first find this seller for a chance to buy the item. Additionally, the Travelling Vendor has rotating stock, which means there’s a chance that the SMG Body may not be included in the NPC’s wares at a given time of interaction.

SMG Body Uses & Crafting Recipes in Rust

Salvaging 1x SMG Body at a Recycler yields up to 15x Scrap and 2x High Quality Metal. However, the item’s rarity may prevent some players from recycling this essential resource. Instead, it might be better to use the SMG Body, along with other ingredients, to craft different firearms. As of the Shipshape Update, three craftable weapons exist that use an SMG Body as one of their main ingredients. These firearms are the following:

Custom SMG

Crafting Ingredients: 8x High Quality Metal, 1x SMG Body, and 1x Metal Spring

Stats

• Base Damage: 30
• Fire Rate: 600 RPM
• Magazine Capacity: 30
• Base Reload Time: 4 seconds
• Base Draw Time: 1 second

MP5A4

Crafting Ingredients: 15x High Quality Metal, 1x SMG Body, and 2x Metal Spring

Stats

• Base Damage: 37.5
• Fire Rate: 600 RPM
• Magazine Capacity: 30
• Base Reload Time: 4 seconds
• Base Draw Time: 1.6 seconds

Thompson

Crafting Ingredients: 10x High Quality Metal, 100x Wood, 1x SMG Body, and 1x Metal Spring

Stats

• Base Damage: 37.5
• Fire Rate: 462 RPM
• Magazine Capacity: 20
• Base Reload Time: 4 seconds
• Base Draw Time: 1 second