Why won't my mounted machine gun fire even though I have ammo in my inventory?

Ammo in your personal inventory does not count. You must open the turret's own interface and physically place ammo into its ammo slot for it to fire.

Can a Pal operate the mounted machine gun automatically?

Yes, Pals assigned to base defense duty can man the turret during an attack as long as it is loaded, but you can also mount it yourself for direct control.

Does the mounted machine gun run out of ammo?

Yes, it consumes ammo from its internal slot as it fires, so you need to periodically check and refill it, especially before expected base raids.

Crafting

How do you load a mounted machine gun in Palworld?

Answer

To load a mounted machine gun, interact with it directly to open its inventory slot, then place the matching ammo type into that slot from your own inventory. Once loaded, a Pal assigned to defense work or you yourself can operate it, and it will keep firing as long as ammo remains inside.

Quick answer

The mounted machine gun works like other base defense turrets — it has its own small inventory that is separate from your character's inventory and from base storage. You have to interact with the turret directly and manually place the correct ammo type inside before it can be fired, whether by you or by a defending Pal.

Step-by-step loading process

Build and place the mounted machine gun at your base using the appropriate crafting station.
Craft or gather the ammo type it accepts and keep a stack in your personal inventory.
Walk up to the turret and interact with it to open its dedicated inventory panel.
Transfer ammo from your inventory into the turret's ammo slot.
Close the panel — the turret is now ready to fire either when you mount it yourself or when a defense-assigned Pal takes over during a raid.
Check back periodically and top up the ammo slot, since it will empty out during extended firefights.

Ammo and setup tips

Task	Detail
Ammo type	Must match what the mounted machine gun is designed to use; mismatched ammo cannot be loaded
Who can fire it	You directly, or a Pal with defense-related work suitability assigned nearby
Refill frequency	Check after any raid or extended combat, since the internal slot is limited
Placement	Position near choke points so it covers the most likely attack paths into your base

Keeping it stocked

Because the turret's ammo slot is small compared to how much ammo it can burn through during a sustained attack, many players keep a small chest of spare ammo right next to their turret placements so refilling is quick. If your base regularly comes under attack from tougher enemies, pairing the mounted machine gun with Pals that have strong defense stats and keeping the turret's inventory topped off before nightfall is a simple habit that avoids getting caught unprepared.

For a broader look at defensive base layouts, the breeding calculator combinations tool and guides section cover related base-building and Pal assignment strategies that pair well with turret defenses. You can also browse the Paldex to find Pals best suited for manning defense structures.

Browse Pals suited for base defense on the Paldex
Plan overall base strategy in the guides section
Use the breeding calculator to build a stronger defense team

Frequently asked questions

Why won't my mounted machine gun fire even though I have ammo in my inventory?: Ammo in your personal inventory does not count. You must open the turret's own interface and physically place ammo into its ammo slot for it to fire.
Can a Pal operate the mounted machine gun automatically?: Yes, Pals assigned to base defense duty can man the turret during an attack as long as it is loaded, but you can also mount it yourself for direct control.
Does the mounted machine gun run out of ammo?: Yes, it consumes ammo from its internal slot as it fires, so you need to periodically check and refill it, especially before expected base raids.